Singapore's Lee changed the poor, without oil, so the modern state.
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| Former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. (REUTERS / Toru Hanai / Files) |
When the party was almost wiped seats contested in the 2006 election, Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of modern Singapore issued a statement critical for its people. At the time of the 84 seats it contested, only two were not able to achieve.
"Please do not think that you can change the government. Young people do not understand this," said Lee. His statement has deep meaning, especially at this time.
Lee Kuan Yew is an important figure, behind the success of Singapore to build the city-state, which is no larger than the area of Jakarta, or about 660 square kilometers.
After becoming the first prime minister of Singapore in 1959, Lee made the historic decision to declare independence from Britain and Malaysia, on August 9, 1965.
He uses strong economic vision, as well as an iron hand to build Singapore from third world countries former colonial territories, became one of the world trade center.
Although his power for three decades as prime minister ended in 1990, he still has influence in the government Goh Chok Tong, serving as Senior Minister.
Lee Kuan Yew's influence continues, after his son Lee Hsien Loong rose as PM in August 2004. "Singapore is now looking for a change and evolution," said Southeast Asia expert, Ernest Z Bower.
Point Turn
Bower cited pages of The Washington Post, said there little concern about the future of Singapore, without the presence of its founder. "Lee Kuan Yew there for him to breathe," he said.
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's successful economic development, by applying loose regulation and lower taxes. However, Singapore's economic success, occurs at the expense of civil liberties.
Controlled media, the political opposition is not even tolerated. "Even Lee Hsien Loong admitted that Singapore is at its turn," wrote the Washington Post.
Singapore older generation still remember, like any living conditions prior to the transformation of Singapore. They voluntarily accept restrictions on civil liberties, for economic progress.
But the young public of Singapore, which is currently in their 20s and 30s, has been influenced by the West. They are in the opposite situation, their number is increasing.
"The previous generation was happy with Lee Kuan Yew, when he was still the Prime Minister. All their interests have been taken care of by the state," said Abdul Kadir bin Ibrahim, the owner of a clothes shop in Singapore.
But the younger generation by Kadir more critical. "Most of the highly educated. They come from well-established families, who do not need to struggle to survive," he said.
Young Generation
"We simultaneously love and hate, respect and contempt for, appreciate and hate him (Lee Kuang Yew)," wrote Carlton Tan, Singapore young man in the opinion article.
Tan's opinion appears to represent the feeling of most of the young people of Singapore. "We are grateful for the development of our economy for decades, but we imagine is absolutely necessary to sacrifice freedom," he said.
The opportunity to choose a different Singapore, getting close to an election to be held in 2016. A year after Singapore left by its founder.
In the last election, in 2011, the PAP lost six of the 87 seats in parliament, a result that is assessed shows desire for a change. The opposition is expected to win more seats next year.
Political change has accelerated due to economic reasons, the widening income gap. The number of billionaires increased, while most public Singapore dealing with the high cost of living.
Immigrants also be one of the issues, with a stranger has reached one-third of the total population. During these immigrants working in the public sector is not desirable Singapore, as construction laborers and domestic workers.
However at this time there is anxiety, that immigrants began seizing various sectors that had been enjoyed Singapore educated public.
Understanding Singapore
In an interview with the New York Times in 2007, Lee Kuan Yew, who resigned as prime minister in 1990, said that to understand Singapore, one has to begin with a story about the impossibility.
"This is a nation with almost no natural resources, without the same culture, diversity fragile ethnic Chinese, Malays and Indians who rely on intelligence to stay afloat and prosper," he said.
Lee stressed that Singapore has survived the journey for 42 years (2007). "Are we going to survive for the next 42 years? It depends on the condition of the world, not on our own," he said.
Latent fragility in the history of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew is the answer to all the critics, who accused him at all tough in dealing with the opposition.
"The answer lies in the origin of us. Despite what you see today, the super structure of a modern state, is essentially a very thin and can easily disintegrate," he said.
Lee Kuan Yew said he did not find it had gone too far, in action against political opponents, which is often accompanied by lengthy prison terms.
"I think not. I never kill them. I never destroy them. In politics, they destroy themselves," he said.
Classifieds Singapore
Lee revealed the secret of Singapore lies in the absence of ideology. Pragmatism sentimental, which imparts that the workings of the state itself is an ideology.
"Does it work?" asked Lee. "Let's try and if it works, continue. If not, then stop and try something else." The existence of two casinos in Singapore, is an example of pragmatism Lee.
