MParader

PM Lawrence Wong launched Vol II of Irene Ng’s biography of S Rajaratnam at the National Library. Raja, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee were leaders born in an adverse political, economic and social environment. They built the foundation of today’s Singapore. The Lion’s Roar provides insights on Raja’s contributory role. --- gct

Yesterday, as chairman of the governing board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, I joined its graduates to celebrate their Commencement at the Bukit Timah campus. Imagine, I studied at the same campus more than 60 years ago! In the evening, I attended the dinner of the Institute of South Asian Studies - NUS to celebrate its 20th anniversary as its Founder Patron. --- gct

Attended a concert by soprano Ying Huang, courtesy of former MP Dr John Chen. She is hailed “the nightingale from China”. --- gct

Shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of Mohamad Maidin Packer Mohd. Maidin was the editor of Berita Harian when I persuaded him to stand for election as a candidate of the PAP. He served as MP for Kampong Ubi ward (in Aljunied and then Marine Parade GRC) from 1991 to 2006.

Maidin has contributed much to Singapore and the Malay community. He answered the call of service to the nation. Thank you, Maidin. --- gct

(Photo: Maidin and I at the Marine Parade Town Council Clean & Green Week Carnival in 1999)

You are not seeing double but the doubled effort by Ministry of Defence, Singapore (MINDEF) to ensure that nothing goes wrong during the National Day Parade. --- gct

After the official opening of TEL4, the Marine Parade grassroots leaders, Dr Tan See Leng, and I proceeded to plant trees to commemorate the joyous event after a long wait. One generation plants a tree, the next generation enjoys the shade. 前人栽树，后人乘凉 --- gct

Last visited the MRT tunnel in Marine Parade in Nov 2019. Today, rode the train from Marine Parade Station to Marine Terrace Station after the opening ceremony by PM Lawrence Wong.

The MRT nearly did not get built. When the system was first proposed in the 1970’s, then Finance Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee, was against it. He favoured the cheaper and more flexible all bus mass rapid system over the fixed line train system. The Treasury could ill afford the $5 billion dollars to build the first two lines. Then National Development Minister Teh Cheang Wan suggested selling some parcels of the reclaimed land at Marina Bay to raise the money. That settled the economic and affordability argument.

The MRT has come a long way. It has still some way to go before the entire island-wide network is completed.

All this seems so easy. But behind it is good governance, political stability and a united people which allow Singapore to plan and implement long-term projects like the MRT, Changi Airport, and water security. --- gct

Forest City is like Marine Parade. It is built on reclaimed land. The CEO and his deputy showed me the model for the city when completed. I believe that there will be great synergy between Forest City, the Johor Special Economic Zone and Singapore. --- gct

The durian season is coming. Sniffed them out somewhere in Johor. --- gct

A well-deserved tribute to Lee Hsien Loong for his leadership of Singapore by the Chinese community. SM Lee was visibly relaxed. --- gct

The Myanmar publisher of Tall Order and Standing Tall in the Myanmar language presented me the books and a portrait of me painted by a Myanmar artist. World Scientific Publishing Co., the Singapore publisher, kindly hosted the dinner. --- gct

Cakes galore, calories galore, over the last few days! And more cakes to finish in the fridge! More golf, walks and exercises are what I need. Thank you all, for your good wishes and generous friendship. --- gct

The The Society of Modern Management Singapore 新加坡现代企业管理协会 is a small private sector equivalent of Enterprise Singapore. It was formed 40 years ago to help Chinese-speaking small and medium enterprises upgrade their management and go overseas. I had two dialogue sessions with them previously. Hence my attendance as Special Guest at their 40th anniversary dinner. --- gct

PM Lawrence Wong pledges, “Every Singaporean matters.” Indeed. So does every Prime Minister. And Singapore certainly matters. Lawrence, you have my fullest support. Singapore is in your good hands now. --- gct

From the quiet pre-birthday dinner given by friends for H L Ng and me at a restaurant, I went to the Marine Parade Branch for a supper bash. Friends are precious; friendship increases in value over time. --- gct

In three days’ time, PM Lee Hsien Loong will hand over the baton to DPM Lawrence Wong. With this, he entrenches Singapore’s unique practice of systematic and smooth political leadership transition. Why is this important? Because Every Prime Minister Matters in Singapore.

Recently, I asked an ambassador from a major country his primary concern for Singapore. “Complacency”, he said. He explained that Singaporeans assume the good life will go on forever.

If successful men and women stay away from serving in politics, the quality of national leadership will trend downwards. Singapore will be reduced to an ordinary country. The good life will not last.

Lee Kuan Yew had always stressed the importance of recruiting good people to serve the country. In July 1996, he gave this input for my National Day Rally speech: “Singapore’s continued existence and prosperity depends on the commitment of the people to the nation, which means an obligation of each citizen to others as fellow citizens, and further, that those in charge, whether in government, or in the professions, or in business, have a heavier responsibility to ensure the well-being and good of society.”

Loong served because of his strong sense of duty towards Singapore. I give two examples.

One, when he graduated from Cambridge, his professor wanted him to pursue a career in mathematics. He turned it down and told his professor that his country needed him.

