MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the streets

MM Lee: "nobody will become destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the street"


My Gosh! he is totally out of touch with reality.


Haven't MM Lee been reading the state times lately which reported crowds queuing at temples and churches offering free meals?


Do MM Lee want to see the clip one more time featuring beggars on the streets and poor elderly collecting empty cans and cardboards?


Dear MM Lee, Singaporeans are not panicking, we are angry, very angry at the Govt !


http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Singapore/Story/STIStory_335105.html

S'pore can weather storm <!--10 min-->
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td><!-- headline one : start -->
</td></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Jeremy Au Yong </td> </tr> <tr><td><!-- show image if available -->
</td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10"> </td> <td valign="bottom">
'Singaporeans need not despair or be depressed. We will have to endure some hardship but nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the streets,' said Mr Lee (left). -- PHOTO: REUTERS
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
SINGAPOREANS have what it takes to weather the current storm, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, as he made a resounding call for people to keep their chins up.

Speaking at a Chinese New Year dinner in his Tanjong Pagar ward last night, Mr Lee sought first to ease fears of Singaporeans, and then to rally the troops for what could be a long campaign.
<table valign="top" align="left" width="200"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="padr8"> <!-- Vodcast --> <!-- Background Story --> RELATED LINKS
<!-- Audio --> <!-- Video --> <!-- PDF --> SPEECH BY MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW AT THE TANJONG PAGAR CHINESE NEW YEAR DINNER AT HENDERSON SECONDARY SCHOOL, 6 FEBRUARY 2009
<!-- Photo Gallery --> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
"Singaporeans and their government are not in panic,' he said. 'We have got the wherewithal to survive this recession, even if it goes on for several years."

It was speech filled with messages of comfort, of confidence, but mostly, of hope.

"Singaporeans need not despair or be depressed. We will have to endure some hardship but nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the streets," he said.

His words were largely directed at the younger generation, the ones who would be charged with taking the country forward. As daunting though current circumstances may appear, he said they could take heart from the experience of their predecessors.

He told them of the 1960s and 1970s, when there were only $100 million in reserves, the country faced separation from Malaysia and had to deal with "Konfrontasi" from Indonesia. In contrast, he said there is more than $100 billion in the reserves now.

"Your parents and grandparents generations had hard lives in shanty huts with no running water or modern WC, not knowing what the future could bring. They simply concentrated on hard work and built the foundation for the Singapore of the 21st century," he said.

"Your generation can take Singapore forward to become one of Asia's most vibrant and beautiful cities."

He added: "The success of Singapore came from the hard work, resourcefulness and ingenuity of your forefathers and their leaders. You are the descendants of these lion-hearted pioneers."

Amid the hopeful sentiments, there were doses of realism too.
The downturn, he said, should serve as a wake-up call to those who believe that "Singapore and Singaporeans will automatically go up the escalator every year".

He said everyone would have to do their bit to help the country weather the storm. On the Government's part, he said the leaders will "share the belt-tightening that other Singaporeans have to bear in this difficult period".

The Government will also do its best to help Singaporeans, but he stressed the focus will be on those who need it most.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Wondering what LeeFamily had for CNY reunion dinner, must be dame posh i guess.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

I really blame it on the feedback given to them by their GRASROOTS. Not in touch with reality and the ground.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

It should had been this old fart instead of Seng Han Thong to receive the baptism of fire from HONORABLE father Ong Kah Chua. Then he will not TALKCOCK sssssoooooo MUCH!

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

diversifyx2 said:

Wondering what LeeFamily had for CNY reunion dinner, must be dame posh i guess.

Click to expand...

If only I have that boobs (as per your pic),my CNY would even more wonderful.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Families that bread winner loss job and now can only afford to feed children with maggie mee.

Isn't soup kitchen better?

Even that Dirty Harry also say no.

Just give it a try, I can bet you the Q will be very long.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

The orchestra have a resident auto-conductor, that plays the same symphony,over and over again, "nobody will be left behind", and the various movements, "no poor in the streets", " no begging", " no soup kitchen", "swiss Standard of Living"...and "more GOod years"

We will of course survive, weather the hardship, 'bite the bullet'..but those with 'financial fats', will weather the 'storm' better!. How about thos, 'lesser mortal'?, they will be forever stuck in a economic whirpool, spiralling downwards, and the budget 2009, is not addressing this problem.

Of couse, the symphony on auto, will forever be playing the same tune, over & over again, pleasant to some 'ears'. But for many, it will be a tune of a different kind, a funeral dirge!

