LEAVING HIS MARK ON SINGAPORE And more importantly, to go beyond what Singapore has achieved in multiculturalism. Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH was a Singaporean politician. Lee Kuan Yew and his cabinet also took their oaths of office on June 5, 1959, in the City Hall Chamber. SPH Digital News / Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn. I enjoy playing half-back and making the long passes, but I am not the striker. Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said that former Cabinet Minister S. Dhanabalan was one of the four men he considered as his successor, but decided against him as he felt Singapore was “not ready” for a non-Chinese prime minister. It seems to me inevitable that at some point, a minority prime minister - Indian, Malay, Eurasian, or some mixture - is going to be a feature of the political landscape. 7 years ago. At a later panel discussion, Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh noted that there had not been a Malay president since Mr Yusof Ishak in the 1960s. Everybody will have a place in Singapore.”. The award China recently conferred on founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is a strong affirmation of his longstanding support for the country’s reform and opening up as well as the friendship between the two countries, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, reported The Straits Times. The 2017 election was subsequently reserved for Malay candidates since the Government said no one from the racial group had been president in the last five terms. During his long rule, Singapore became the… Mr Deng, at … Read 3 articles daily and stand to win ST rewards, including the ST News Tablet worth $398. Lee Kuan Yew also spelled as Lee Kwan Yew 李光耀 is known as a very successful politician, born in Singapore, Mr.Lee successfully turned Singapore from a third world to first world.The other 2 non western countries that managed to reach developed status are Taiwan and South Korea, but both are still behind Singapore in term of Human Development Index (HDI) and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. Mr Zakaria was chairing a dialogue at the SG50+ Conference on what lies ahead for Singapore, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. In 2012, despite PM Lee accepting a 36 percent pay cut to S$2.2 million, he is still the world’s most well paid head of government – four times Barack Obama’s yearly salary. Pointing out that it would have been the vote of Singaporeans if Madam Halimah did not win an open election and that Singaporeans should be trusted with their ability to discern, Mr Yee wrote on Facebook: Asserting that Singaporeans are not unhappy with Madam Halimah as a person but are frustrated with the process that deprived them of their opportunity to elect a president in an open contest, Mr Yee continued: PM Lee, his father Lee Kuan Yew and his presumptive successor Heng Swee Keat have all publicly said that they don’t feel Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese PM. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first project with Netflix will highlight one of the Duke's most passionate causes. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN POLICY: THEN AND NOW. Out of 2,316 responses, most (1882 votes) voted for Tharman to lead Singapore into the future. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. After all, both PM Lee Hsien Loong and MCI Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahimspoke out against Pin Pin’s film, stating that it gave a one-sided account of what occurred back in the 1960s and did not do justice to the people who gave their li… When asked whether it is Singapore or the PAP that is not ready for a non-Chinese PM, Mr Heng asserted that the older generation is not prepared to accept a minority PM. We've got a meritocracy, it is an open system. Days after Mr Heng said that he does not believe Singaporeans are ready for a non-Chinese PM, a whopping 92 per cent of 19,900 individuals responding to a viral Facebook poll voted for Tharman Shanmugaratnam to succeed PM Lee and become the nation’s next head of Government, instead of Mr Heng. He said this to assure the minorities in Singapore that they would always be protected and … You go through common experiences together, national service, so it is a matter of time.". Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. Singapore's friendly relations with China are a product of Lee Kuan Yew's dedication towards non-interference and his vision for peace, prosperity and stability. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM, on a non-Chinese becoming prime minister of Singapore, DPM Tharman, who is also the Finance Minister, said: "Singapore is evolving. He informed me that PM Lee Kuan Yew would be arriving in Anuradhapura two days later, with Minister Gamini Dissanayake in attendance. While detractors have been quick to criticise Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, it is imperative to bear in mind that he is, after all, only human. Close. The sentiments Singaporeans expressed in the latest poll match the result of The Independent’s own poll over two years ago when we asked our readers who should be the next PM. 26 January. All rights reserved. You have reached your limit of subscriber-only articles this month. Many Singaporeans got triggered over the weekend after Singapore finance minister Heng Swee Keat made comments reported by local media that the country was not ready for a non-Chinese prime minister (PM). A Blackbox survey commissioned by Yahoo Singapore confirmed the results of our poll. By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy. SINGAPORE, Dec 29, 2018, The Straits Times. The fundamentals of our foreign policy were forged during those vulnerable early years. And these sentiments—who votes for whom, and what makes him identify with that person—these are sentiments which will not disappear completely for a long time, even if people do not talk about it, even if people wish they did not feel it.”