Lee emphatically called himself did not like the casino. "But the world has changed, and if we do not have such an integrated resort in Las Vegas, we will lose," he said.
So he let the two casinos are built to attract more tourists to Singapore. "Let's try and make it a safe place, free mafia, prostitution-free and free from money laundering."
"I think we should go in any direction-world conditions force, if we want to survive and become part of the modern world. If we are not connected, we will die. We will again be a fishing village as before," he said.
As for the kind of relationship problems, Lee admitted that Singapore chose an ambiguous position. Singapore leave, but will not change the law to legalize it.
Even though China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have had a more liberal policy for same-sex relationships, the law in Singapore is still considered illegal, although the government will not actively enforce it.
In many countries, national identity evolved from a common ethnicity, race and religion. "Some countries are born free. Others fight for independence," said Lee.
Lee stressed that Singapore makes a country that consists of a collection of different migrant tribes, who then had to create national identity.
In his book titled "Men In White: The Untold Story Of Singapore's Ruling Political Party", Lee explains how he had to make a decision on official languages.
China is a majority ethnic population of Singapore. But Lee did not want to if China becomes the dominant culture. He emphasizes the importance of inter-racial harmony.
Although ethnic Malay Muslims are a minority community, but concern remains the same received great. For the process of identity formation, Lee even elementary schools prohibit the Chinese language.
Lee's identity in perspective is to achieve a sense of belonging, instead of which a person belongs. Achievement Singapore is a long journey that form values.
Welfare, Singapore has become one of the valuable assets, which makes public Singapore has a country feel, feel the need to defend it.
Change
"We have the majority Muslim population, other parts of the older generation of China and India are conservative. So let the changes occur slowly. It is a pragmatic approach to maintain social cohesion," he said.
Lee mentions only a matter of time until a change occurs. It can be clearly seen from the differences between generations in Singapore. In any family, values constantly changing.
"They have a base of traditional Confucian values," said Lee about her children, two sons and a daughter. "But my grandchildren do not." Lee said Singapore is not a closed community.
Singapore does not shut down on change. But the government in charge of guarding the changes, which by the way Lee referred to as Singapore is an oasis of class in the third world.
"We build the infrastructure. The hardest part is getting people to change habits, to behave like a first-class citizen of the world, not the third world with spit and throw garbage everywhere," said Lee.
So Singapore made a campaign to do this and that. "Do not chew gum. Do not throw trash on the roof. Speak good English. Perform acts of kindness are spontaneous," he said.
Sounds paradoxical, Lee said otherwise very poor at first, maybe Singapore would not be able to transform itself into a modern state as it is today.
Hard Work
Author of the book Managing Country Risk, Daniel Wagner, writing Singapore achieved success because of its ability to continue to adapt to regional and global economic realities.
Questions about what kind of democracy is created Lee Kuan Yew, sinks backstage Singapore economic miracle that is unmatched in Southeast Asia.
Lee warning about the fragility and the threat of the fall of Singapore, can convince people of Singapore to accept restrictions on their freedom by the government.
"If we have oil and gas, do you think I can make people do this? Do not. If we have oil and gas, I would get people with different motivations and expectations," he said.
Lee reiterated Singapore because people are aware, they are without oil and gas, so they know that development can only be achieved from hard work, and do it very well.
The key to the success of Singapore is a leader with the vision, dedication, firm and honest. Difficult for Lee ruled with an iron hand, if he can not maintain the trust of its people.
He is not corruption. That which distinguishes it from many other leaders. Lee also able to realize its vision in the form of prosperity. Freedom is restricted, but with justice in law enforcement.
Leadership
Economic inequality, injustice in law enforcement, social discrimination and corrupt leaders, are some of the ideal thing to be directed into the destroyer integrity of the country.
Therefore, Lee Kuan Yew bequeathed a system for the country, which mostly relies on the quality of leadership, which is well-prepared with a tight transition mechanism.
Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, said the change of leadership in Singapore carried out gradually with the transition process, so that when there is a change of government continues to run without interruption.
"Political consensus and converging is the best way for us," said Goh, in 2004. Lee Kuan Yew is not greedy of power. He withdrew in 1990, after getting a replacement believe in yourself Goh Chok Tong.
Goh has been a minister in the reign of Lee for 14 years, before replacing Lee appointed as Prime Minister. While Lee Hsien Loong has been 20 years in the cabinet, before becoming prime minister in 2004.
If the retaining system created Lee Kuan Yew, the change of control is done based on the vision of a leader with integrity, Singapore will remain strong as it is today. (Umi)
Source: viva.co.id
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