By May Wong | Posted: 05 April 2011 2009
hrs
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says
Singapore must develop the strongest possible team, with depth and
resilience, to ensure its long term future.
An "A team" like this would have to include both competent
ministers and younger ones, so as to enable Singapore to compete in
the international league of nations.
Mr Lee was speaking to university students at the Kent Ridge
Ministerial Forum entitled "Leadership Renewal: The 4th Generation
and Beyond" on Tuesday.
Mr Lee said that assembling an outstanding team is not an easy task
because in every election, his ruling People's Action Party (PAP)
finds only three new MPs, on average, who can become
Ministers.
He is confident he has put together an "A team", but he said he
cannot assemble a second team and questioned how the opposition can
find it easier to do so.
Mr Lee said a two-party system is not workable in Singapore because
there is simply not enough talent to form two "A teams".
He emphasised that Singapore, more than any other country, needs
capable leadership to tackle difficult challenges and maximise
opportunities for the nation.
With a mediocre government, Singapore will fail, warned Mr
Lee.
He said a two-party system will also throw up other problems, such
as a division in society based on class or racial lines and groups
pushing different policies.
And because there is a lack
of talent, Mr Lee said he also disagrees with Senior Minister Goh
Chok Tong's recent opinion that future ministers may end up serving
only two terms.
Mr Lee said that is not possible because of the lack of
numbers.
Mr Lee said Singapore has achieved this much today because of the
various policies and systems the PAP government has put in
place.
These include introducing
policies to give all citizens a stake in the country's success and
adapting a political system that will not be divisive for
Singapore, such as creating the elected Presidency.
Today, Mr Lee said, Singapore's success is
widely recognized.
He said the PAP accepts that some people will want to join the
opposition and propound alternative policies.
But he added that as long as the government is competent and doing
a good job for Singaporeans, Mr Lee hopes that the citizens will
share the same cause with the PAP team to ensure that things remain
on the right path.
Mr Lee called on Singaporeans to help this leadership renewal to
succeed, which he said will help the government develop good
policies that will continue to bring prosperity and progress to
Singapore.
- CNA
i see "shit stirring" in d making with d pap.
d last shit stirred , make gct "putting his head on d chopping
board in cheng san"
CURRENT shit stirring episode ....... ministers 2 serve
only 2 term in MHA !!
sinkapo elected president is a joke ...........
president decides based on ............ "d recommendation
of PM/cabinet" n "on d advice of d PM/cabinet"
$4 million$ juz wave hand during national day parade ........ is
way 2 obscene
