Daily Lessons from Life 07-08 March 2011

No news headlines comments for me yesterday as I was guilty of being slack and looking for excuses of tiredness from last week's over-stretched work routines.

"MM Lee: "I stand corrected" AsiaOne Tue, Mar 08, 2011

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew issued a statement last night and said he stands corrected on how well-integrated Malay-Muslims are in Singapore, according to a Straits Times report.

He referred to the comments he made in the new book, Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.

He said: "Hard Truths was a book based on 32 hours of interviews over a period of two years.

"I made this one comment on the Muslims integrating with other communities probably two or three years ago. Ministers and MPs, both Malay and non-Malay, have since told me that Singapore Malays have indeed made special efforts to integrate with the other communities, especially since 9/11, and that my call is out of date.

"I stand corrected. I hope that this trend will continue in the future." "

It is rare for MM Lee to correct himself and I am glad he did as this topic did generated a lot of debates and controversies. It is also true the his points of view on this issue was a bit dated though he could have responded a bit earlier rather than later. Could this be a reluctant 'I stand corrected' in view of the coming General Election?

Lessons for me are:

1. comments made in the past could be quoted out of context no matter how careful or benign when made;

2. when comments in the past were quoted out of context and creating waves of debates and controversies, the best strategy to go out and nick it in the bud at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise, doubts may be cast on the motives and sincerity of the retraction or clarificaiton;

3. credit must be given to MM Lee for making that statement as a man of his status may have so much pride that he does not acknowledge that his may be wrong! It is the hardest to admit one's mistakes than to point out others' mistakes!!

So, be careful of what you said. When you found out it was quoted out of context and was creating some unwanted controversies, nick it in the bud. And finally, be big enough to admit that you are wrong gives you more credit that keeping quiet!