Former ISD Director: MM Lee should be removed from his position
January 25, 2010
Written by Our Correspondent
The former director of Singapore’s Internal Security Department from 1971 – 1974 Mr Yoong Siew Wah has spoken out against MM Lee Kuan Yew’s continued staying on in power.
During a dialogue session with NUS Alumni, Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said in reply to a question on why MM Lee is not stepping down that it is up to voters to vote MM Lee out if they feel he is not adding value to Singapore.
Mr Yoong felt that it is a “very diplomatic” answer and that the PAP minister have been “primed” already to give varying replies to this sensitive question:
“The PAP leadership has anticipated that the stepping down of MM Lee will be a hot topic, especially among the young electorate who wonder why this old scrooge is still drawing a whopping salary of over $3 million a year doing nothing but “forecasting”. So all the ministers are primed to give the stock reply, maybe varying in style in giving it in some cases so as not to give the impression of regimentation.”
He added that there is “widespread dissensions” among the public including PAP supporters and Lee should be “removed from his position of Minister Mentor”.
A former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee has been in government for more than 50 years. He was appointed “Minister Mentor” after his son Lee Hsien Loong became Singapore’s Prime Minister in 2003.
By his own admission, Lee claimed that he is “not doing much work except forecasting”. In fact, Lee has been flying around the world last year at the expense of Singapore taxpayers to lecture other leaders on how to run their countries.
Mr Yoong opined that it is unlikely that Lee can be voted out by voters as he still retain considerable support among Singaporeans:
“Does the PAP leadership sincerely believe that leaving the constituents at Tanjong Pagar to decide is the right course to resolve this matter. There are so many imponderables, one of which, very crucial, is whether the opposition is able to put up a team of credible candidates to face M M Lee’s slate of candidates. Another is MM Lee is in a GRC and it will be impracticable to expect electors to vote against MM Lee without affecting his fellow-candidates. He still has his admirers among the electors, who are either blind to or condone his kinks.”
Lee will be almost 88 years of age by the time the next election is called. An increasing number of Singaporeans, especially the young are joining the chorus of voices to request him to step down by then.
While it is undeniable that Lee has contributed to Singapore during his reign as Prime Minister, he will do more harm than good to the nation by staying on.
Not only will his lingering presence prevent capable leaders from emerging from within the ranks of the PAP, he is grossly out of touch with the aspirations of the younger generation who should be allowed free rein to chart their own destinies.
January 25, 2010
Written by Our Correspondent
The former director of Singapore’s Internal Security Department from 1971 – 1974 Mr Yoong Siew Wah has spoken out against MM Lee Kuan Yew’s continued staying on in power.
During a dialogue session with NUS Alumni, Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said in reply to a question on why MM Lee is not stepping down that it is up to voters to vote MM Lee out if they feel he is not adding value to Singapore.
Mr Yoong felt that it is a “very diplomatic” answer and that the PAP minister have been “primed” already to give varying replies to this sensitive question:
“The PAP leadership has anticipated that the stepping down of MM Lee will be a hot topic, especially among the young electorate who wonder why this old scrooge is still drawing a whopping salary of over $3 million a year doing nothing but “forecasting”. So all the ministers are primed to give the stock reply, maybe varying in style in giving it in some cases so as not to give the impression of regimentation.”
He added that there is “widespread dissensions” among the public including PAP supporters and Lee should be “removed from his position of Minister Mentor”.
A former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee has been in government for more than 50 years. He was appointed “Minister Mentor” after his son Lee Hsien Loong became Singapore’s Prime Minister in 2003.
By his own admission, Lee claimed that he is “not doing much work except forecasting”. In fact, Lee has been flying around the world last year at the expense of Singapore taxpayers to lecture other leaders on how to run their countries.
Mr Yoong opined that it is unlikely that Lee can be voted out by voters as he still retain considerable support among Singaporeans:
“Does the PAP leadership sincerely believe that leaving the constituents at Tanjong Pagar to decide is the right course to resolve this matter. There are so many imponderables, one of which, very crucial, is whether the opposition is able to put up a team of credible candidates to face M M Lee’s slate of candidates. Another is MM Lee is in a GRC and it will be impracticable to expect electors to vote against MM Lee without affecting his fellow-candidates. He still has his admirers among the electors, who are either blind to or condone his kinks.”
Lee will be almost 88 years of age by the time the next election is called. An increasing number of Singaporeans, especially the young are joining the chorus of voices to request him to step down by then.
While it is undeniable that Lee has contributed to Singapore during his reign as Prime Minister, he will do more harm than good to the nation by staying on.
Not only will his lingering presence prevent capable leaders from emerging from within the ranks of the PAP, he is grossly out of touch with the aspirations of the younger generation who should be allowed free rein to chart their own destinies.
