In short, he is saying, "Did I say sorry? *chey*"
Ministers, MPs not out of touch: PM Lee
<CITE class="byline vcard">
By Alicia Wong
By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene – <ABBR title=2011-04-17T04:34:29Z>Sun, Apr 17, 2011</ABBR></CITE>
PM Lee says PAP leaders stay in touch through grassroots work. (AFP file photo)
Are current Ministers and Members of Parliament out of touch with ordinary Singaporeans? It was a point-blank question directed at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong just 15 minutes into an hour-long TV forum broadcast on Channel 8 on Saturday night.
Media professional Danny Yeo queried, "How many ministers and MPs live in public housing and take public transport? Are they out of touch with ordinary Singaporeans? How can we feel you understand us?"
The Prime Minister's reply was that MPs understand ground sentiments because of their grassroots work.
"They do block visits, grassroots and community work and should be able to understand residents' concerns. If they don't live in this environment, then there's a problem," he said.
"But in Singapore, we take our grassroots work seriously, so I think we understand the situation of Singaporeans," he added.
During the forum aired in Mandarin, PM Lee went on to address other questions from the 12 participants from various industries, as well as those sent in by viewers.
The top concerns were on the cost of living, particularly in the areas of housing and health care, and unhappiness over the influx of foreigners.
PM Lee explained how the government is addressing these issues and said he understood people's concerns.
While he assured Singaporeans that inflation and property prices will moderate, PM Lee added the best way to counter these challenges would be to raise Singaporeans' wages by increasing productivity.
"I admit Singapore feels crowded, I understand. But we are doing everything we can to solve this problem," he said, adding that over $60 billion will be spent in the next 10 years to improve public transport
The focus during the last 20 minutes of the forum shifted to politics, where topics such as the GRC system, MPs religions and the benefit of a one-party system were raised.
Asked if he considered abolishing the GRC system, PM Lee stated "No. Simply put, no. GRCs exist for an important reason: to ensure Parliament will have a minimum number of minority MPs... We are a multiracial, multi-religious society. "
"If we don't have GRCs, our multiracial, multi-religious Parliament will be under threat."
He also said that as a secular state, the government will not allow an individual's religious values to affect policymaking.
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.Follow our General Elections coverage here.
Ministers, MPs not out of touch: PM Lee
<CITE class="byline vcard">
By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene – <ABBR title=2011-04-17T04:34:29Z>Sun, Apr 17, 2011</ABBR></CITE>
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Are current Ministers and Members of Parliament out of touch with ordinary Singaporeans? It was a point-blank question directed at Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong just 15 minutes into an hour-long TV forum broadcast on Channel 8 on Saturday night.
Media professional Danny Yeo queried, "How many ministers and MPs live in public housing and take public transport? Are they out of touch with ordinary Singaporeans? How can we feel you understand us?"
The Prime Minister's reply was that MPs understand ground sentiments because of their grassroots work.
"They do block visits, grassroots and community work and should be able to understand residents' concerns. If they don't live in this environment, then there's a problem," he said.
"But in Singapore, we take our grassroots work seriously, so I think we understand the situation of Singaporeans," he added.
During the forum aired in Mandarin, PM Lee went on to address other questions from the 12 participants from various industries, as well as those sent in by viewers.
The top concerns were on the cost of living, particularly in the areas of housing and health care, and unhappiness over the influx of foreigners.
PM Lee explained how the government is addressing these issues and said he understood people's concerns.
While he assured Singaporeans that inflation and property prices will moderate, PM Lee added the best way to counter these challenges would be to raise Singaporeans' wages by increasing productivity.
"I admit Singapore feels crowded, I understand. But we are doing everything we can to solve this problem," he said, adding that over $60 billion will be spent in the next 10 years to improve public transport
The focus during the last 20 minutes of the forum shifted to politics, where topics such as the GRC system, MPs religions and the benefit of a one-party system were raised.
Asked if he considered abolishing the GRC system, PM Lee stated "No. Simply put, no. GRCs exist for an important reason: to ensure Parliament will have a minimum number of minority MPs... We are a multiracial, multi-religious society. "
"If we don't have GRCs, our multiracial, multi-religious Parliament will be under threat."
He also said that as a secular state, the government will not allow an individual's religious values to affect policymaking.
Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.Follow our General Elections coverage here.
