Swee Say: Doing right tops getting votes

[BuiKia]

He hinting that he can be the fall guy for MIW? Maybe he should be transport minister or those hot seats. He trying to say he got balls.

SINGAPORE - Doing the right thing for the country is more important than winning votes by pursuing populist policies, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Mr Lim Swee Say, yesterday.

He said leaders in Greece and Spain tried to impose lower taxes while raising public spending, resulting in the European debt crisis.

"I (would) rather be voted out for trying to do the right things which may be unpopular, than to be voted in by people for doing the wrong things," he said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Asian Young Leaders Convention, Mr Lim said political leaders in today's challenging times need to have the courage to introduce tough measures necessary to sustain a country's progress, even if it leaves citizens unhappy.

They also need to have a heart to serve citizens and be far-sighted so as to recognise opportunities and threats facing the country, he said.