On Lee Kuan Yew's Thought

Monday, August 16, 2010

Singapore's policies not set in stone :Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said Singapore's policies are not set in stone. He said the ability to improve on what has been done and basic values like meritocracy have led to Singapore's success.

Addressing his constituents at the Tanjong Pagar National Day dinner on Sunday evening, Mr Lee also spoke of the crucial need for succession.

Mr Lee said the spectacular 45th anniversary National Day Parade encapsulates the experience the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has gained in 45 years.

He said: "Every year, the SAF improves on what it has done. It is like the rest of Singapore. It is the reason for our progress. Soldiers are better trained and officers are of the quality to improve on last year's performance. And a new team of officers takes over, studies the past and improves on it. This way, Singapore has ensured succession.

"We defied the odds and got to where we are. However, we must never forget our hard and harsh beginnings. If our national solidarity is splintered by communal hostility, and our social cohesion is weakened, we will regress. Then we will have a weak economy that cannot afford a strong SAF. That will again make us vulnerable."

Mr Lee said the resources the SAF needs to mount such a superb performance require a strong and vibrant economy.

And to build such a Singapore, the nation needs an exceptionally strong government with the ablest, the toughest and the most dedicated leaders.

Mr Lee said: "We headhunt for them, test them out in heavy responsibilities. Only such leaders can keep the economy growing and create good jobs and generate the revenue to pay for the equipment and training of our 3-G SAF.

"This 3-G SAF provides the security and confidence of our people and of foreign investors, assured that we can more than defend ourselves. If there is insecurity, there will be fewer investments. That means a poorer people and instability."

Mr Lee added that Singapore's basic values - of ensuring leaders of high integrity; meritocracy; a level playing field for all citizens; and English as the working language - have laid the foundation of Singapore's success.

He said: "People get to where they are on merit - not nepotism, not corruption. Hence, all are capable and competent. No policy is skewed as a result of personal benefit or profits. We have been rated as the cleanest government in Asia, and amongst the first three cleanest in the world.

"Third, we have a level playing field for all citizens. No one is disadvantaged by our national policies whatever their race, language or religion.

"Fourth, English is our working language. We did not choose Chinese, the language of the majority. English gives everyone an equal chance to master the language. It is a language of the world of trade and individuals, the Internet and new knowledge. It has made us the hub we now are for businesses, industries, banking and financial services, and communications."

Minister Mentor Lee also pointed out that Singapore's policies are not set in stone and the country is always re-examining old policies and positions and changing them with changing world circumstances, like deciding to allow the F1 race which has been a sparkling success.

Similarly, Singapore was also against casinos for decades. But having seen the industry develop in Las Vegas, the Republic allowed two integrated resorts, which Mr Lee said are doing well.

The facilities at the two hotels have drawn in hordes of tourists and Singaporeans, with the country's tourist industry having grown by 30 per cent already.

But Mr Lee pointed out that Singapore has done poorly in one sector - Singaporeans are not replacing themselves. And with a fertility rate of 1.22, Singapore will nearly halve its population in one generation.

Mr Lee said: "So we have no choice - since we cannot encourage our people with bonuses and incentives to have more children - (but) to get immigrants from Malaysia, who are the easiest to assimilate, from China, from India and from the region.

"They will take time to adjust to our culture and ways of life, but they will adapt if they want to succeed, and learn English to be part of Singapore."

Mr Lee called on Singaporeans to help integrate the children of immigrants into society so that these new citizens will make for a more varied and dynamic society.

Minister Mentor Lee also spoke in Mandarin.

He told his audience that Singapore's economic growth, expected to be at least 12 or 13 per cent for this year, was not bad.

Mr Lee said that such growth would allow for improvements such as schools and buildings.

He said: "I am not saying all the HDB flats can be as nice as Pinnacle (Pinnacle@Duxton), but so long as there is one main area that is just as pretty, just as luxurious."

However, for Singapore to develop and prosper, and for its people to live peacefully, the country must be united and citizens must feel they are benefiting, he said.

