" PAP has a duty to provide the good leadership Singapore needs: PM Lee - ST 08 November 2014
SINGAPORE - As Singapore charts a different path amid a fast-changing world and the rising aspirations of its people, the need for good leaders at its helm remains constant, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He called on his People's Action Party (PAP) not to shirk this responsibility, adding that if the ruling party fails to provide good leadership, Singapore will be in "deep trouble". Speaking at a celebration of the PAP's 60th anniversary on Friday evening, Mr Lee reaffirmed his party's commitment to serving Singaporeans and leading the nation forward.
"No matter what the odds are and what circumstances we find ourselves in, the PAP will always be on Singapore's and Singaporeans' side and it will always do its best for Singapore and Singaporeans," he said to the 700 PAP members gathered at the Victoria Concert Hall - the same site where the party was launched in 1954.
Among those present were former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong - respectively PAP's founding secretary-general and former secretary-general - as well as the party's pioneer generation of MPs, party branch leaders, cadre members and members of the Cabinet.
Mr Lee, the current secretary-general of the party, urged PAP members to hold fast to the ideal of building a just and equal society, which has been at the core of the party since its establishment. He also said the ruling party would have to win the trust and support of the people and serve with humility, always conscious of their duty towards Singaporeans.
Mr Lee also paid special tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who turned the party into a national movement and was the architect of modern Singapore. In addition, he thanked the party's activists for serving the ground, taking care of residents, mobilising support and keeping the party close to the people.
Ending his speech with the party pledge, Mr Lee urged all members to pledge themselves anew so that all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, can enjoy a full and happy life."
60 years. No easy. PAP has done well. The challenge is to keep that success track in the next 60 years!
Lessons for me are:
1. Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done a lot for modern Singapore. There is no doubt about it. He deserves all the praises and accolades that come his way and showered by many many people. The rich and powerful and the ordinary and the poor. This is especially so in the 1st 3/4 of his political life. Some, like me, are not so sure about his positive contribution in his last 1/4 of his political life;
2. as PM Lee exhorts his PAP party to remain humble, some of the voters in the GE2011 did not think PAP did remain humble. Or it did; just that the actions do not reflect that?;
3. the most glaring failing is the government's lack of confidence to use the trillion of national reserves painstakingly built up and accumulated for creating a 'social safety net' that give a peace of mind to the aging populace. That it DID start this process and also 'listening' to the 'voices of the voters' was attributed by many, WRONGLY as far as PAP is concerned, to the loss of the Aljunied GRC and the 2 by-election contested since to the Workers' Party! It was, alas, as I have repeated elsewhere consistently, an opportunity missed! PAP could have seized the initiative and drive the 'social safety net' reform on its own steam and term as the nation does have the resources to do so!
It will NEED more than just a sense of duty by PAP cadres and elected officials to remain humble and duty-bound to serve all Singaporeans. It needs VISIONARY like Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a rare rare commodity, a one-in-a-million 'the man was born for this', person to guide and lead Singapore forward as partners. Tough act to follow. Hopefully a few of them can make up for one genius!
SINGAPORE - As Singapore charts a different path amid a fast-changing world and the rising aspirations of its people, the need for good leaders at its helm remains constant, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He called on his People's Action Party (PAP) not to shirk this responsibility, adding that if the ruling party fails to provide good leadership, Singapore will be in "deep trouble". Speaking at a celebration of the PAP's 60th anniversary on Friday evening, Mr Lee reaffirmed his party's commitment to serving Singaporeans and leading the nation forward.
"No matter what the odds are and what circumstances we find ourselves in, the PAP will always be on Singapore's and Singaporeans' side and it will always do its best for Singapore and Singaporeans," he said to the 700 PAP members gathered at the Victoria Concert Hall - the same site where the party was launched in 1954.
Among those present were former prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong - respectively PAP's founding secretary-general and former secretary-general - as well as the party's pioneer generation of MPs, party branch leaders, cadre members and members of the Cabinet.
Mr Lee, the current secretary-general of the party, urged PAP members to hold fast to the ideal of building a just and equal society, which has been at the core of the party since its establishment. He also said the ruling party would have to win the trust and support of the people and serve with humility, always conscious of their duty towards Singaporeans.
Mr Lee also paid special tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who turned the party into a national movement and was the architect of modern Singapore. In addition, he thanked the party's activists for serving the ground, taking care of residents, mobilising support and keeping the party close to the people.
Ending his speech with the party pledge, Mr Lee urged all members to pledge themselves anew so that all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, can enjoy a full and happy life."
60 years. No easy. PAP has done well. The challenge is to keep that success track in the next 60 years!
Lessons for me are:
1. Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done a lot for modern Singapore. There is no doubt about it. He deserves all the praises and accolades that come his way and showered by many many people. The rich and powerful and the ordinary and the poor. This is especially so in the 1st 3/4 of his political life. Some, like me, are not so sure about his positive contribution in his last 1/4 of his political life;
2. as PM Lee exhorts his PAP party to remain humble, some of the voters in the GE2011 did not think PAP did remain humble. Or it did; just that the actions do not reflect that?;
3. the most glaring failing is the government's lack of confidence to use the trillion of national reserves painstakingly built up and accumulated for creating a 'social safety net' that give a peace of mind to the aging populace. That it DID start this process and also 'listening' to the 'voices of the voters' was attributed by many, WRONGLY as far as PAP is concerned, to the loss of the Aljunied GRC and the 2 by-election contested since to the Workers' Party! It was, alas, as I have repeated elsewhere consistently, an opportunity missed! PAP could have seized the initiative and drive the 'social safety net' reform on its own steam and term as the nation does have the resources to do so!
It will NEED more than just a sense of duty by PAP cadres and elected officials to remain humble and duty-bound to serve all Singaporeans. It needs VISIONARY like Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a rare rare commodity, a one-in-a-million 'the man was born for this', person to guide and lead Singapore forward as partners. Tough act to follow. Hopefully a few of them can make up for one genius!
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