LKY: Only an A-Team will do!

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Many S'poreans would probably have done a better job at ensuring that Mas Selamat would not have escaped as oppopsed to Wong Kan Seng. So why is Wong Kan Seng still at MHA and where is Mas Selamat?

Oct 25, 2008
'Only an A-Team will do'
First-class leaders needed to face challenges ahead
By Kor Kian Beng


IS THERE a need for a new type of leadership to steer Singapore into the future? Or will what has worked in the past continue to work in the future?
These questions flitted through 41-year-old Jonas Ang's mind as he sat through a dialogue at the Human Capital Summit with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew yesterday.

The human resource director decided to pose them to the man most responsible for building modern Singapore.

Mr Lee's immediate response: 'That's a very pertinent and deep question which I've asked myself.'

He said the Singaporeans of today have higher aspirations and are better educated than in the past, but that has also led some to believe that they know better than the Cabinet ministers.

'You can see it in the letters to the press, which isn't a bad thing provided they understand that they may not be right, because the ministers aren't stupid,' he said.

Changing times notwithstanding, Singapore must continue to have an A-Team of leaders in place, he added.

He said: 'If we field a B-Team, we are in trouble. We've got to have an A-Team. I don't care whether it's the PAP (People's Action Party) or any other party.

'You need first-class people with good minds, a sense of obligation to do a good job for the people and the ability to execute. That's an A-Team.'

How is an A-Team picked? MM Lee gave a peek into the process.

First, potential leaders undergo rigorous selection tests. They are then put through at least two five-year terms before they get to higher office, he said. 'So we know that they got what it takes.'

A type of leader that Singaporeans must guard against is the glib speaker who cannot perform.

Said MM Lee: 'That you can talk plausibly doesn't mean you can perform effectively. They're two different qualities. A good politician must be able to do both.'

One reason for the stringent criteria for future Singaporean leaders is the competition the country faces from up-and-coming economies like China and India, he said.

Still, there is something very much on the side of future Singapore leaders.

This is the Singapore system, characterised by traits like the rule of law, transparency, fair play and meritocracy, he said.

India and China will take at least 20 to 50 years to catch up with Singapore in this aspect, he believes.

Canadian and Singapore PR Edouard Merette, who has lived here for 12 years, agreed with MM Lee.

The peaceful, safe and efficient environment here is one reason why his company, Aon Consulting, decided to set up its regional headquarters and a research centre here.

Said Mr Merette, Aon Consulting's CEO for Asia-Pacific: 'Singapore is a modern society in a Third World area. You can give compliments only to Mr Lee's leadership.'

[email protected]

 

[kakowi]

Always go back to the results.

Why is publicity nowadays appear to be focusing on MM Lee? He was responsible for Singapore but he is not responsible for Singapore.

An MM is not a PM.

PM LHL's A-team interim results are out. Is it better than PM LKY's A-team results.

That is the question.

 

[kakowi]

Regarding the point that you should pay more attention to the results of the person in charge rather than the person who is not charge:

Ref: http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/independence/ref/plen7.html

Partial quote:

Mr Fang, of the former Malayan Communist Party (MCP), had told Malaysia's Nanyang Siang Pau, of his wish to settle in Singapore. He said although he was allowed to return, he had chosen not to because of "disagreements in conditions".​

He also disclosed that he had met SM Lee Kuan Yew in Beijing in 1995 to discuss the return of the Singapore-born ex-communists and a resolution of the conflict.

Madam Yeong gave more details of the meeting in her letter.​

"Mr Lee said he was no longer in charge, but even if he were, there was no need for a resolution as the conflict was over.​

​

Unquote

 

[myjohnson]

The problem with Singapore is that there is no assurance of a future leader to replace someone with the flair and talent of a LKY. Without LKY, there is no possibility of an A team. Without his astounding ability to regurgitate cock and bull stories in the face of reality, there can be no A team.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Porifirio

If MM was honest with himself , he would admit as other leaders like SM have admitted , the " A Team" as defined covers only those who agreed to come forth and be selected and tested as Political Leaders. The list of people who are qualifed to be on the " A Team" should be on magnitude larger than that of the A Team itself or Singapore would have been screwed a long long time ago.