. All done! But for an election, it becomes an issue.”, Referring to the reserved presidential election, Mr Heng defended the government’s position saying it is “not contradictory.” He reasoned: “It is precisely because we need to place this emphasis institutionally that we recognise that we have not arrived. Independence was thrust upon Singapore. Interview with PM of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew on the Vietnam War (1967) Video. 63 quotes from Lee Kuan Yew: 'I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. All three of Singapore’s Prime Minister since independence have been Chinese, and the person identified as the most likely to succeed PM Lee and become Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister – Heng Swee Keat – is also Chinese. Asked whether he would be prime minister, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam said he did not see himself taking on the job. Share gift link below with your friends and family. Taking issue with this last statement, WP member Yee Jenn Jong asked why the PAP thinks Madam Halimah would have lost an open election based on her race since a minority candidate that has contested past presidential election has never lost in the history of independent Singapore. PM Lee, his father Lee Kuan Yew and his presumptive successor Heng Swee Keat have all publicly said that they don’t feel Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese PM. Lee Kuan Yew laid foundation for China-Singapore ties: PM Lee. "Nehru's speeches resonated with me," he said. Archived. PM Lee said he thought it was possible for Singapore to have a non- Chinese prime minister, but it may not happen soon. When Mr Zakaria asked if he would do the job, Mr Tharman drew a sporting analogy. During a parliamentary sitting on Monday (Apr 5), members of Parliament (MPs) on... © The Independent News & Media Pte Ltd, Singapore. ", He added: "We've got a crop of people who are in the fray already and entering the fray who will provide future leadership.". Lee Hsien Loong echoed his father’s views in 2008, shortly after Barack Obama got elected as the first black president of the United States of America. She and her generation knew that, to use a Chinese phrase, "跟着李光耀走不会死的" - if you follow Lee Kuan Yew, you will survive. Here it … 198402868E. “If only you could be our PM” – Singaporeans tell Tharman as he lauds Heng Swee Keat, Ex-GIC chief economist joins chorus of Singaporeans asking why “people’s choice” Tharman dropped out of PM race, Whopping 92% of Singaporeans in viral poll vote for Tharman to become next PM, Send in your scoops to news@theindependent.sg. Founded by Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games is the Paralympics-style competition for wounded service personnel and veterans. During his leadership, Singapore separated from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965 and grew from an underdeveloped colonial outpost with no natural … Lee Kuan Yew, (born September 16, 1923, Singapore—died March 23, 2015, Singapore), politician and lawyer who was prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. ... My favorite parts are LKY's response when the reporter asked his opinion on the future of China speaking as a Chinese who understands China. He asked Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong if a Malay could be elected president. In October 1951, a large shipment of opium was hijacked by … "Unless I am forced to be, and I don't think I will be forced to it because we've got choices. Dr Tan lost the 2011 presidential election by less than 0.35 per cent of votes to establishment pick, Tony Tan. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn't be here today. Lee Kuan Yew is no more. We all have our preferences and I was always, in sports, playing centre-half rather than centre-forward. He said: “Will it happen soon? During his long rule, Singapore became the … PM Lee said he thought it was possible for Singapore to have a non- Chinese prime minister, but it may not happen soon. During his long rule, Singapore became the most-prosperous country in Southeast Asia. No. She subsequently won the election by walkover when two other presidential hopefuls were disqualified by the Elections Department. Asserting that they are ready for a non-Chinese PM, some hoped for a “miracle” that Mr Tharman would assume the top post while others opined that they do not like Mr Heng as much as they like Mr Tharman. He will be remembered by many for many reasons. But a log-in is still required for our PDFs. She told me: "Tell Lee Kuan Yew I will always support him. Days after Mr Barack Obama was elected in 2008, becoming the first black American president, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was asked whether Singapore was ready for a non-Chinese prime minister at a dialogue with Malay-Muslim community leaders. Lee was born into a Chinese family that had been established in Singapore since the 19th century. "We've got a meritocracy, it is an open system," he said yesterday, noting that people share experiences like national service and are educated largely in English, and that the common space is expanding. We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Madam Halimah’s seat at Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC has been vacant since she left the ward and the Government did not call for a by-election. The PAP government’s decisions to amend the constitution and reserve the election for Malay candidates were perceived as a contentious move since Tan Cheng Bock had announced his intention to contest the 2017 election months before that. The common space where everyone is growing up in is much larger than it used to be. NON-CHINESE PM? Join ST's Telegram channel here and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. 2021. All this explains his incredulity that poll results show that 90% of Singaporeans have no problem with having a non-Chinese PM. He was the co-founder and first secretary-general of the People's Action Party, and led the party to a landslide victory in 1959. In 1965, on the day we became independent, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said Singapore is “not a Malay nation, not a Chinese nation, not an Indian nation. Harry and his wife Meghan... Singapore – Parliamentarians supported Singapore's US$20.57 million (S$27.7 million) contribution to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiatives to help the vulnerable and low-income countries cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. "Are we ready for a non-Chinese PM then?" On Sunday, PM Lee told PAP cadres that the reserved election issue was a “political minus for the government, for the PAP” in the short term but added that he is “convinced that we did the right thing.”