Be warned--lots of pro PAP bullshit here. shield your eyes if you just can't stand it or write back to the following people:
Hallmark of nation's political culture
I READ with great regret that both Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong have announced their desire to retire from the Cabinet ('Lee Kuan Yew steps down'; yesterday).
Their joint response to the outcome of GE 2011 shows that they continue to put Singapore's interests above their own and are prepared to step down to make way for changes that are required in the new political landscape.
This is the hallmark of Singapore's political culture that has served us well and a virtue that the opposition should seek to emulate.
GE 2011 will go down in history as one that is truly a 'watershed' in many ways and we can expect to see more sweeping changes in the weeks ahead.
However, it is important to remember that the majority of Singaporeans - 60.1 per cent - did vote for the PAP, and we should never be left with this niggling feeling that it is the 39.9 per cent who voted for the opposition that truly won the General Election.
Thank you MM Lee and SM Goh for your contributions to Singapore.
Ang Kok Thiam
Right move but statesmen's good work must continue
THE decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to step down from the Cabinet is indeed a landmark in our political landscape, given the constancy of their presence in our Government over the past decades.
To put their decision in perspective, they still remain MPs and members of the powerful Central Executive Committee of the People's Action Party. MM Lee is still chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and both may be holding a host of other posts as well. This means they will still continue to influence and contribute to the Government, although in a less direct manner as they would no longer be in the Cabinet.
How much change from the status quo their departure from the Cabinet will bring - given that their portfolios were not clearly defined - remains to be seen. Their good work in building bridges to the world at large as senior statesmen is very invaluable and should continue.
The two leaders' move can be interpreted as a good early sign that the People's Action Party leadership is indeed listening to voters, but more remains to be done before the PAP can emerge as the heart and soul of Singapore.
Dr Teoh Ren Shang
Dawn of new era
'It is a positive sign that a wind of change is starting to shape how Singapore will be governed in the future.'
MR TAN HO GIAN: 'I applaud the decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to retire from the Cabinet. It is timely and the right thing to do. It is a positive sign that a wind of change is starting to shape how Singapore will be governed in the future. It is clear that the People's Action Party is now serious about forging a new consensus by listening to the citizens. The dawn of a new era is here in shaping the future of Singapore. The people have spoken and the Government has responded. Bravo!'
That needs courage
'Both have created history and will be remembered in history.'
DR JOHNSON LIM: 'Having understood the signs of the times, the two leaders had the courage and willingness to do the right thing by stepping down for the nation. Both have created history and will be remembered in history.'
Long overdue
'With their presence, it would have been difficult to break away from the old mindset.'
MR KELVIN QUEK: 'While the sudden announcement of the retirement of MM Lee and SM Goh from the Cabinet was unexpected, it was long overdue. It was odd for the PAP to be talking about bringing in the fourth generation of leaders when the first and second generations were still represented in the Cabinet. What Singapore had was a very odd system with not one but two former prime ministers watching over the current Prime Minister and his team. With their presence, it would have been difficult to break away from the old mindset and to boldly redefine our national agenda. Former PMs can still serve our nation in other roles, such as special envoy, without being present in the Cabinet.'
Hearing youth fine but...
'Dispensing with the wisdom and experience of the two leaders will be dangerous.'
MR KONG SIONG KWONG: 'Not heeding the voice and sentiments of younger citizens is folly, but dispensing with the wisdom and experience of the two leaders will be dangerous. The decision is regrettable. The two are outstanding statesmen whose influence extends beyond Singapore. Let us, with one united voice, tell them that we selfishly want them back.'
Great leadership
'A big thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
MR JEFFREY TAN: 'To MM Lee and SM Goh, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart as my family and Singaporeans have been the beneficiaries of their great leadership. I wish both of them and their loved ones good health and happiness.
Biggest tectonic shift in politics
I AM saddened by the announcement that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong would be retiring from the Cabinet, which adds to the painful loss of Foreign Minister George Yeo.
MM and SM are irreplaceable in Singapore's Government. Their presence gives foreign investors confidence in Singapore, which is a key factor for the nation's economic success.
MM Lee is the "mascot" of Singapore that no one can ever replace. His international standing is enormous; he is a world statesman respected by leaders of the great powers of the world.
