May 21st, 2010
At an advanced age when most leaders would have retired and
spend their remaining days at home with their families, PAP
strongman Lee Kuan Yew continues to tour the world dishing out
his “advice” to other leaders and teaching them how to run their
countries.
During a symposium in Tokyo where he is currently on official
visit sponsored by Singapore taxpayers, Lee urged Japan again to
reconsider moving the U.S. air base out of the island of
Okinawa.
“‘We believe that (the US) presence brings about stability
and peace and I believe they need a base in the north-east. If
there is no base in Japan, then they cannot deploy their weaponry
and project their power sufficiently,” Lee was quoted as
saying in the Straits Times.
He stressed the need for the US to act as a counterbalance to
China. The last time he said this last year, it triggered a massive
outcry among Chinese netizens who pettered him with unflattering
names like “traitor to the Chinese race” and “lackey of the
Americans”, prompting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to intercede on
his behalf.
Lee also called on Japan to emulate Singapore’s example and
accept more immigrants in order to grow:
“You have the choice to keep Japan homogeneous and shrinking
and stagnant economically, or you accept immigrants and
grow.”
With due respect to Lee, he has really no business to poke into
Japan’s domestic affairs. It is up to the Japanese
themselves to decide if they need more immigrants and not the
government.
Had Lee tried to replicate his immigration policies in Japan, he
would have been voted out of office a long time ago.
Even in Singapore, there is rising frustration, resentment and
anger on the ground at the PAP’s liberal immigration and
pro-foreigner policies which have caused tremendous suffering and
hardship to ordinary Singaporeans.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, the
relentless influx of foreigners has depressed the wages of
Singaporeans, increased the cost of living and led to a decline in
the quality of life.
Lee is indeed a rare “treasure” to the world. By his own
admission last year, he is not doing much work lately except doing
“forecasting”. Japan is fortunate to have Singapore’s “forecaster
extraordinarie” to do some “forecasting” for its future absolutely
free of charge courtesy of Singapore taxpayers who is paying Lee’s
astronomical annual salary of more than $3 million dollars.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/05/21/mm-lee-advises-japan-on-u-s-base-and-immigration/