Oh dear...
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 9, 2008
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>'Political system has to evolve' <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Lee Siew Hua, Senior Political Correspondent
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'As long as I am fit and alert, I will help consolidate Singapore's future,' he replied. -- JOYCE FANG/ THE STRAITS TIMES
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MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who is turning 85, says he will fortify Singapore's future as long as he can.
In an e-mail response to questions from The Straits Times ahead of his birthday on Tuesday, he adhered to his lifelong focus on Singapore's well-being when asked what ranked as most important items at his age.
'As long as I am fit and alert, I will help consolidate Singapore's future,' he replied.
=> That is, to replace as many Sporns with FTrash as he can so that after he meets King Hades, Sporns are too few in no. to kick out his Familee?
In that light, he spoke of two imperatives: Singapore's political system must evolve. And the country must stand up to external stresses.
'Our political system has to evolve to be in sync with the changes in the world, and in our society,' he said.
This, too, has been a principal concern of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In his National Day Rally speech on Aug 17, he discussed moves to 'liberalise our society' more.
The PM hinted that the ban on political films and outdoor demonstrations would be eased.
Subsequently, groups were allowed to demonstrate at Speakers' Corner from Sept 1. Issues of race and religion, however, remain out of bounds.
MM Lee, in his birthday interview, was similarly mindful of these sensitivities. 'Our people are better educated, but they need to be aware that the fault lines in our multi-racial society are unlikely to ever fuse,' he pointed out.
As he had done since independence, he kept his eye on social cohesion, saying Singapore has to avoid courses of action that could endanger such cohesion.
From political evolution at home, he turned to Singapore's vulnerable position in the world. 'Our size and location make us vulnerable to external pressure,' he said. 'Hence we have to be strong enough to quietly stand our ground.'
What Singapore must also do: Re-position itself to ride East Asia's transformation. Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Sep 9, 2008
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>'Political system has to evolve' <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Lee Siew Hua, Senior Political Correspondent
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
'As long as I am fit and alert, I will help consolidate Singapore's future,' he replied. -- JOYCE FANG/ THE STRAITS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who is turning 85, says he will fortify Singapore's future as long as he can.
In an e-mail response to questions from The Straits Times ahead of his birthday on Tuesday, he adhered to his lifelong focus on Singapore's well-being when asked what ranked as most important items at his age.
'As long as I am fit and alert, I will help consolidate Singapore's future,' he replied.
=> That is, to replace as many Sporns with FTrash as he can so that after he meets King Hades, Sporns are too few in no. to kick out his Familee?
In that light, he spoke of two imperatives: Singapore's political system must evolve. And the country must stand up to external stresses.
'Our political system has to evolve to be in sync with the changes in the world, and in our society,' he said.
This, too, has been a principal concern of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In his National Day Rally speech on Aug 17, he discussed moves to 'liberalise our society' more.
The PM hinted that the ban on political films and outdoor demonstrations would be eased.
Subsequently, groups were allowed to demonstrate at Speakers' Corner from Sept 1. Issues of race and religion, however, remain out of bounds.
MM Lee, in his birthday interview, was similarly mindful of these sensitivities. 'Our people are better educated, but they need to be aware that the fault lines in our multi-racial society are unlikely to ever fuse,' he pointed out.
As he had done since independence, he kept his eye on social cohesion, saying Singapore has to avoid courses of action that could endanger such cohesion.
From political evolution at home, he turned to Singapore's vulnerable position in the world. 'Our size and location make us vulnerable to external pressure,' he said. 'Hence we have to be strong enough to quietly stand our ground.'
What Singapore must also do: Re-position itself to ride East Asia's transformation. Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
