Apr 5, 2011 - Straits Times
by Yen Feng
THE People's Action Party once considered splitting itself into
two so that Singapore could have a two-party system, but in the end
it never did it, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday
night.
The main reason, he said,
was a lack of talent to form two A teams.
'We seriously considered this, but we couldn't do it. How to
make two teams, each as good as the original, one team?'
PM Lee said this in an address on 'Leadership Renewal - The
Fourth Generation and Beyond', at the Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum,
held at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural
Centre.
He did not elaborate in his speech when the PAP considered
splitting itself into two parties, but he touched on the many ways
the party had refined the nation's political system to create space
for alternative views, including its provision for more minority
and opposition voices in Parliament since the 1980s.
He said the current system delivered 'high quality government',
even as it was 'not perfect - [with] many areas to improve, and
from time to time mistakes to put right and learn from.'
But, overall, it was a good system that has served Singaporeans
well, he added.
PM Lee then pointed to a recent issue of The Economist praising
Singapore's political system, and Finance Minister Tharman
Shanmugaratnam's appointment as chair of the International Monetary
and Finance Committee, as examples of Singapore's growing
reputation abroad as a successful city-state.
In his 45-minute address, the Prime Minister also spoke of the
party's ongoing search for new faces. He said that the PAP, in
cultivating the fourth generation of leaders, was not planning for
the next 10 years, but for the decade beyond 2020.
'The issue is not 'Can we
spot the next PM? What does he look like?', but
rather 'How can we maintain the virtuous circle of political
stability, good government, and economic and social success?' he
said.
He added that the party would seek to represent all citizens -
including those who might disagree with its policies.
The annual forum, now in its 11th year, was attended by about
1,200 university students and faculty. A 90-minute question and
answer session followed PM Lee's address.
Spliting in2 2 teams??
wat a joke!! dats during d "wooden head" n " minister's
slap" time.
It was said there were internal prob within d party itself.
now, lhl admitted there's lack of talent in his govtment.
So obvoiously, those r d ones dat he put in GRC team.
clearly it has shown, a escaped terrorist put millions of
sinkapolian's lives (including lives of m'sians)
at stake
yet, tis lack of talent minister is still in charge n continue
drawing million$ of dollar$, like nothing has happen
probably , d next pm will b a "TEO", it was 'decided', when lhl
take over fm gct.