That is the 82 MPs and the leaders selected from the 82 MPs represents not the best of the best but rather that they are the only ones out of a group of perhaps a thousand leaders who have agreed to stand and thus not necessarily the best.

I believe the question is why does the PAP find it so hard to get people, potential leaders to stand ? The PAP answer is as always the GRC or guranteeded risk free career, or an increase in pay. I would humbly submit that the problem lies deeper within the Ethos of the PAP.

My view is that leadership can only exists or be demonstrated in a crisis and through competition. In the US, in army and air force simulations from red flag to ntc, they train outnumbered and they train to win. The conditions require excellence in leadership and strategy from the top all the way to the bottom. Likewise in a corporate world in a year to year profit and growth mode especially in the face of break neck technology and competition shifts.

In a sense Singapore is unique whereby the "crisis" that has existed is dealt with by a pre determined " A Team" which had to face no competition to earn the right to be that same . " A Team". Thus any definition of the A Team being the A Team rings hollow in the lack of political competition at all levels, if your " A team" as you define it is the only A Team available and you have constrained the emergence of any other A Team then how can one claim with a straight face that your A Team is the best available or for that matter the best value for the money they earn ?

Selection to be a PAP MP is not based on grass roots work, they can be parachuted from on top and often are. Selection to be a PAP MP is I believed looking at the system based on selection and not as in the UK based on political competition from below. This is I believe a fundamental flaw where leadership is given and not earned.





Locke

 

[scroobal]

'Only an A-Team will do'
First-class leaders needed to face challenges ahead

Changing times notwithstanding, Singapore must continue to have an A-Team of leaders in place, he added.

He said: 'If we field a B-Team, we are in trouble. We've got to have an A-Team. I don't care whether it's the PAP (People's Action Party) or any other party.

Though the older generation might have been grateful and witnessed kampungs turning into skyscrapers, longkangs into covered drains, night soil collection into underground sewage works and mosquito buses into mrt, bringing the 3rd world rural city into the first, generation y has not seem anything that comes close to a paradigm shift.

This is despite the fact that over 30 years, scholars were sent to the best institutions of the world, the mandarin of the civil service and the poltical decision makers the the best paid, the results however is no different to any of the progressive nations of the 3rd world.

HDB estates are fast turning into ghettos, heavily littered, five foot corridors blocked, coffeeshops washing the utensils outside, etc. Traffic is no longer moving freely, there are only standing room in MRT trains except in the first hour and the last 2 hrs of it operational day, taxi drivers are losing patience, people are becoming rude and impatient, town planning is breaking down, most wanted detainee escapes and many more. All the hallmarks of a 1st world country that were expected such as retirement funds, safety net, gracious and caring society, liberalism, arts and literature flourishing, creativity, tolerance, and a national identity are now remote.

The iron grip on power continues, the results are fading, the welcome has been worn out, nepotism has creeped in, avoiding conflict of interest is no longer an operating principle.

1st generation singaporeans are becoming jaded, the second generation cannot understand why levis jeans and gerrymandering can exist together, foreigners make the best of both worlds, and the press continues to prostitute with this incredible belief that only a minority dissent.

Old Man should go fuck himself as he has now stopped innovating and has become increasingly repetative. A son holding the PMship that cannot be seen or heard on a tiny island, a daughter who has broken every law in probabilites by a string of bad decisions, a nephew-in-law who does not know the meaning of 'independent' in an Independent Commison of Inquiry, a brother and his sister in law providing discounts to the family while shareholders of the public listed developing company received none, allowing insider trading to be condoned with a slap on the wrist until the japanese complained, a party that could not up come up with a decent manifesto at the last elections in a timely manner despite 49 years in power, funding an entire election machinary on taxpayers funds and allowing unelected and rejected party candidates to carry out political duties in the name of advisors.

What fucking A Team is he talking about.

 

[myjohnson]

This A team is on track to giving themselves another obscene raise in salary while many in the country are preparing to make do with one less meal a day in the near future. Bet your bottom dollar, the general population will keep quiet. It will be a repetitive circle of events until the threshold is reached and well.......let's see.

