May 17, 2011
Exits weaken team
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I FEEL regret, and some measure of anger, that the result of the General Election has led to the resignations of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong ('Lee Kuan Yew steps down'; Sunday).
Granted, the election result pointed to a need for transformation within the People's Action Party (PAP). But their resignations, which come on top of the departures of Foreign Minister George Yeo and Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar, do not signal a transformation.
Collectively, their departures will only weaken the team that has brought Singapore to where it is today.
When Singaporeans listened to the rhetoric of political rallies during campaigning, be it opposition or PAP, we stood in the knowledge of the security and peace around us, forged by leaders in government over many years.
Much as I, and I suspect many Singaporeans as well, like to see an alternative voice in Parliament as well as a maturing opposition, we want all these to happen within the context of nation building.
An alternative voice in Parliament must result in better and equitable policies that govern our lives. It must not weaken the Government and country.
In the next general election, Singaporeans should evaluate the role of the opposition in the context of nation building, and not only evaluate its effectiveness in providing a check and balance in Parliament.
I thank SM Goh and MM Lee for their unselfish leadership and commitment to Singapore. Without them, we will not be quibbling over the price of a plate of nasi lemak, but whether there would have been nasi lemak on our tables in the first place.
Without them, we will not be lamenting the long queue for HDB flats, but whether we would have had public housing at all.
Without them, we will not be complaining about packed trains and buses, but whether we would have had an MRT to complain about.
Singaporeans owe them a debt of gratitude and the State should ensure the two former prime ministers are given due recognition.
Lim Chuan Hock
Exits weaken team
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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I FEEL regret, and some measure of anger, that the result of the General Election has led to the resignations of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong ('Lee Kuan Yew steps down'; Sunday).
Granted, the election result pointed to a need for transformation within the People's Action Party (PAP). But their resignations, which come on top of the departures of Foreign Minister George Yeo and Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar, do not signal a transformation.
Collectively, their departures will only weaken the team that has brought Singapore to where it is today.
When Singaporeans listened to the rhetoric of political rallies during campaigning, be it opposition or PAP, we stood in the knowledge of the security and peace around us, forged by leaders in government over many years.
Much as I, and I suspect many Singaporeans as well, like to see an alternative voice in Parliament as well as a maturing opposition, we want all these to happen within the context of nation building.
An alternative voice in Parliament must result in better and equitable policies that govern our lives. It must not weaken the Government and country.
In the next general election, Singaporeans should evaluate the role of the opposition in the context of nation building, and not only evaluate its effectiveness in providing a check and balance in Parliament.
I thank SM Goh and MM Lee for their unselfish leadership and commitment to Singapore. Without them, we will not be quibbling over the price of a plate of nasi lemak, but whether there would have been nasi lemak on our tables in the first place.
Without them, we will not be lamenting the long queue for HDB flats, but whether we would have had public housing at all.
Without them, we will not be complaining about packed trains and buses, but whether we would have had an MRT to complain about.
Singaporeans owe them a debt of gratitude and the State should ensure the two former prime ministers are given due recognition.
Lim Chuan Hock