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Sure or not?

I still remember seeing pictures from Makapaa, showing pictures of beggers in the streets, and those sleeping under HDB flats.

That was in GOLDEN PERIOD. Now is depression time.... What we are going to see?

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Courtesy of "VNC2005"

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/vnc2005/

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

When was the last time he walked the streets on his own.

Getting old, senile and deluded.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Soup Kitchens. You-know-who should change his name from Harry to Hubris.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Pek Kim Lui said:

Getting old, senile and deluded.

Click to expand...

Very much so. Caught snippets on CNA last nite. Did he actually say something like " if we give people $300, they will spend it on things and 75% is imported" ? What's his point?

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

"The success of Singapore came from the hard work, resourcefulness and ingenuity of your forefathers and their leaders. You are the descendants of these lion-hearted pioneers."

What happened to lowly stock?

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

I'm tired of the same old cliches coming out of MM's mouth, and his office. Spare us such rubbish, Mr. Lee.

Its sad that our country is still being led by an 85 year old man(and an 87 year old President)- pre WWII generation- when almost every country's leaders are at least 20 years younger- and led by baby-boomers.

No wonder while other countries have moved faster to shore up their economies since Autumn 2008, we waited till the economy shrank 12% in the 4Q of 2008 before we did something now- and with a inept one at that. The time lag between America and LKY's brain had to be super long. After all, it took more than 5 months for LKY to realise something was wrong.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

pia said:

Very much so. Caught snippets on CNA last nite. Did he actually say something like " if we give people $300, they will spend it on things and 75% is imported" ? What's his point?

Click to expand...

kio siam kway pay $100. Additional $30 for room... Lidat calculate 1 izit?? :p

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

sgnewsalte said:

MM Lee: "Your parents and grandparents generations had hard lives in shanty huts with no running water or modern WC, not knowing what the future could bring. They simply concentrated on hard work and built the foundation for the Singapore of the 21st century," he said.

He added: "The success of Singapore came from the hard work, resourcefulness and ingenuity of your forefathers and their leaders..

Click to expand...

He finally admitted that he is not the only one to build Singapore. It was our forefathers who build Singapore more but by comparison in salaries, those who build with him are now picking cans and cardboards for survivial while their savings are used up to pay for basic cost of livings which are rediculously high. And the current MPs who were sucking milk then, are now behaving like they are the king and queens of these poor forefathers.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

This senile old fart has either lost touch with reality or is thinking that everyone is stupid.

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

The_Latest_H said:

I'm tired of the same old cliches coming out of MM's mouth, and his office. Spare us such rubbish, Mr. Lee.

Its sad that our country is still being led by an 85 year old man(and an 87 year old President)- pre WWII generation- when almost every country's leaders are at least 20 years younger- and led by baby-boomers.

No wonder while other countries have moved faster to shore up their economies since Autumn 2008, we waited till the economy shrank 12% in the 4Q of 2008 before we did something now- and with a inept one at that. The time lag between America and LKY's brain had to be super long. After all, it took more than 5 months for LKY to realise something was wrong.

Click to expand...

No prejudice against old people, I can accept old statesmen willing to contribute as long as they can but under some conditions:


1.) He did not invite himself and create a post out of nowhere

2.) Pay himself high pay while moon lighting as consultant for big banks.

3.) Do not have track record of being a Traitor

Re: MM Lee: nobody will be destitute depending on soup kitchens or begging in the str

Einfield said:

No prejudice against old people, I can accept old statesmen willing to contribute as long as they can but under some conditions:


1.) He did not invite himself and create a post out of nowhere

2.) Pay himself high pay while moon lighting as consultant for big banks.

3.) Do not have track record of being a Traitor

Click to expand...

Even old statesmen don't maintain cabinet posts in the current governments. They are fully retired, and they only give their tactful advice when the press requests an interview.

You don't see George Whitlam and John Howard giving advice to Kevin Rudd in Australia in an official capacity in Rudd's government. When the press interviews him, then does he criticise or praise. And the PM has the right to acknowledge- but ignore him or them, if he wishes.

Its only because of Asian statesmen like Mahathir, that statesmen like Mahathir don't understand that once you resigned or retired from your position, there's a line you shouldn't across. To see Mahathir literally run after Badawi with an axe to grind, shows how much Mahathir doesn't understand his role as a statesman, that is to remain tactful, and to give any downright honest advice, is to do it off the record and personally over the phone, and not publicly in a lecturing, consternating tone .