Over 95 per cent of flat owners have taken possession of their flats at Pinnacle@Duxton, while 70 to 80 per cent have moved in. - CNA

Wan Azizah Sued

Felda sues Wan Azizah, PKR for RM200 million

UPDATED @ 05:29:00 PM 16-08-2010

By Debra Chong and Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

August 16, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 – The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) filed today a RM200 million defamation suit against PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the High Court here, for saying the agency was bankrupt in a party paper.
It also named five others as defendants in the civil suit. They are PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, Suara Keadilan editor Dzulkarnain Taib, writer Rusnizam Mahat, printer Pelita Koridor Sdn Bhd and publisher Percetakan NPK Sdn Bhd.
Lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun who is acting for Felda added that its subsidiary, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd, is also listed as the co-plaintiff.
Dr Wan Azizah and Syed Husin were sued in their capacity as office bearers for PKR, which owns the opposition newspaper, Suara Keadilan, based on Section 9(c) of the Societies Act 1966.
“My lawyers are handling the matter as we speak,” Dr Wan Azizah told The Malaysian Insider immediately after being told she was being sued, but declined to comment further.
The former Permatang Pauh MP was in court today attending her husband, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s, ongoing sodomy trial.
In its statement of claim today, the national land agency said Suara Keadilan had falsely and maliciously published a series of reports in its June 22-29 issue, with the intention “to damage and destroy [its] local and global reputation”.
The allegedly defamatory articles are headlined: “Felda Bangkrap” on its front page; “Bina Bangunan RM662 juta hanya libatkan tiga individu”, and a photograph with the caption “KONTROVERSI ... Bangunan Felda yang dikatakan bernilai RM622 juta merupakan satu pembaziran. Bangunan ini didakwa dibina bukan atas keperluan sendiri tetapi untuk kroni”.
Felda added that the published reports, which referred to a building located strategically in KL’s “Golden Triangle” known as Menara Felda, had cast aspersions on the entire buying and development process and suggested criminal wrongdoing was involved.
“The allegations are so serious that the plaintiffs [Felda and its subsidiary] would be held in contempt and odium by the general public and society at large both in Malaysia and internationally ... the damage to the reputation of the plaintiffs in the eyes of the Felda settlers is particularly grave and extensive.
“The damage to the plaintiffs’ reputation are of a magnitude that would last for years in view of the wide publication and distribution of the said newspaper and the large interests of the plaintiffs’ economic activities and role in the economy of Malaysia and its interests globally,” it said in the filing today.
Felda is demanding each of the five named in the suit pay RM200 million in damages and wants a court order to stop them reproducing the allegations and a public apology.

UMNO-MCA War Escalates

Umno-MCA war escalates as Soi Lek slams Hishammuddin

By Clara Chooi

August 16, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 – An all-out war appears to have broken out between Barisan Nasional allies MCA and Umno, with Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek accusing “some BN leaders” of failing to recognise past failures and claiming that they would eventually cause the MCA’s demise.
The MCA president said that the party was not afraid to side with its opposition foe DAP in issues that benefited the community and would not run away from making its stand known.
Dr Chua also indirectly named Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as one of the BN leaders he was referring to, claiming that this was shown in the Umno vice-president’s blunt reminder to the MCA yesterday to stick with BN’s struggles.
“Hishammuddin’s statement yesterday that the MCA should not forget the struggle of the BN when fighting for Chinese demands shows that some BN leaders have yet to learn from the 2008 general election and do not understand the urge of the people to reform,” he said in a statement here today.
It was reported today that the Umno vice-president had “reminded MCA to stick with the struggles” of BN when championing the rights of the Chinese community.
Dr Chua said that based on the results of Elections 2008, the new MCA leadership understood the need for it to change to regain the people’s trust and support.
“If some BN leaders continue to live in their own world, they will certainly push MCA to its doom and will not bring the ruling coalition any good,” he claimed.
Dr Chua said that while the party respected Hishammuddin’s views, the latter should not blame MCA for deviating from the objectives and struggles of the BN.
“He cannot blame us for deviating from the objectives and struggles of the BN simply because MCA has a different voice from him or other component party leaders,” he said.
Dr Chua defended the new, stronger stance of the present MCA leadership under his presidency, claiming that the party’s political struggle was “totally reasonable and legal”.
“MCA will push hard for the implementation of the 13 resolutions passed during the Chinese Economic Congress held on Saturday because the resolutions are not only related to the Chinese community but also the future of the country’s economic development.
“MCA reckons that it has the responsibility to reflect the wishes of the Chinese community due to globalisation. Otherwise, not only MCA will lose the community’s support, it will not be able to also justify its political existence,” he said.
On Saturday, the MCA’s Chinese Economic Congress called for economic liberalisation and that a merit-based and needs-based system would contribute to the path for Malaysia to be globally competitive.
Dr Chua’s strong words of rebuke against Hishammuddin today continues to fan the fires already brewing between the Umno and MCA.
The tension began when MCA called on Hishammuddin to use his authority to rescind the ban on the non-Muslims’ use of the word Allah.
The Home Minister had earlier admitted that the decision was regrettable.
MCA’s call was resounded by the DAP, triggering a knee-jerk response from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who then called for a gag order on the issue.
The Umno deputy president had called on the MCA to accept the government’s decision in banning the word “Allah” and had also questioned MCA’s intention in sharing the same view as the DAP.
Shortly after the row quietened, Dr Chua created waves in the media again when he appeared to criticise both Umno and PAS for using religion to compete for Malay support.
He claimed that in recent days, Umno had appeared to be more “conservative” in its attempt to use religion to woo voters, and even said that the competition between the two Malay-based parties had led to some “non-progressive policies”.
The policies, he noted, had caused the country to be caught in a middle-income trap for more than 10 years.
Dr Chua in turn received flak from Umno leaders who accused him of trying to shift racial politics into religious politics.
Dr Chua and other MCA leaders have since claimed that his statement had been taken out of context.

