Serious Quick! Someone grab him to Opp camp!

[enterprise2]

Mr Yeoh feels that now is the time for the Government to embark on large-scale social reform because it can, adding that 'we have extremely low taxes, such that we can afford to raise them somewhat and still remain very tax-competitive'. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

WHEN Mr Yeoh Lam Keong quit his job as chief economist of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation last June, his colleagues presented him with a T-shirt which read: 'Buddha says: Stop wanting stupid shit.'

It's a message that suits the 54-year-old to a T.

He lives in a Housing Board flat, takes public transport, and eschews holiday resorts with air- conditioning. 'I don't consider it spartan, it's cosier and aesthetically more pleasing,' he says.

He has not moved from the Marine Terrace flat he bought in 1987 because he wants his children to grow up in an HDB setting. 'So they have a choice. They don't have to live in private housing, they can go and live in a three-room flat in Sengkang if they need to and be totally comfortable,' he says.

To his mind, he is not under- consuming. 'Others are over-consuming. Most of us have enough resources to live comfortably, yet we kill ourselves to drive a Lotus, instead of an ordinary car.

'We end up killing the environment and stressing each other out. Perhaps, as Lord Robert Skidelski, professor emeritus of political economy at Warwick University said, mass consumption capitalism has outlived its usefulness.'

Social awakening
MR YEOH grew up in a bungalow along Bukit Timah Road. He was the eldest of four children born to an orthopaedic surgeon and doctor-turned-housewife. His three siblings include Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, permanent secretary for Education.

His social awakening happened five years ago, when he was roped in to help analyse Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports data on poverty. As he examined the grim figures, he realised serious structural problems were creating a growing underbelly of poverty in Singapore.

 

[enterprise2]

Mr Yeoh feels that now is the time for the Government to embark on large-scale social reform because it can, adding that 'we have extremely low taxes, such that we can afford to raise them somewhat and still remain very tax-competitive'. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

WHEN Mr Yeoh Lam Keong quit his job as chief economist of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation last June, his colleagues presented him with a T-shirt which read: 'Buddha says: Stop wanting stupid shit.'

It's a message that suits the 54-year-old to a T.

He lives in a Housing Board flat, takes public transport, and eschews holiday resorts with air- conditioning. 'I don't consider it spartan, it's cosier and aesthetically more pleasing,' he says.

He has not moved from the Marine Terrace flat he bought in 1987 because he wants his children to grow up in an HDB setting. 'So they have a choice. They don't have to live in private housing, they can go and live in a three-room flat in Sengkang if they need to and be totally comfortable,' he says.

To his mind, he is not under- consuming. 'Others are over-consuming. Most of us have enough resources to live comfortably, yet we kill ourselves to drive a Lotus, instead of an ordinary car.

'We end up killing the environment and stressing each other out. Perhaps, as Lord Robert Skidelski, professor emeritus of political economy at Warwick University said, mass consumption capitalism has outlived its usefulness.'

Social awakening
MR YEOH grew up in a bungalow along Bukit Timah Road. He was the eldest of four children born to an orthopaedic surgeon and doctor-turned-housewife. His three siblings include Ms Yeoh Chee Yan, permanent secretary for Education.

His social awakening happened five years ago, when he was roped in to help analyse Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports data on poverty. As he examined the grim figures, he realised serious structural problems were creating a growing underbelly of poverty in Singapore.

Before long, he found a face to the problem.

While watching football with his son in a coffeeshop one evening, he chatted with a neighbour from a nearby rental block, and found out that the latter, after working as a cleaner for 10 years, earned $700 a month.

Mr Yeoh ventured in Mandarin: 'That's really tight, I don't suppose you have kids?' The guy's response: 'You mad, ah?'

His son, then 11, soon became aware of the substance of the conversation - that there were people too poor to have children. Later that night, he asked his father: 'Pa, do you think the Prime Minister knows about people like him?'

Mr Yeoh said: 'I hope so.' His son prodded: 'I think someone should tell him.'

Before long, father and son had added to their coterie of coffeeshop companions an odd-job labourer, who had been unemployed for 10 years because of a history of mental illness. The man had not eaten properly, surviving on a giant vat of green bean soup for days.

Mr Yeoh offered to go with him to see their Member of Parliament. But the man refused, fearing social workers 'will bother my brothers and sisters'.

'It became clear to me that the so-called social safety net was both undignified and insufficient. It was undignified where sufficient, or plain insufficient.

