Daily Lessons from Life 01 November 2013 - 2 Declarations by PM Lee in Poland & France

"S'pore must never lose position of success: PM Lee - CNA 01 November 2013

SINGAPORE: Singapore must never lose its position of success, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, because that is what makes it relevant to the world. He was speaking to Singapore media in Warsaw.

Mr Lee said: "I think it's important that Singaporeans understand this, because it's as a result of our success that we're relevant in the world, and other countries are interested in engaging us and doing business with us, and find us able to make a contribution, in ideas, in perspectives, in information… about how other small countries have managed their problems. So they can pick up something valuable, and I think we must never lose that position.""

 

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"S'pore should see itself as “sampan 2.0”, not cruise ship: PM Lee - CNA 30 October 2013

FRANCE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the country should still see itself as a sampan, but an upgraded one.

Speaking to reporters in France, he was responding to a newspaper article that said Singapore should abandon an old metaphor likening the country to a "sampan", and see itself as a "cruise ship" instead.

Mr Lee said: "My eyes popped out! Once you think you're in a cruise ship, you're on a holiday and (if) everything must go swimmingly well and will be attended to for you, I think we're in trouble!
“We're small, we're not as poor as we used to be, we're not defenseless, we're able to fend for ourselves, make a living for ourselves and we're better off than before. We think we need to keep on working hard to continue improving."
Asked how he would categorise the sort of ship Singapore is, to use the metaphor, Mr Lee replied: "I think we've upgraded our sampan. Sampan 2.0.""

A few comments to share:

1. it is true that leaving sentimentality aside, the world sometimes do only care about 'whatever is relevant'! A small nation likes Singapore is relevant because of its strategic geographical location for one, and the halo of 'the economy miracle' being the other critical factor. While it is definitely worth striving and fighting to be the relevant economic factor, I do sometimes daydream that people from all over the world come to Singapore because it is THERE. It is an unique place while harmony and prosperity are achieved by a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society!;

2. are we a Sampan? Version 2.0 or otherwise? Singapore has proudly proclaimed itself to be a first world vibrant global city/country. So, we cannot be a sampan any more really. Are we a cruise ship where we are just in it to be served and enjoyed ourselves without having to work hard and smart? The answer is obvious. A nation building journey is never ending. I rather see Singapore as a ship that is ocean worthy crewed by a team of enlightened people, all of us, who see the need to continue to work together hard and smart to build the peace and prosperity that most of us desired. Hopefully without too much sacrifices like losing our sense of purpose - not building wealth for wealth sake!;

3. On the UNREPORTED part of PM Lee's speech in France on the need to 'manage the inflow of foreigners', I still stick to my position that: If we need Foreign Workers to build our infrastructure, we welcome them as they are doing jobs that Singaporeans, sampan or able ship, don't want. Infrastructure projects have a time frame, when the projects are done, they can go home knowing that they had done their jobs and got their just pay. The question is: Do we or can we create enough of the 'well educated Singaporeans desired jobs'? Looks like in the high quality labour intensive industries like: IT, Financial Services, hospitality (with slightly lower pay but high skills?), Medical services, etc.

Sampan or not, we are an island surrounded by water!