Daily Lessons from Life 16 August 2010 - MM Lee: 4 values drive S'pore

"MM Lee: 4 values drive S'pore - Mon, Aug 16, 2010 my paper

HIGH integrity among its leaders and meritocracy are two of four basic values that laid the foundation for Singapore's success over the past 45 years, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last night.

'Everyone can get to the top as political leaders, MPs,' he said, or through 'the civil service and statutory boards'. People get to where they are on merit, not through guanxi, nepotism or corruption, he added.

Guanxi is Mandarin for 'connections and social reputation'."

The 2 other values he mentioned are: Level Playing Field (or simply: Equality) and English as the Common Language. I would call the last one a Practice rather than a value.

Integrity is the foundation of good leadership. A leader with integrity will do the right things even when under a lot of pressure. Integrity CANNOT be bought! Meritocracy is harder to defined as what is considered as 'merits' or 'demerits' depends on 'what does the society valued at that point in time'. In Singapore, academics results are very important. Having big houses and lots of money are considered as merits! So, everyone rushes to produce better academics results. Everyone tried to have the best car/house/etc.

Lessons for me are:

1. the 3 values and 1 practice are important ingredient to bring Singapore to where it is today. Singapore has done very well. The leaders led and the people contributed. Together THEY brought Singapore this far. If we have to split hair to attribute who contributed more, then I say: Leaders 60-70% and the People 30-40%. The challenge is many Singaporeans are still believing that some 'elites' are not up to par on the values fully!;

2. going forward, Singapore will need additional values like: Humility and Innovativeness. Humility so that when we achieved, we do not need to blow our own trumpets. So that we remain humble and hence able to continue to improve. We will stay at being self-confident and self-assured but NOT self-conceited! Innovativeness so that we will continue to invent and even anticipate the necessity to change instead of just accepting the saying: Necessity is the Mother of All Inventions. 'Anticipation of Necessity is the Mother of All Inventions!';

3. Singapore is 45-year old. It has achieved much. We are all proud of it. At the same time, going forward, we will need to have all these 3 values and 1 practice plus the 2 new values in order for Singapore to live for another 45-year!

Many praises have been said by the authority and much time have focused on Singapore's winning achievements. Maybe it is time to move on to work on Humility and Innovativeness harder and quietly!! :-)