'He didn't want to be ashamed before family, or for government officials to bug his family to look after him, which he himself would not do,' says Mr Yeoh, citing a 2009 Lien Foundation survey which showed that being a burden to family and friends was the top death-related fear of Singaporeans, followed by medical costs.

Early influences
HE CREDITS his Anglo-Chinese School mate and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam for first stimulating his social conscience.

He was all set on becoming a naturalist - and studying marine biology - but was persuaded by Mr Tharman that economics was more 'socially useful' . They both applied to the London School of Economics and were accepted.

In London, Mr Tharman encouraged his interest in the underprivileged, social issues and student activism. Mr Yeoh returned to Singapore in 1983, and worked at the Skills Development Fund in the Economic Development Board for two years, then left to become a senior economist at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

He was soon seconded to help start up the Economics and Strategy Department at GIC and ended up staying a total of 26 years because the work was so riveting.

GIC, he says, taught him all about 'real-world economics, politics, markets, people, policymakers, under the most extreme stress'. Six major financial crises unfolded during the time he was there. 'It was a huge education in economic policy analysis, what could go right and wrong.'

The department he headed at GIC became infamous for its high-quality analysis, independence and daring to challenge convention, say Mr Yeoh's colleagues.

GIC's chief economist Leslie Teo says: 'Lam Keong was never afraid to speak his mind even if his views were not popular or politically correct; he was not afraid to explore new and unconventional ideas. He always stood apart from the prevailing culture of the industry - big money, flashy, top of the world - by his concern for the average person and his simple tastes.'

He worked under Mr Lim Siong Guan, group president of GIC, whom he says drummed into him the importance of being ready to meet the future.

'He taught me that being future-ready is being strategically on top of the most important relevant long-term trends even before they became conventional wisdom,' he says.

'Because catching up is the worst position to be in, you are chased and dragged and not the master of your own destiny. You become like Nokia, or Blackberry, as opposed to Apple.'

One of his top worries for Singapore today is whether its social policies are future-ready.

He worries that the old social compact is eroding, because the delivery of public services in social security, housing, health care, education and infrastructure is fraying at the edges, and excessive immigration has crowded out quality in such services.

'It's not ready for the world that faces us now; a world where median wages are stagnating, inequality is rising sharply, our population ageing, our maturing economy is growing much more slowly. And it's not going to be ready for the decades ahead, or maybe even the next five years,' he vexes.

 

[mojito]

Can he run a town council?

 

[OverTheCounter]

What Singaporeans want are more opportunities and a fairer playing field. The job market is saturated with foreigners crowding out the locals.

He worries that the old social compact is eroding, because the delivery of public services in social security, housing, health care, education and infrastructure is fraying at the edges, and excessive immigration has crowded out quality in such services.
​

What he says here is very true.

 

[halsey02]

Can he run a town council?

All they need to do is to call him up for "tea" & serve him, Twinings Earl Gray served in Wedgwood China with gold edge & Durian Puffs from Goodwood Park Pastry Shop by his old friend Tharman....." the bird will tweet a different tune"....."what the difference the day make, when making obscene $$ is promised"....& when he join the "elite club"....the Marine Parade flat will go....& he will use only Daikin or Carrier Aircon....& tell you, he is working, he needs a Lexus ( now he in big league....KIA won't do), his wife is working too, need a BMW & his son....

The lesser mortals at the coffee shop will be a distant memory...."what a difference, the day make"....ha ha ha

 

[mojito]

All they need to do is to call him up for "tea" & serve him, Twinings Earl Gray served in Wedgwood China with gold edge & Durian Puffs from Goodwood Park Pastry Shop by his old friend Tharman....." the bird will tweet a different tune"....."what the difference the day make, when making obscene $$ is promised"....& when he join the "elite club"....the Marine Parade flat will go....& he will use only Daikin or Carrier Aircon....& tell you, he is working, he needs a Lexus ( now he in big league....KIA won't do), his wife is working too, need a BMW & his son....

The lesser mortals at the coffee shop will be a distant memory...."what a difference, the day make"....ha ha ha

Yes, best he join the MIW. This sorts of minister calibre should have cabinet position and solid grassroot support.

 

[halsey02]

Yes, best he join the MIW. This sorts of minister calibre should have cabinet position and solid grassroot support.

Unless he is of a strong moral fibre & can stand up to say, that, he is willing to speak out the truth for God....all these are just another "eyewash"....you bring him to tea in wedgwood china's..... & show him the money....he can be of a minister calibre with grass looters...opps roots support...

 

[harimau]

'Buddha says: Stop wanting stupid shit.'