 

[Ramseth]

Old Man should go fuck himself as he has now stopped innovating and has become increasingly repetative. A son holding the PMship that cannot be seen or heard on a tiny island, a daughter who has broken every law in probabilites by a string of bad decisions, a nephew-in-law who does not know the meaning of 'independent' in an Independent Commison of Inquiry, a brother and his sister in law providing discounts to the family while shareholders of the public listed developing company received none, allowing insider trading to be condoned with a slap on the wrist until the japanese complained, a party that could not up come up with a decent manifesto at the last elections in a timely manner despite 49 years in power, funding an entire election machinary on taxpayers funds and allowing unelected and rejected party candidates to carry out political duties in the name of advisors.

What fucking A Team is he talking about.

Haven't you heard? Beware of an old man who's in a hurry. Especially one who's hurrying to fuck himself.

 

[The_Latest_H]

Well, its probably proven that if one stays in politics for more than 50 years as an elected official- in most cases anyway- such a tenure will make one stupid.

Because it robs you of judgment, openness to different ideas, and makes one more corruptible due to overexposure to power, glory and money. And once one accepts all of that in the last 50 years, that one guy will eventually become stupid.

 

[Charlie9]

Though the older generation might have been grateful and witnessed kampungs turning into skyscrapers, longkangs into covered drains, night soil collection into underground sewage works and mosquito buses into mrt, bringing the 3rd world rural city into the first, generation y has not seem anything that comes close to a paradigm shift.

This is despite the fact that over 30 years, scholars were sent to the best institutions of the world, the mandarin of the civil service and the poltical decision makers the the best paid, the results however is no different to any of the progressive nations of the 3rd world.

HDB estates are fast turning into ghettos, heavily littered, five foot corridors blocked, coffeeshops washing the utensils outside, etc. Traffic is no longer moving freely, there are only standing room in MRT trains except in the first hour and the last 2 hrs of it operational day, taxi drivers are losing patience, people are becoming rude and impatient, town planning is breaking down, most wanted detainee escapes and many more. All the hallmarks of a 1st world country that were expected such as retirement funds, safety net, gracious and caring society, liberalism, arts and literature flourishing, creativity, tolerance, and a national identity are now remote.

The iron grip on power continues, the results are fading, the welcome has been worn out, nepotism has creeped in, avoiding conflict of interest is no longer an operating principle.

1st generation singaporeans are becoming jaded, the second generation cannot understand why levis jeans and gerrymandering can exist together, foreigners make the best of both worlds, and the press continues to prostitute with this incredible belief that only a minority dissent.

Old Man should go fuck himself as he has now stopped innovating and has become increasingly repetative. A son holding the PMship that cannot be seen or heard on a tiny island, a daughter who has broken every law in probabilites by a string of bad decisions, a nephew-in-law who does not know the meaning of 'independent' in an Independent Commison of Inquiry, a brother and his sister in law providing discounts to the family while shareholders of the public listed developing company received none, allowing insider trading to be condoned with a slap on the wrist until the japanese complained, a party that could not up come up with a decent manifesto at the last elections in a timely manner despite 49 years in power, funding an entire election machinary on taxpayers funds and allowing unelected and rejected party candidates to carry out political duties in the name of advisors.

What fucking A Team is he talking about.

Good post, [scroobal].

Fundamental principles appear to be considered inappropriate.
You are right that the hallmarks of a developed country are non existent.

Cheers.

 

[Charlie9]

This A team is on track to giving themselves another obscene raise in salary while many in the country are preparing to make do with one less meal a day in the near future. Bet your bottom dollar, the general population will keep quiet. It will be a repetitive circle of events until the threshold is reached and well.......let's see.

Perhaps, the Honourable President, politicians and senior civil servants should take a pay cut of at least 50 per cent.

Service before pecuniary rewards. Besides, they are not financially poor.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Yes generally agree with what you say. In fact I believe this same view was/is held by quite afew PAP old guards who were sidelined by LKY. Ngiam also recently called for credible constructive genuine sincere political competition without PAPs obvious standard shackles and obstacles. This is probably a right approach to protect S'pore's future over the long term instead of putting all our eggs in one basket i.e. PAP's basket.

