I've travelled far and wide to many countries - in Asia, Europe
and North America. I can tell you there is one thing that other
countries cannot beat us and that is the ability to provide
employment for the elderly. In most countries, most of the elderly
are unemployed, they are either sitting around in the park feeding
pigeons, looking after grand children or playing chess with another
unemployed elderly. I feel sorry for the elderly of these countries
that their govt is unable to provide jobs for them.
This is where the Singapore government excels. You see old people
working everywhere in Singapore at McDonalds, they even call me
"Sir" and they say it with pride. In Hong Kong, there are so many
unemployed old folks, they end up hanging around as customers at
the McDonalds, so many that the McDonald's gives them discount
cards....but discount cards are not the same as jobs which gives
dignity and a sense of purpose to the old.
In Hong Kong, I saw so many old folks at McDonald's, I ended up
buying a Happy Meal, because I felt so young . Most of them are
just idling away their time reading the newspapers and chatting
with friends instead of doing something useful. You might ask where
did all these old folks in Hong Kong get money to eat at
McDonalds?
Well, the Hong Kong govt is so lousy at redesigning jobs for them,
they end up giving welfare from their financial reserves which is
far smaller than ours - oh the Hong Kong govt is so lousy compared
with the PAP. The PAP govt can use the money for far better things
such as investing in Suzhou, Chartered Semiconductor and in
Indonesian banks.
Our ministers have redesigned many jobs so that our old can
continue to be employed for as long as they live. This is a
uniquely Singapore success story. I'm beginning to appreciate the
beauty of the PAP's thinking. Its absolutely brilliant!
Singaporeans should consider themselves lucky to have such great
leaders to guide them.
