Archive for March, 2009
Precious porcelain
A telling anecdote about how Singapore’s media and government are inextricably entwined. AsiaOne: WHEN President S R Nathan took over as the chief of The Straits Times Press in 1982, then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew told him that it was a precious piece of porcelain. Mr Lee said: ‘Nathan, I’m giving you The Straits […]
Filed under: Newspaper, Quotes | 1 Comment
Tags: lee kuan yew, media, nathan, sph, straits times
A terse announcement in the Straits Times: PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has lost weight – because his doctor ordered it. The Straits Times asked about his health on Monday during a press conference on the Cabinet changes announced last Thursday. He said: ‘My health is okay. I’ve lost weight because my doctor ordered me […]
Filed under: Newspaper | 14 Comments
Tags: cabinet reshuffle, cancer, lee hsien loong, weight loss
Lee Kuan Yew on the future of Singapore. The unsaid “we” is, of course, the Chinese. CNA: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew painted a picture of the future on Friday at a National University of Singapore Society (NUSS) lecture, on the topic of “Singapore and Singaporeans – Quarter Century From Now”. … Mr Lee said: […]
Filed under: Event, Quotes, Speech, Video | 3 Comments
Tags: demographics, future, immigration, lee kuan yew
Cracks appear in Lee’s mantle
Shawn Crispin offers up incisive analysis and even prods at the CPF. Asia Times: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong faces Singapore’s worst economic crisis since it achieved independence in 1965 and some analysts believe his handling of the downturn will determine largely his future staying power as premier once his influential 85-year-old father, Minister Mentor […]
Filed under: Commentary | 1 Comment
Tags: asia times, cpf, ho ching, lee hsien loong, lee kuan yew, shawn crispin, temasek
Life would be much easier if..
Lee Hsien Loong gets grilled about family connections, in a way that the local media would never dare to do. Some unintentional irony in the “not the way things work in Singapore” response there: it’s not that people can blame the Lees instead of the GLCs, it’s that people can’t (publicly) blame either. Straits Times: […]
Filed under: Quotes, Television interview, Video | Leave a Comment
Tags: gic, ho ching, lee hsien loong, lee kuan yew, temasek
30 yrs of Mandarin Campaign
Lee Kuan Yew is still promoting Mandarin. Straits Times: THE Speak Mandarin Campaign marks a major milestone as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. The initiative has come a long way since its inception by then Prime Minister Lee in 1979 where it was launched to promote a common mother tongue language and social […]
Filed under: Event, Speech, Transcript, Video | 3 Comments
Tags: campaign, dialects, lee kuan yew, mandarin
MM clarifies on Temasek
After his daughter-in-law’s untimely departure, Lee Kuan Yew “clarifies” his implication that current Temasek employees are incompetent. Straits Times: MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has clarified remarks that he made last week about succession planning at Temasek Holdings. During a dialogue with business leaders last Wednesday, he said that Mr Charles W. Goodyear, a 51-year-old […]
Filed under: Interview, Newspaper, Quotes | Leave a Comment
Tags: charles goodyear, ho ching, lee kuan yew, temasek
Lee Kuan Yew on immigration. Channel News Asia, with short video: Mr Lee said: “Singapore treats all our citizens equally, (both) Singapore-born and new citizens. What each of you earn or make in business depends upon your effort.” Mr Lee also urged the new citizens to get involved in civil organisations such as Residents’ Committees, […]
Filed under: Event, Quotes, Speech, Video | 2 Comments
Tags: citizenship, immigration, lee kuan yew, singapore
MM Lee gets Rotary award
Lee Kuan Yew certainly can’t be faulted for thinking that he’ll live forever. Straits Times: Reading the citation before presenting the award at a gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Rotary International president Lee Dong Kurn of South Korea described it as a ‘small token of the great respect that you have earned for […]
Filed under: Event, Spotted | 1 Comment
Tags: award, lee kuan yew, rotary
PAP or SDP? The future according to LKY
The Singapore Democratic Party provides their own view on Lee Kuan Yew’s prognostications of the future last week. YourSDP: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew told the audience: “If you get capable people forming the next government, people who know what they have to do to make Singapore work, then I’m not worried. I’m not worried […]
Filed under: Commentary | Leave a Comment
Tags: lee kuan yew, sdp, singapore democratic party