Did Buddha really used the four letter words?

 

[scroobal]

I think the more fashionable approach in the last 2 months of so is he able to make the Town Council the best in Singapore.

Can he run a town council?

 

[enterprise2]

I think the more fashionable approach in the last 2 months of so is he able to make the Town Council the best in Singapore.

Seriously WP should go talk to him. Imagine Leon, Daniel and co...they'll make a great team.

 

[scroobal]

Lam Keong is caught between the devil and he deep blue sea. One of his best mate for years from schooldays is Tharman. Also he does not consider himself as a politician but socialist and prefers to use economics to point out errors or misguided policies and offer best solutions. He also does not oppose for the sake of opposing. Admirably he can differentiate the role of an MP from that of a politician.

Let me give an example. When he thinks that he can help a fellow Singaporean he will escort that person to see the MP whether PAP or not as he sensibly knows that it is one of more effective route to help.

Seriously WP should go talk to him. Imagine Leon, Daniel and co...they'll make a great team.

 

[blissquek]

Lam Keong is caught between the devil and he deep blue sea. One of his best mate for years from schooldays is Tharman. Also he does not consider himself as a politician but socialist and prefers to use economics to point out errors or misguided policies and offer best solutions. He also does not oppose for the sake of opposing. Admirably he can differentiate the role of an MP from that of a politician.

Let me give an example. When he thinks that he can help a fellow Singaporean he will escort that person to see the MP whether PAP or not as he sensibly knows that it is one of more effective route to help.

Yes. He is the MAN.. One who will work for the interest of the nations...not one whose wife or himself watches their own pay pockets.

We respect such men.

 

[ckmpd]

Yes. He is the MAN.. One who will work for the interest of the nations...not one whose wife or himself watches their own pay pockets.

We respect such men.

Lam Keong is a good man. But he can only succeed if he is focused on God so that he gets strength from The Almighty. So many pap men sounded good when they started...Raymond Lim, VB, Tharman. They think they can change the PAP but instead they were changed by the devil, behave the way the devil wants it and speak like the devil. Such men are focused on the world, issues and rely on their own strength and their own ability. That's a recipe for failure.

Unless Lam Keong is God fearing and focuses on the Almighty, he will be sucked in by the devil just like RL, VB and Tharman. Pray for Lam Keong

Dont rely on men

 

[enterprise2]

Let's hope he can choose to take the next step. Opp or even PAP need people like him to steer the country in the right direction.

 

[ckmpd]

Vivian Balakrishnan, who was said to be a critic of the government before he joined the ruling party, was made Minister of State for National Development in 2002.

The now VB :

“… when you listen to his closed-door forums, you can sense a slight streak of controlled impatienceness and authoritarianism in him… In 2002, he labeled the Malaysian Media as “wild animals”, which is quite an unprecedented comment made by any Singaporean Ministers.”

“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”

"If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table...Even if you can't afford it, we will have meals delivered to you."

Will pap recruit Lam Keong and change him?

 

[scroobal]

Bro, when did PAP recruit Lam Keong? Are you sure you are not mixing this person with someone else. This guy has been speaking against the govt for sometime and usually attends pro opposition panel meetings. Very crucial of various economic policies of the Govt.

Will pap recruit Lam Keong and change him?

 

[ckmpd]

Bro, when did PAP recruit Lam Keong? Are you sure you are not mixing this person with someone else. This guy has been speaking against the govt for sometime and usually attends pro opposition panel meetings. Very crucial of various economic policies of the Govt.

I didnt mix him with someone else. I am concerned that Lam Keong may be changed by the pap once the devil recruits him

 

[GoldenDragon]

I didnt mix him with someone else. I am concerned that Lam Keong may be changed by the pap once the devil recruits him

Unlikely this chap will change. He could easily afford a bungalow in Sentosa, yet chose an HDB flat to live. Don't forget this guy grew up in a bungalow along bt timah.

It would be interesting to know Lam keong's reply if his younger brother (ex-school mate of CSJ) had requested his help to assist CSJ during the bb be as guest speaker. ACSians are known to help their own.

 

[scroobal]

I am confused. The Govt had issues with his dissent and approach when he was in the Public Service. Why would they recruit him. No one has even suggested that. TS suggested that one of the opposition parties recruit him.

I didnt mix him with someone else. I am concerned that Lam Keong may be changed by the pap once the devil recruits him

 

[enterprise2]

A guy who is born rich but stays in HDB, earning big $ in the heart of PAP economic decision making body and is critical or dishearten by Govt policies. What more do u want??