Excerpts from ST free story.
Nov 12, 2007
MM: Making Western media happy is not S'pore's business
By Li Xueying
THE Western media wants Singapore to 'listen to them' - to
introduce more democracy and public protests, said Minister Mentor
Lee Kuan Yew yesterday.
But does Singapore want to make them happy, or to ensure that
investors remain confident in this country?
The Minister Mentor posed this question to his Tanjong Pagar
constituents at a Queenstown ward event last night - he was the
guest of honour at its annual tree-planting day.
Speaking in Mandarin, he revealed how each week, he received one to
two letters from Westerners wishing him well, and congratulating
him on Singapore's 'extraordinary' success.
But this was not a sentiment that the Western media dared to
repeat, he said. For their editors will then 'come down on
them'.
'They want me to listen to them, have more democracy, more protests
like Taiwan - that's a democracy.
'But you calculate yourself, do you want us to make them happy or
to have the investors have confidence in us? Which is good for
us?
'I think, where do they (the investors) put their money? If they
think Singapore is a...chaotic country, we won't have such
investments.
'So I hope that everyone will appreciate the benefits you have, and
understand that if you want such a life, you need a capable
government and administrators, and hardworking people.'
At the event yesterday, Mr Lee also shared his sentiments on
Singapore's economic prospects in the next five to 10 years.
While the country is likely to face inflation and a recession, it
will continue to grow, thanks to good government.