SM Goh was the key driving force behind the opening up the post-1990 government to engage citizens in a more consultative style. The many policies he put in place during his 14 years as prime minister brought stability and progress to Singapore.
Mr George Yeo, who is intelligent, hardworking and humble, has had enormous international exposure with a track record of being one of the most competent and versatile ministers. The good relationships he has built over the years with foreign ministers in other countries is invaluable to Singapore.
Their leaving the Cabinet at the same time is the biggest tectonic shift in Singapore's political landscape since independence.
Despite the heavy loss of nearly a century of political experience, MM and SM's decision to resign from Cabinet is an act of great personal humility and courage.
It is also a stamp of confidence for the younger generation of leaders led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It gives them an opportunity to forge a new social compact and consensus with younger Singaporeans.
Tay Xiong Sheng
Towards a new future
THE sudden decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to allow Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to be his own man in running the country has taken the nation by surprise.
All can now wake up to a new dawn with, perhaps, a dash of nostalgia, even sadness.
As these two giants start to fade from the political scene, Singaporeans should be mindful of the huge contributions by both men, especially MM Lee, who, together with his magnificent old party stalwarts, laid the foundation of modern Singapore.
SM Goh built upon that solid base and continued to transform Singapore into a highly respectable economic powerhouse that it is today. To both, all Singaporeans owe an incalculable debt.
Although the fruits of their labour have been enjoyed by all, their reigns were not without occasional hiccups. The lapses were probably inevitable, especially in the light of the circumstances of the time and the rapidity with which progress was made.
But that's the past. PM Lee is now poised to take Singapore into the future with renewed vigour and confidence, unrestrained by the well-intentioned overtones of the past.
Perhaps Singaporeans can now look forward to a closer, warmer and more sanguine relationship between them and the Government.
The recent watershed election has changed the political and parliamentary landscape, perhaps forever. All Singaporeans, regardless of their political persuasion, must now stand solidly behind PM Lee to lend support to a vision shared by all - a prosperous and vibrant Singapore where, indeed, no one is left behind.
Lee Seck Kay
Hallmark of nation's political culture
I READ with great regret that both Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong have announced their desire to retire from the Cabinet ('Lee Kuan Yew steps down'; yesterday).
Their joint response to the outcome of GE 2011 shows that they continue to put Singapore's interests above their own and are prepared to step down to make way for changes that are required in the new political landscape.
This is the hallmark of Singapore's political culture that has served us well and a virtue that the opposition should seek to emulate.
GE 2011 will go down in history as one that is truly a 'watershed' in many ways and we can expect to see more sweeping changes in the weeks ahead.
However, it is important to remember that the majority of Singaporeans - 60.1 per cent - did vote for the PAP, and we should never be left with this niggling feeling that it is the 39.9 per cent who voted for the opposition that truly won the General Election.
Thank you MM Lee and SM Goh for your contributions to Singapore.
Ang Kok Thiam
Right move but statesmen's good work must continue
THE decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to step down from the Cabinet is indeed a landmark in our political landscape, given the constancy of their presence in our Government over the past decades.
To put their decision in perspective, they still remain MPs and members of the powerful Central Executive Committee of the People's Action Party. MM Lee is still chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and both may be holding a host of other posts as well. This means they will still continue to influence and contribute to the Government, although in a less direct manner as they would no longer be in the Cabinet.
How much change from the status quo their departure from the Cabinet will bring - given that their portfolios were not clearly defined - remains to be seen. Their good work in building bridges to the world at large as senior statesmen is very invaluable and should continue.
The two leaders' move can be interpreted as a good early sign that the People's Action Party leadership is indeed listening to voters, but more remains to be done before the PAP can emerge as the heart and soul of Singapore.
Dr Teoh Ren Shang
Dawn of new era
'It is a positive sign that a wind of change is starting to shape how Singapore will be governed in the future.'
MR TAN HO GIAN: 'I applaud the decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to retire from the Cabinet. It is timely and the right thing to do. It is a positive sign that a wind of change is starting to shape how Singapore will be governed in the future. It is clear that the People's Action Party is now serious about forging a new consensus by listening to the citizens. The dawn of a new era is here in shaping the future of Singapore. The people have spoken and the Government has responded. Bravo!'
That needs courage
'Both have created history and will be remembered in history.'