Rocky Bru on Malay Bankers

Two NEP beneficiaries, two different tales. Nazir Razak's point about a "bastardized" NEP has sparked quite a debate in

cyberspace over the weekend. Nazir, or Jay to friends, is the big boss of CIMB (the 2nd largest bank in Malaysia), son of our second Prime Minister, and the brother of the current PM, so his views count. Unfortunately, despite whatever good intent Nazir had, his statement is being used against him, against the NEP, and will be used against his brother, Najib Razak.

I can agree with Nazir to a certain extent, but when was the road to success ever straight? The NEP has been manipulated by greed in men and women to make themselves richer or more powerful. But after all is said and done, the policy helped keep us a peaceful nation and a prosperous one.

As I wrote in my tweeter yesterday, Nazir himself is the proud product of the NEP. Without the environment that the NEP had created for the likes of him to excel, would Nazir have the opportunity to run a major bank and is today one of the youngest chief executives of a regional bank? I believe he is where he is today also because the NEP made it possible for him to become a successful banker and NOT jut because he is an extremely clever chap, the son of a PM and the brother of the Prime Minister.

The excitement over a "bastardized" NEP led me to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's posting in 2008 entitled Cronyism and the NEP. In para 26, it's almost as the former PM had Nazir in mind when writing:

21. Under the NEP more schools were built in the rural areas and primary education was free. Secondary education was easily available and a lot of scholarships were given for the universtities in the country and abroad.

22. Residential colleges enabled the students to study under better condition than found in their inadequately lighted village houses. They were given better food in these hostels. Junior science colleges modelled after the English Boarding Schools provide ideal environment for selected students to study and play.
 
23. The results of all these efforts is very satisfying. Thousands of Malay boys and girls from poor village families gained access to better education and eventually obtained university degrees in various professions and fields of knowledge.

24. Many went on to study for post-graduate degrees and doctorates. They now work as professors in universities, as specialists in various fields of medicine, as scientists, engineers, architects, veterinarians, agriculturists etc. They have not been left behind by the advances in new knowledge such as information technology, telecommunications and space science.

25. They have also gone into management, obtaining MBAs from well known universities such as Harvard and Philadelphia. Armed with these qualifications they have been employed as management executives at all levels. Some actually head multinational companies.

26. In the education field the NEP has been very successful. It has helped to correct the imbalances not only in the professions but also in business. Strangely Malays have become very successful bankers.

27. The educational successes of the NEP have been largely ignored and not even recognised as a part of the poverty eradication and the removal of the identification of race with economic function objectives of the NEP. But in fact they are.

28. So think again whether the NEP simply enrich the cronies of the PM and Government.

29. Think of what would be the situation in Malaysia today without the NEP.

30. If there is still doubt then do a survey of all the contracts and scholarships given by the private sector and work out how much they have contributed toward eliminating disparities between races, and who would be the poor in this country. 

Read the entire Cronyism and the NEP. 

And then, there's the account by Liew Kee Sin, the chief of SP Setia, the developer of Putrajaya, the country's largest property project.

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Ogos — Pemaju hartanah utama Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin mempersoalkan kewajaran rungutan masyarakat Cina bahawa mereka tidak dilayan adil oleh kerajaan, sambil menekankan kaum itu telah menikmati kedudukan baik di sebalik persekitaran dasar pro-Bumiputera.

