Singapore got it right from day one. Let's give credit where credit is due. Mr Lee Kuan Yew made anti-corruption a pillar of the Singapore government from day one. The World Bank's Mr Wolfowitz is seconding this wisdom today at the WB/IMF meetings when he made corruption a pre-condition for aid. Some may not agree with this but consider the experience of the very country that this decision is made in today.In hindsight, Singapore's ability to forge ahead with its nation building efforts to reach 1st World status in less than 40 years is largely due to the policy of incorruptibility in government and society. Granted we had a lot of help along the way from the International community, but it was the uncompomising stance and astute policies that galvanised and provided the purpose for Singaporeans to work hard for their own futures.
Under Singapore government policies which stressed equitability and merit through hard work, Singaporeans understood that the future lies not with corrupt officials, nor government largesse, but with themselves through education and hard work. The future was theirs to build or to neglect, irrespective of how much money one started out with. Sure, there were miss-steps and mistakes, but the important thing was we learnt from failure to forge ahead. There may be things that we may not be happy with in Singapore society and politics today, but at least we are still here to debate and engage the powers that be to bring about change. Consider what the alternative would be.
I am unabashed when I write this because the evidence is for all to see, no matter what some small number of ignorant people imagine and say...
p.s. and no, I am not a PAP party member, nor PAP supporter - only a common citizen of Singapore.
12 comments :
the small number happened to be a carpenter and his 12 followers
Well said, corruption free from day one. But how many days have passed since then? I think that the world sometimes can change a person's character ...
The meaning of corruption has change over the years. Very few people take note of this. ps, I am not a PAP supporter either.
heheh . My mom aged 80 was watching the President Star charity show and told us - do not call and donate. If the President is getting $2mil for shaking hands - he can donate his salary himself. I guess my mom misses the good old days. So what is corrupt? Collecting $2million legally is ok?
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Well said, corruption free from day one. But how many days have passed since then?
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I never wrote 'corruption free', rather 'anti-corruption (was made) a pillar...' Of course there have been corrupt officials in Singapore's history. The difference is that they were dealt with swiftly by the law .
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I think that the world sometimes can change a person's character
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You referring to LKY? He may have changed in some ways, but I think his attitude to corruption has not, rumours on Ms Ho Ching, for example, notwithstanding.
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the small number happened to be a carpenter and his 12 followers
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I am still trying to decipher the meaning of those words...
Tell your mother not to look at others to decide whether to give or not. If she, or everyone else does so, charities will close shop. We do not live on a planet of angels.
On the other hand, insinuating corruption in the President of Singapore is a very serious thing. As a potential donor yourself, do you agree with her?
We pay them so much that it is not as profitable to be corrupt.
Why go the dark side when you can take more protected by light?!
Singapore has our unique system of democracry and corruption too.
Greed and doom are more than close cousins, they are in fact, twins.
"Corruption" is just an illegal means to greed. While government the world over could be corrupted, its hard to find one that is greedier than the MIW.
Hello, doomsday!!!!
Corruption is not required, when you own everything. Open you eyes little boy.
I often hear the word, legitimate or legalised corruption.Who can explain what it means.
Go ask PAP and LKY. They have perfected it.
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