Dear Porifirio

Selection to be a PAP MP is not based on grass roots work, they can be parachuted from on top and often are. Selection to be a PAP MP is I believed looking at the system based on selection and not as in the UK based on political competition from below. This is I believe a fundamental flaw where leadership is given and not earned.

Locke

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Don't forget SIA being turned into a temporary SOS Medical Air Service amd the Santoro Li public spectacle

Old Man should go fuck himself as he has now stopped innovating and has become increasingly repetative. A son holding the PMship that cannot be seen or heard on a tiny island, a daughter who has broken every law in probabilites by a string of bad decisions, a nephew-in-law who does not know the meaning of 'independent' in an Independent Commison of Inquiry, a brother and his sister in law providing discounts to the family while shareholders of the public listed developing company received none, allowing insider trading to be condoned with a slap on the wrist until the japanese complained, a party that could not up come up with a decent manifesto at the last elections in a timely manner despite 49 years in power, funding an entire election machinary on taxpayers funds and allowing unelected and rejected party candidates to carry out political duties in the name of advisors.

What fucking A Team is he talking about.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Oh and obscenely overpaid PAPs pandering to the likes of Tyler Brule of Monocle.

Though the older generation might have been grateful and witnessed kampungs turning into skyscrapers, longkangs into covered drains, night soil collection into underground sewage works and mosquito buses into mrt, bringing the 3rd world rural city into the first, generation y has not seem anything that comes close to a paradigm shift.

This is despite the fact that over 30 years, scholars were sent to the best institutions of the world, the mandarin of the civil service and the poltical decision makers the the best paid, the results however is no different to any of the progressive nations of the 3rd world.

HDB estates are fast turning into ghettos, heavily littered, five foot corridors blocked, coffeeshops washing the utensils outside, etc. Traffic is no longer moving freely, there are only standing room in MRT trains except in the first hour and the last 2 hrs of it operational day, taxi drivers are losing patience, people are becoming rude and impatient, town planning is breaking down, most wanted detainee escapes and many more. All the hallmarks of a 1st world country that were expected such as retirement funds, safety net, gracious and caring society, liberalism, arts and literature flourishing, creativity, tolerance, and a national identity are now remote.

.

 

[Ramseth]

Same old branding exercise. When things keep going wrong, terrorist escapes, government investments abroad devalue by quarters and halves, domestic stockmarket also plunges in quarters and halves, world oil price at US$70 per barrel but has to charge domestic consumers based on US$155 per barrel etc. etc., how to shift negative focus away from all these? Keep branding the government as A team, shift the focus to comparing them on other benchmarks instead of the issues. Compare them to people who have never been given the chance to handle the issues, shifting focus away of the issues and negative results.

Keep repeating "World Class" or "A Team" and the brands stuck. For example, even Wong K.S. can also be presented to be a World Class A Team leader. If a lesser man helms the MHA, there may be more escapes instead of just one. Hell, there may even real bombs exploding instead of just escapes. There you have it, yah?

I'm not fooled, are you?

 

[scroobal]

Oh and obscenely overpaid PAPs pandering to the likes of Tyler Brule of Monocle.

Notice Simon Tay's role in it. His father played a similar role decades ago for old man when Lim Chin Siong was rushed to SGH from Changi Prison and the attempted suicide. Looks like the propaganda business is also now a family run business.

 

[scroobal]

Don't forget SIA being turned into a temporary SOS Medical Air Service amd the Santoro Li public spectacle

Will never forget the Santoro Li spectacle. Still laugh about it. Not sure if Santoro was teppanyakied when he revealed that old man engaged it and not the son.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Makapa's avatar is a constant reminder

Jokes aside, I still cannot understand why LKY agreed to such an obscene public spectacle, which prior to this did not appear to be his public style. His political antennae must have been faulty.

Will never forget the Santoro Li spectacle. Still laugh about it. Not sure if Santoro was teppanyakied when he revealed that old man engaged it and not the son.

 

[lockeliberal]

Dear Porifirio

" Let them eat sushi and sashimi"



Locke

Makapa's avatar is a constant reminder

Jokes aside, I still cannot understand why LKY agreed to such an obscene public spectacle, which prior to this did not appear to be his public style. His political antennae must have been faulty.

 

[Ramseth]

" Let them eat sushi and sashimi"

Looks more like red pill and blue bill.