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HIGH integrity among its leaders and meritocracy are two of four basic values that laid the foundation for Singapore's success over the past 45 years, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last night.
"Everyone can get to the top as political leaders, MPs," he said, or through "the civil service
and statutory boards". People get to where they are on merit, not through guanxi, nepotism or corruption, he added.
Guanxi is Mandarin for "connections and social reputation".
He was addressing more than 1,000 residents and grassroots leaders at a National Day dinner for his constituency at Tanjong Pagar Community Centre. He said: "No policy is skewed as a result of personal benefit or profits."
Having a level playing field for all citizens is the third basic value. He said: "No one is advantaged by our national policies, whatever their race, language or religion."
The fourth value is the use of English as the working language, which has made Singapore the business, banking and communications hub it is today.
He went on to say that the country's problems are "not unique" and that about 70 per cent of them were faced and solved by other nations. However, he said, the Government has "studied how they have managed their problems and why some are more successful than others. Then we extracted the principles to adapt and modify them to fit our society".
The nation has also harnessed innovation to find its own solutions. For instance, it implemented he Electronic Road Pricing to control city congestion and alleviated its water shortage with Newater, which reclaims water via membrane technology.
Other cities, such as those in China and the Gulf states, have in turn approached Singapore companies to tackle water recycling and waste management. Moreover, Singapore's policies are "not set in stone", MM Lee said. They are continuously re-examined and modified along with changing world circumstances.
He gave the example of how the Government was against Formula One racing for many decades because the city was crowded and allowing it would encourage people to race on roads.
However, it was given the green light when the Government recognised that "the F1 has a jet-set following and could generate economic spin-offs".
MM Lee said: "It has been a sparkling success."
Most significantly, to build a vibrant country that creates jobs for all, he reiterated the need for an exceptionally strong government with "the ablest, the toughest
and most dedicated" leaders".
He said: "We headhunt for them and test them out in heavy responsibilities. Only such leaders can keep the economy growing and create good jobs and generate revenue to pay for the equipment and training of our 3G (third-generation) SAF."
However, one area in which Singapore has done poorly is its fertility rate. MM Lee said: "We will nearly halve our population in one generation."
As a result, the Government has had to select immigrants from Malaysia, China, India and the region. Although the first generation would take time to assimilate because of different cultures and habits, "their children will grow up Singaporeans".
"We must help them to integrate into our society, not exclude them," he concluded.
"Everyone can get to the top as political leaders, MPs," he said, or through "the civil service
and statutory boards". People get to where they are on merit, not through guanxi, nepotism or corruption, he added.
Guanxi is Mandarin for "connections and social reputation".
He was addressing more than 1,000 residents and grassroots leaders at a National Day dinner for his constituency at Tanjong Pagar Community Centre. He said: "No policy is skewed as a result of personal benefit or profits."
Having a level playing field for all citizens is the third basic value. He said: "No one is advantaged by our national policies, whatever their race, language or religion."
The fourth value is the use of English as the working language, which has made Singapore the business, banking and communications hub it is today.
He went on to say that the country's problems are "not unique" and that about 70 per cent of them were faced and solved by other nations. However, he said, the Government has "studied how they have managed their problems and why some are more successful than others. Then we extracted the principles to adapt and modify them to fit our society".
The nation has also harnessed innovation to find its own solutions. For instance, it implemented he Electronic Road Pricing to control city congestion and alleviated its water shortage with Newater, which reclaims water via membrane technology.
Other cities, such as those in China and the Gulf states, have in turn approached Singapore companies to tackle water recycling and waste management. Moreover, Singapore's policies are "not set in stone", MM Lee said. They are continuously re-examined and modified along with changing world circumstances.
He gave the example of how the Government was against Formula One racing for many decades because the city was crowded and allowing it would encourage people to race on roads.
However, it was given the green light when the Government recognised that "the F1 has a jet-set following and could generate economic spin-offs".
MM Lee said: "It has been a sparkling success."
Most significantly, to build a vibrant country that creates jobs for all, he reiterated the need for an exceptionally strong government with "the ablest, the toughest
and most dedicated" leaders".
He said: "We headhunt for them and test them out in heavy responsibilities. Only such leaders can keep the economy growing and create good jobs and generate revenue to pay for the equipment and training of our 3G (third-generation) SAF."
However, one area in which Singapore has done poorly is its fertility rate. MM Lee said: "We will nearly halve our population in one generation."
As a result, the Government has had to select immigrants from Malaysia, China, India and the region. Although the first generation would take time to assimilate because of different cultures and habits, "their children will grow up Singaporeans".
"We must help them to integrate into our society, not exclude them," he concluded.
