Screenshots

What made Singapore, and not its neighbouring countries, the hub of global business?

Addressing some 3,500 lawyers and participants at the International Bar Association Conference, Harry Lee – a lawyer by training – listed some key attributes we Malaysia had talked about so incessantly but didn't seem to make it work: ( 1 ) Good governance; ( 2 ) a sound judicial system; and ( 3 ) the rule of law for investors and for economic growth.
.
At the conference, Lee again touched on some themes that were dwelt upon with university students recently: The country's leaders had to create a Singapore that was different from its neighbours – a country that was cleaner, more efficient, more secure, with quality infrastructure, and good living conditions. Quote:
"Important for investors and economic growth is the rule of law, implemented through an independent judiciary, an honest and efficient police force, and effective law enforcement agencies.

"Had we not differentiated Singapore in this way, it would have languished and perished as a shrinking trading centre instead of becoming the thriving business hub it is today.

Lee, who recently spooked Malaysian leaders by stating that Singapore will one day rejoin Malaysia with a big IF AND ONLY IF, also cited three factors which enabled the Republic to escape the poverty that had plagued the region. Quote:

"First, clean and efficient government; second, the character and capabilities of the leadership in charge; third, an industrious people, eager and quick to learn to be productive and gainfully employed.

"Political leaders in Singapore take action against opponents who make statements against them that impute dishonesty and lack of integrity. Situated in a region where 'money politics' is part of the political culture and an accepted way of life, any allegation of corruption in Singapore must be taken seriously.

"It leads to an investigation by the CPIB (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau) and an action for defamation against the person making the allegation to clear any doubts on the integrity of the government. As a result, people in Singapore do not equate their political leaders with second-hand car salesmen."

However, Lee reared his Web1.0 head by emphasising that he would only measure Singapore's successes by his own yardstick, and not those "of Amnesty International or Freedom House or Reporters Without Frontiers".

People have been accusing Lee for taking away human rights in return for the economic growth. Lee must have heard it, but denied:

"There is nothing which you want to read that you cannot read in Singapore. Everybody is on the Internet, everybody has got broadband, you have got cable television, access to all the information, you can blog, you can do anything you like."

We do not know how well the younger generation of Singapore agrees with Lee. At a recent (over a year ago) Talkingcock.com event, this song was sung at the old Parliament House -- We The Citizen by Hossan Leong.

It was part of the Mr Brown Show. Remember?