DR JOHNSON LIM: 'Having understood the signs of the times, the two leaders had the courage and willingness to do the right thing by stepping down for the nation. Both have created history and will be remembered in history.'
Long overdue
'With their presence, it would have been difficult to break away from the old mindset.'
MR KELVIN QUEK: 'While the sudden announcement of the retirement of MM Lee and SM Goh from the Cabinet was unexpected, it was long overdue. It was odd for the PAP to be talking about bringing in the fourth generation of leaders when the first and second generations were still represented in the Cabinet. What Singapore had was a very odd system with not one but two former prime ministers watching over the current Prime Minister and his team. With their presence, it would have been difficult to break away from the old mindset and to boldly redefine our national agenda. Former PMs can still serve our nation in other roles, such as special envoy, without being present in the Cabinet.'
Hearing youth fine but...
'Dispensing with the wisdom and experience of the two leaders will be dangerous.'
MR KONG SIONG KWONG: 'Not heeding the voice and sentiments of younger citizens is folly, but dispensing with the wisdom and experience of the two leaders will be dangerous. The decision is regrettable. The two are outstanding statesmen whose influence extends beyond Singapore. Let us, with one united voice, tell them that we selfishly want them back.'
Great leadership
'A big thank you from the bottom of my heart.'
MR JEFFREY TAN: 'To MM Lee and SM Goh, a big thank you from the bottom of my heart as my family and Singaporeans have been the beneficiaries of their great leadership. I wish both of them and their loved ones good health and happiness.
Biggest tectonic shift in politics
I AM saddened by the announcement that Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong would be retiring from the Cabinet, which adds to the painful loss of Foreign Minister George Yeo.
MM and SM are irreplaceable in Singapore's Government. Their presence gives foreign investors confidence in Singapore, which is a key factor for the nation's economic success.
MM Lee is the "mascot" of Singapore that no one can ever replace. His international standing is enormous; he is a world statesman respected by leaders of the great powers of the world.
SM Goh was the key driving force behind the opening up the post-1990 government to engage citizens in a more consultative style. The many policies he put in place during his 14 years as prime minister brought stability and progress to Singapore.
Mr George Yeo, who is intelligent, hardworking and humble, has had enormous international exposure with a track record of being one of the most competent and versatile ministers. The good relationships he has built over the years with foreign ministers in other countries is invaluable to Singapore.
Their leaving the Cabinet at the same time is the biggest tectonic shift in Singapore's political landscape since independence.
Despite the heavy loss of nearly a century of political experience, MM and SM's decision to resign from Cabinet is an act of great personal humility and courage.
It is also a stamp of confidence for the younger generation of leaders led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It gives them an opportunity to forge a new social compact and consensus with younger Singaporeans.
Tay Xiong Sheng
Towards a new future
THE sudden decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to allow Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to be his own man in running the country has taken the nation by surprise.
All can now wake up to a new dawn with, perhaps, a dash of nostalgia, even sadness.
As these two giants start to fade from the political scene, Singaporeans should be mindful of the huge contributions by both men, especially MM Lee, who, together with his magnificent old party stalwarts, laid the foundation of modern Singapore.
SM Goh built upon that solid base and continued to transform Singapore into a highly respectable economic powerhouse that it is today. To both, all Singaporeans owe an incalculable debt.
Although the fruits of their labour have been enjoyed by all, their reigns were not without occasional hiccups. The lapses were probably inevitable, especially in the light of the circumstances of the time and the rapidity with which progress was made.
But that's the past. PM Lee is now poised to take Singapore into the future with renewed vigour and confidence, unrestrained by the well-intentioned overtones of the past.
Perhaps Singaporeans can now look forward to a closer, warmer and more sanguine relationship between them and the Government.
The recent watershed election has changed the political and parliamentary landscape, perhaps forever. All Singaporeans, regardless of their political persuasion, must now stand solidly behind PM Lee to lend support to a vision shared by all - a prosperous and vibrant Singapore where, indeed, no one is left behind.
Lee Seck Kay
they rather want GY!!! wah!!! really knn!!! more people vote for WP, but when u read the newspaper forum. only pro pap voice are air! knn!!! :oIo: lhl want us to heal the crack and move on, with this type of mother fucker pap supporters how to do that??? :oIo:
