MM Lee says S'pore has done well because it pays top
money for talent
By Augustine Anthuvan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 January 2008
2344 hrs
Singapore's success story figured prominently at the recently
concluded Global Competitiveness Forum in the Saudi Arabian capital
of Riyadh.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who was the keynote speaker,
attributed this to Singapore's willingness to pay for quality
leadership.
Over 1,400 delegates came to listen and paid special tribute to MM
Lee, who's hailed as the architect of Singapore's success
story.
Mr Lee, however, said it was a team effort, with able thinkers and
doers helping to build the Singapore of today.
Hence, the theme of attracting and retaining talent was a central
theme during his hour-long session.
On board a flight returning from Riyadh, Mr Lee was asked how to
enable Singapore to stay successful for the next 40 years.
"Because we have done well for the last 42 years is no guarantee
that we'll do well in the next 42 years. We have done well because
we have been different from our surrounding (neighbours). We are
transparent, we are not corrupt, and that gives an enormous
advantage for performance as well as investments. And we are
meritocratic; we pay top money for top talent, both local and
foreign. In other words we have quality people right on top," said
Mr Lee.
On Saudi Arabia, Mr Lee said the King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology led by Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi is an
example of the right approach to getting talent.
MM Lee said: "He (Ali Al-Naimi) is a well connected man who has
been around the world. He has this vision of a high level R&D
centre (for) scientific research which he will seed with lots of
talented foreign faculty and students. He has told me that he has
selected 170 students, of which only about 60 are Saudis and nearly
100 are foreigners.
"He has a grasp of what it takes to build a research university. He
has interviewed over 100 presidents of colleges and universities,
and chosen Shih Choon Fong. We are happy to have him join them, it
reflects creditably on us."
Professor Shih was president of National University of Singapore
from the year 2000 to 2008. - CNA /ls
