Compared to the lively exchange Minister Mentor (MM) Lee Kuan
Yew had with a certain Mr Jamie Han from 2005, the recent forum was
concluded in a less, riveting and dramatic fashion. This could be
attributed to the fact that the questions to be asked were
pre-selected from a huge batch of 500 questions. Apparently, the 9
best were selected, with some on MM Lee’s legacy even contradicting
the theme of the forum that was on the future of Singapore in the
next 50 years. Criticisms abound that the easier questions could
have been preferred over the harder ones, which led to allegations
that what we witnessed was an
orchestrated performance.
However, whatever happened has happened. We understand that those
of you out there may feel that you are more than capable of asking
better questions than those 9 pre-selected ones. Allow us to start
the ball rolling with some questions of our own. Do participate by
indicating your question(s) in the comments section.
1) Much of your previous speeches focus on China, however, there
have been suggestions from certain quarters to adopt an increased
focus on the ASEAN region. Do you believe there should be a shift
in our foreign policy towards greater engagement of ASEAN nations
rather than engaging China?
2) Do you believe there will ever be another Singaporean who is
equally capable of running Singapore like your son, the current
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong?
3) Do you think there are other alternatives of resolving
debates (which you believed carried defamatory messages) with
certain members of the opposition other than the use of defamation
suits?
4) When you eventually leave the political scene, how would the
political landscape change for the PAP and Singapore in
general?
5) The ministerial cabinet has seen the infusion of new blood.
How do you think these relatively new cabinet members fared as
compared with your former colleagues such as Goh Keng Swee, Ong
Teng Cheong, Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam, etc?
6) From question 5, the cabinet that you previously worked with
had lower pay as compared to the current one. What kept your former
colleagues going despite the lower pay and was there any difference
in their attributes as compared to the current one?
7) From question 6, is it really difficult nowadays to find a
talented cabinet comprising candidates like the ones you previously
worked with when you were Prime Minister with the following
attributes – passionate, willing to serve the people and a greater
willingness to soldier on regardless of the pay?
8. Most, if not everyone would often self-reflect on the things
that they could have done better. If you ever had a chance to
self-reflect, what do you think you could have done better during
the years you have helmed Singapore?
9) You previously mentioned that the next 2 elections would be
the PAP’s to win and beyond that, it could be anyone’s guess. Thus,
what do you perceive as the most imminent threat to PAP’s
dominance?