Liew (gambar), yang syarikatnya SP Setia Bhd merupakan pemaju Putrajaya — projek pembangunan terbesar di Malaysia berkata, terdapat lebih banyak firma dikawal kaum Cina berbanding syarikat-syarikat milik Bumiputera di Bursa Malaysia.

“Secara statistik, majalah Forbes menunjukkan masyarakat Cina-Malaysia telah boleh berjaya sepanjang 30 tahun lalu,” kata beliau Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif SP Setia ini.

Read the Unspinners' spin on Anggapan Cina mereka terpinggir itu meleset. Liew said on the contrary other races, especially the Chinese, have benefited tremendously from NEP.

In cyberspace, Liew has been getting a lot of flak for this statement from the same people who now hail Nazir as their new hero.

Reforming Pentagon

By Fareed Zakaria

Monday, August 16, 2010

Robert Gates's latest efforts at reforming the Pentagon are modest. He is not trying to cut the defense budget; he merely wants to increase efficiency while reducing bureaucracy, waste and duplication. The savings he is trying to achieve are perfectly reasonable: $100 billion over five years, during which period the Pentagon would spend approximately $3.5 trillion. And yet he has aroused intense opposition from the usual suspects -- defense contractors, lobbyists, the military bureaucracy and hawkish commentators. He faces spirited opposition from his own party, but it is the other Republicans, not Gates, who are abandoning their party's best traditions in defense strategy.
Can anyone seriously question Gates's ideas on the merits? He has pointed out that the spiraling cost of defense hardware has led to the absurdity of destroyers that cost $2 billion to $3 billion per ship and bombers that cost $2 billion per plane. He notes that while the private sector has eliminated middle management and streamlined organization charts, the Pentagon has multiplied its layers of bureaucracy. A decade ago, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld complained that there were 17 levels of staff between him and a line officer. Gates guesses that there are now about 30.
Gates has proposed initial reforms that include dismantling one command and eliminating 50 generals. To put this in context, we have almost 1,000 generals and admirals, a number that has grown 13 percent in 15 years, even as the armed forces have shrunk. Every layer of Pentagon bureaucracy is much larger than it was at the height of the Cold War. Paul Light of New York University's Wagner School of Public Service notes that in 1960 we had 78 deputy assistant secretaries of defense. There are 530 today. Gates likes to point out that there are more musicians in U.S. military marching bands than members of the Foreign Service. In fact, the Pentagon has 10 times as many accountants as there are Foreign Service officers.
Any thoughts of broader reforms or even budget cuts seem inconceivable, despite the tremendous pressure on the federal budget. While some Democrats have taken up this cause, most Republicans are blindly opposed. They should take the time to read two of Gates's recent speeches, one to the Navy League, the other at the Eisenhower library.

Gates is an unabashed admirer of President Dwight Eisenhower, whose portrait hangs behind Gates's desk. He respects Ike's restraint, his emphasis on the trade-offs involved in funding the military and his reluctance to create what he called a "military-industrial complex." Eisenhower understood, Gates reminded his audience at the presidential library in May, "that even a superpower such as the United States -- then near the zenith of its strength and prosperity relative to the rest of the world -- did not have unlimited political, economic and military resources. Expending them in one area -- say, a protracted war in the developing world -- would sap the strength available to do anything else." Eisenhower "was wary of seeing his beloved republic turn into a muscle-bound, garrison state -- militarily strong but economically stagnant and strategically insolvent."
In the spirit of Ike, Gates asked: "Should we really be up in arms over a temporary projected shortfall of about 100 Navy and Marine strike fighters relative to the number of carrier wings when America's military possesses more than 3,200 tactical combat aircraft of all kinds? Does the number of warships we have and are building really put America at risk when the U.S. battle fleet is larger than the next 13 navies combined, 11 of which belong to allies and partners? Is it a dire threat that by 2020 the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?"
Eisenhower's seriousness of purpose was reflected in more than just his military strategy. He also believed in fiscal restraint and that government should run deficits during recessions but surpluses during recoveries. In 1960 his vice president, Richard Nixon, implored him to cut taxes to give the economy a temporary boost -- and thus help Nixon's electoral prospects. Eisenhower declined, intent on leaving office with a budget surplus, which turned out to be the last one for more than three decades. Robert Gates is a genuine conservative in Eisenhower's tradition. Unfortunately, between Gates and the painting behind him, there are only two of them in Washington these days.
Fareed Zakaria is editor of Newsweek International. His e-mail address is comments@fareedzakaria.com.