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[h=1]THE GOOD WORK OF THE OLD GUARDS IS BEING DISMANTLED BY LHL[/h]
Post date:
14 Apr 2015 - 10:50pm
Dear all,
I may not necessary agree with everything LKY did but there is one thing I respect him – he put the interests of Singaporeans first.
This can be seen in some of the things he said. In this speech made in 1960, LKY clearly understood the feelings of Singaporeans against expatriates holding key positions but also realised the need of their skill sets. And he proposed the most practical solution to the issue – that is, train locals to eventually replace the expatriates:
More expatriates holding key positions in national establishments now
But look what is happening now under the present PAP government led by Lee Hsien Loong – why so many expatriates now holding key positions in our national establishments?
Are there no locals to do all these jobs?
Are our locals that bad?
If we are now in the 1960s, I can still understand but for heaven sake’s, 55 years have passed and we are now into the 21st century. Are there no locals being already trained up to take over all these key positions in our national establishments?
We have taken four decades to shake off this colonial hangover and now, it’s being brought back upon us by Lee Hsien Loong in the decade of his premiership.
And what about the PRCs, Filipinos, Indian nationals etc. taking over our PMET jobs?
The Straits Times on Monday 2nd December 2013 reported in bold: “EDB goal : Pave way for Singaporeans to helm MNCs through “leadership training schemes developed by government agencies, continuing education, skill upgrading” etc . EDB working to develop Singapore into a command centre for global giants” said the then EDB chairman Leo Yip.
All these ring hollow so long as the the Govt is not walking the talk as illustrated above.
The good work done by the old guards is now being gradually dismantled by the current PAP government!
Disillusioned with current PAP
Post date:
14 Apr 2015 - 10:50pm
Dear all,
I may not necessary agree with everything LKY did but there is one thing I respect him – he put the interests of Singaporeans first.
This can be seen in some of the things he said. In this speech made in 1960, LKY clearly understood the feelings of Singaporeans against expatriates holding key positions but also realised the need of their skill sets. And he proposed the most practical solution to the issue – that is, train locals to eventually replace the expatriates:
“National sentiment desires the riddance of all expatriates as agents of the exploiting colonial government, but the practical needs of making the national economy work requires that expatriates be employed. Such a situation must contain the seeds of inner contradiction. A plain straightforward nationalist line by the government which results in the expulsion of all expatriates may lead to a sagging of the whole complex of the economy, as indeed has happened in some newly independent territories.
But to ignore the anti-colonial sentiments of our people will be to store up trouble for the future. The only practical solution is to acknowledge our need for the time being for expatriates, be they members of the former colonial power or otherwise, and to continue to use them. But at the same time, national sentiments will be satisfied only if increasing numbers of our local men are being trained here and abroad to replace these expatriates and do their jobs in the near future.
This aspect of the problem of government would be made easier if expatriates understand some of these emotional factors which a representative government has to consider. And also it helps to make clear that expatriates carry out the policy decided by the government and do not decide on policy as they did in the past.”
- LKY 27/2/1960
Even his daughter, Lee Wei Ling recently said:But to ignore the anti-colonial sentiments of our people will be to store up trouble for the future. The only practical solution is to acknowledge our need for the time being for expatriates, be they members of the former colonial power or otherwise, and to continue to use them. But at the same time, national sentiments will be satisfied only if increasing numbers of our local men are being trained here and abroad to replace these expatriates and do their jobs in the near future.
This aspect of the problem of government would be made easier if expatriates understand some of these emotional factors which a representative government has to consider. And also it helps to make clear that expatriates carry out the policy decided by the government and do not decide on policy as they did in the past.”
- LKY 27/2/1960
“Never be impressed by the white man who thinks he is superior to you. We are no less and probably more capable than he is. If Papa and his Old Guard colleagues did not believe that, they would not have fought for independence and built up this country.”
She mentioned that the PAP old guards never believed that our locals are no less and probably more capable than the “white man”.
More expatriates holding key positions in national establishments now
But look what is happening now under the present PAP government led by Lee Hsien Loong – why so many expatriates now holding key positions in our national establishments?
(1) Magnus Bocker, CEO of SGX
(2) Singapore Botanic Gardens hired Briton Dr Nigel Taylor as its director sidelining our locals
(3) Singpost is now headed by an Austrian, Dr. Wolfgang Bier, as its Group Chief Executive Officer since Oct 2011.
(4) Simon Israel holds position of Executive Director at our very own Temasek Holdings while Greg Curt holds position of President.
(5) The infamous former CEO of our national transport network, SMRT, was Malaysian Saw Phaik Hwa who mismanaged our train network.
(6) Mr Steve Leonard is the executive Deputy Chairman of IDA Singapore
(7) Stephen Forshaw, managing director at Temasek Holdings
(8) Many more too painful to enumerate…
(2) Singapore Botanic Gardens hired Briton Dr Nigel Taylor as its director sidelining our locals
(3) Singpost is now headed by an Austrian, Dr. Wolfgang Bier, as its Group Chief Executive Officer since Oct 2011.
(4) Simon Israel holds position of Executive Director at our very own Temasek Holdings while Greg Curt holds position of President.
(5) The infamous former CEO of our national transport network, SMRT, was Malaysian Saw Phaik Hwa who mismanaged our train network.
(6) Mr Steve Leonard is the executive Deputy Chairman of IDA Singapore
(7) Stephen Forshaw, managing director at Temasek Holdings
(8) Many more too painful to enumerate…
Are there no locals to do all these jobs?
Are our locals that bad?
If we are now in the 1960s, I can still understand but for heaven sake’s, 55 years have passed and we are now into the 21st century. Are there no locals being already trained up to take over all these key positions in our national establishments?
We have taken four decades to shake off this colonial hangover and now, it’s being brought back upon us by Lee Hsien Loong in the decade of his premiership.
And what about the PRCs, Filipinos, Indian nationals etc. taking over our PMET jobs?
The Straits Times on Monday 2nd December 2013 reported in bold: “EDB goal : Pave way for Singaporeans to helm MNCs through “leadership training schemes developed by government agencies, continuing education, skill upgrading” etc . EDB working to develop Singapore into a command centre for global giants” said the then EDB chairman Leo Yip.
All these ring hollow so long as the the Govt is not walking the talk as illustrated above.
The good work done by the old guards is now being gradually dismantled by the current PAP government!
Disillusioned with current PAP
