MM Lee is very, very wise!!

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (peace and blessings be upon him!) has shown is mettle and his wisdom yet again. MM Lee clearly knows that Singapore is unique and must be governed in a pragmatic way, without pandering to the disruptive Western notions of unconditional free speech and association (which would undoubtedly harm Singapore).

MM Lee has the courage to be authoritarian and firm when he needs to be, for the good of Singapore. All forummers should read the Straits Times article attached below and drink from the fountain of his wisdom!

Goh Bock Seng

March 7, 2007
Govt gives citizens every reason to elect it: MM

SINGAPORE'S brand of democracy works because the Government gives the country's citizens every reason to vote for it at elections, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday.

The country has maintained the principle of British democracy, that the electorate can vote a government out peacefully.

'But we have engineered it so carefully that they must be very stupid to vote this government out,' he added.

The Government solved the housing problem by building public housing using Central Provident Fund (CPF) money. These flats are then sold to Singaporeans at cost price.

For the Singapore citizen, his flat is 'something substantial' that he owns and has to pay instalments for.

'So he must have a job. If you change the government, you have no jobs, the house is taken back,' Mr Lee said.

And as the flats become old after 20 to 30 years, the Government upgrades the buildings, subsidising 80 per cent of the cost.

'Suddenly, overnight, your property goes up in value. Now, you find another government that will do that. If you think you can, you try,' he said.

The Americans try to prescribe democracy by saying governments should allow free association, demonstrations and a free press, he said.

'Here you want to hold a demonstration, you must have a permit first.'

As for his critics who say he is authoritarian, Mr Lee had this reply: 'I say, 'never mind'.

'Do they vote for me? Do I stuff the ballot boxes? No. Is it a secret vote? Yes. Do I win?

'Do I win 99 per cent? No. I win by 61 or 65 or 67 per cent.'

The highest percentage of votes he ever won was 88 per cent, he recounted.

'That was the year the British decided to get out and sell everything. So I immediately held an election. I knew the people will be dead scared.'