. March 23, 2016, marks the first death anniversary of Singapore’s founding father and long-serving Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. At the same time, we must proactively strengthen our structures and institutions that support our multiracial and multi-religious society.”, PM Lee called the President a “unifying symbol” of multiracial Singapore and asked: “How would the minorities feel if the president of Singapore were almost always Chinese? The building underwent major renovations from 1987 to 1991. Singapore -- How does a wheelchair-bound woman move around when her HDB flat has no lift access? They can read the article in full after signing up for a free account. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is still The Man. Workers’ Party (WP) politician Yee Jenn Jong raised critical questions after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong defended the reserved presidential election, at the People’s Action Party (PAP) convention last Sunday (Nov 10). Today corruption.net is looking at why he will be remembered for his relentless fight against ant-corruption. According to him, it’s all ‘utter rubbish’ and people are saying what is ‘politically correct’. ", "It is a pretty strong common space, an education system where everyone is educated with first-language English. Lee Kuan Yew was the prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, making him the longest-serving PM in history. Pointing out that PM Lee’s statement on the importance of racial equality for the President contradicts the Government’s repeated claims that Singaporeans are not ready for a non-Chinese PM, Mr Yee asked: Addressing his party’s members and activists last Sunday, PM Lee said the PAP “must never, ever be afraid to do what is right for Singapore” and cited the 2017 reserved presidential election as an example of a “right thing” the PAP Government did, despite some backlash. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said it is a matter of time before Singapore gets a non-Chinese prime minister. Was the reprint of the book a strategy to counter Tan Pin Pin’s To Singapore, with Love? u/The_Turk2. He wrote: "We have put together an account using evidence from the British archives as well as CPM sources, which confirm that Mr Lee Kuan Yew told the truth. I know what he has done for me and Singapore." As the world recalls his achievements, Lee's espousal of "Asian values" inspired by Confucianism has made him a … It is also about overlapping circles," he said. Lee Kuan Yew was a very popular public figure in Singapore. In remembrance of our founder, Lee Kuan Yew, we commemorate his third death anniversary with this video. When something causes offence, like people making reckless remarks or offensive posts, we have to take action. In the long term, such a scenario will foment deep unhappiness, and erode the founding values of our nation.”. "First of all I cant speak as a Chinese because I am a Singaporean. This article is now fully available for you, Please verify your e-mail to read this subscriber-only article in full. Noting that many students might be happy to have a non-Chinese PM, Heng said that his “own experience in walking the ground, in working with different people from all walks of life, is that the views — if you go by age and by life experience — would be very different.”, He added: “I do think that at the right time when enough people think that we may have a minority leader, a minority who becomes the leader of the country, that is something that we can all hope for.”, Mr Heng asserted that he witnessed Singapore’s reluctance to accept a non-Chinese PM as he observed the elections: “I can tell you that it is not easy because it triggers all the feelings about race, which are not obvious. "It seems to me inevitable that at some point, a minority prime minister - Indian, Malay, Eurasian, or some mixture - is going to be a feature of the political landscape. At yesterday's hour-long dialogue, a member of the audience asked Mr Tharman what he felt were the "key tenets of a more positive narrative of an ageing Singapore" and ways to achieve it. Asserting that the fault lines of race, language and religion “have not really disappeared” and that the decision was made for the “long-term good,” he said: “We have to continue managing racial and religious issues closely and sensitively. The past three ministers since Singapore gained independence in 1965 have been Chinese: Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong, and Lee Hsien Loong. China's then-Senior Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping being welcomed to Singapore by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Lee Kuan Yew delivered the 37th Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture on November 21, 2005 in New Delhi. In LKY’s universe, his ancient blood feud against … “Please do not twist facts”: Netizens chide Education Minister after claiming rise in imported cases not due to travellers entering S’pore . "Let me put it this way. A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 04, 2015, with the headline ''Matter of time' before S'pore has non-Chinese PM'. That was almost 20 years ago. Those observing the delegation Lee Kuan Yew led on his first official visit to China in 1976 would have noticed the presence of interpreters, even though both sides appeared to be ethnic Chinese. - WP politician asks... Wheelchair-bound woman struggles getting in and out of home because of inconsiderate neighbours and no lift access, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their first Netflix series, S’pore to contribute S$27.7m to IMF for low-income countries coping with Covid-19, MPs show support.