Two, when I approached him to be a candidate for the 1984 GE, he initially said that the timing was not right. His wife, Dr Wong Ming Yang, had just passed away in 1982. He had to look after his young daughter and infant son. I told him to think it over as the PAP was fielding a big batch of new candidates and he could be their leader.

Loong came back later to say that difficult as it was for him, he would make himself available.

This left a deep imprint on me. Loong was still grieving. He was still undergoing a difficult period of transition in his personal life. Yet, he answered the call of duty to serve the country despite his family circumstances.

Thank you, Loong, for your deep sense of duty and personal sacrifice for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Lawrence did not seek the top job. But he too has a strong sense of obligation to serve our country and our people. He accepted the responsibility to lead the country when his peers chose him.

Lawrence will have a tougher time than Loong and me as Prime Minister, given the uncertain, and I would say, even perilous, world that we now live in. He must succeed in recruiting selfless, capable, and committed men and women to keep Singapore shining. This is a national task, not just Lawrence’s or the PAP’s.

Let us work with Lawrence and his team to secure a bright future for our present and future generations. --- gct

It is that time of the year again when friends remind you that you are one year older. This time they celebrate two for the price of one. --- gct

Tripartism and the symbiotic relationship between the People's Action Party and NTUC Singapore are the bedrock of Singapore’s industrial harmony and political stability. They benefit all Singaporeans, not just employers and workers. --- gct

PM Lee Hsien Loong gave his farewell speech at the NTUC Singapore May Day rally. He looked back on what he had done as PM and the things we must do to keep Singapore strong domestically and respected internationally. The affection the NTUC members had for him was palpable. We owe PM a world of gratitude for serving Singapore selflessly. A new chapter of the Singapore Story will begin on May 15. Let’s help Lawrence Wong and his team write this chapter. --- gct

Former NMP Shrinivas Rai (right of picture) hosted a lunch at a Race Course Rd restaurant for the three of us who were young colleagues in the Singapore Administrative Service. Param Singh and I shared a room in the Economic Planning Unit in City Hall. I had not seen him for decades. The collective age of the four of us is 342! We are octogenarians! --- gct

You probably would not be able to guess where this place is. It is the Old Mart at Raffles City, the Bund, in Shanghai. It is the brainchild of three young Chinese entrepreneurs. They created this place with antique items from residents who were resettled to make place for development. I was told that it is popular with local tourists and is a business success. The old Singapore was like this too. --- gct

She serenades while I golf. --- gct

In Shanghai for the annual TMCC/Sheshan inter-club game. Patrick hosted us to an exquisite Shanghainese dinner. --- gct

Soon Wee Lam, a pioneer RC chairman of Marine Parade, proudly introduced his lovely granddaughter to me at the Marine Parade@50 launch on Saturday. She showed me a picture of me carrying her when she was a child. Thank you, Wee Lam, for your dedicated service to Marine Parade and your strong support. --- gct

Joined a buka puasa with members of the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore last evening. As Mr Noor Marican, the President of IRO, remarked, “Fasting transcends mere abstention from food and drink; it serves as a form of worship, purifying the soul from negativity and fostering personal growth towards becoming better human beings.” There are not that many countries besides Singapore where people of different religions join their Muslim friends to break the Ramadan fast. Our younger generation must carry on the never-ending work of maintaining religious harmony in Singapore. --- gct

This cigar is for chomping, not smoking. Thanks Nancy, James and Yusof for a great dinner. Appreciate your loyalty and support. You have done much for Marine Parade. --- gct

Tin Pei Ling 陈佩玲 invited Matthias Yao and me to meet Ian Tan, celebrity chef at Bottega Di Carna Singapore, Duxton Hill. He is a resident of MacPherson and had received Edusave awards from her. He had also shaken hands with Matthias when he was a child.

Ian won the World Young Chef top prize in Monaco in November last year. He curated the Italian lunch for us.

Singapore got talent! --- gct

“If good men do not join politics, bad men will.” That comment by Lee Kuan Yew persuaded Dr Tony Tan to enter politics. Tony went on to leave his mark on Singapore. Now he has put the lessons learnt in his memoir, “My Political Journey”. As he wrote in his Foreword, “Perhaps some of this collective experience and wisdom may be of help to the next generation – both in understanding our shared past, and in better preparing for anything the future may throw at us.” Congratulations, Tony! --- gct

I was shocked and profoundly saddened when I learnt of Ch’ng Jit Koon’s passing at a dinner last night. I had a good chat with him only last month at PM’s lunch for retired MPs. He was jolly and chatty. Now he is gone.

I am immensely indebted to Jit Koon for the part he played in my political journey. He chaired the committee which organised the ministerial constituency walkabouts for me and my colleagues in the eighties. That political exposure was invaluable.

I learnt a lot from him. I value his friendship and advice in handling the political ground.

Jit Koon served Singapore, his constituency and the PAP with integrity and total dedication.

This picture was taken in 2004 when I presented a token of appreciation to him as a member of The Chinese High School Board of Governors, at the 85th anniversary dinner of The Chinese High School. --- gct

PM shared his thoughts on the long term challenges facing Singapore at the Chap Goh Mei dinner for the grassroots leaders. This practice of thanking the grassroots leaders for their invaluable contribution to Singapore was started by PM Lee Kuan Yew. No doubt DPM Lawrence Wong will continue the practice next year. --- GCT