MM Lee was reported in TODAY (14 July 2010) to have said the following during a dinner dialogue of the FutureChina Global Forum meeting, organised by Business China.
While fielding questions on a range of issues in English and Mandarin, MM Lee also touched on political succession in China.
"He pointed out that China's next leadership succession is already in place and that the country is not short of outstanding leaders.
But Mr Lee noted that corruption will be China's greatest problem.
But Mr Lee noted that corruption will be China's greatest problem.
Doing business in China requires connections, but Chinese officials understand that Singaporean businessmen are reliable and not corrupt.
He said: "The Taiwanese are ruthless, Hong Kongers are shameless and Singaporeans are ignorant. People who are ignorant are not corrupt and reliable."
Are Singaporeans really that "ignorant" as claimed by MM Lee, just as we note as reported in TODAY that Marina Bay Sands had filed a fresh suit against Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) over a spat concerning unpaid fees for a conference held at his Singapore integrated resort and casino.
The IPBA consists of top lawyers practising worldwide. The organising committee for the recent conference comprised of top lawyers locally. Are our top lawyers really that "ignorant" too as suggested by MM Lee that they have to face the MBS top managers who are as "ruthless" as the Taiwanese, described by MM Lee to be such? Marina Bay Sands' head honcho Sheldon Adelson was reported to have said that "he would rather make love than war" with the IPBA?. Where? In our High Court, LOL, since the fresh suit is filed there?
A question remains, in that, is the IPBA "ignorant" to have book the MBS facilities with "eyes wide open" to hold the conference there soon after the opening of the casino? See my posting "A Conference Too Soon" in this BLOG and also my letter to TODAY here. (Link)
From this and other recent freak events in Singapore, can we then imply that our Government and corporate leaders are not willing to take responsibility because Singaporeans are "ignorant", but according to MM Lee, we are actually "reliable" ? Or, are our leaders just as "ignorant", while they want to be "reliable"? Can we be "ignorant" and also "reliable" at the same time? Perhaps, we are only "reliable" by being "ignorant" to the elites in the Government and Authorities, and also the "ruthless" and "shameless" in business. If the logic is right and works out, is Singapore then unsustainable and doom hereon, and there would be no more Golden Era as was "forecasted"? Or is it a point then, that we need "elites" to rule? As "doing business in China requires connections" as noted by MM Lee, do we then only have "connections" with the elites who rule these lands, and will our destiny then only rest on them?
Reference #1
TODAY July 14, 2010
China needs to master English, says MM Lee
Singapore's bilingual experience a useful example
by Claire Huang
SINGAPORE - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says China needs to master English to grow economically.
Speaking at the inaugural FutureChina Global Forum Meeting, Mr Lee said mastering bilingualism is difficult but China has to create an English-speaking environment to master the language.
During the forum, Mr Lee also tackled a host of other issues, ranging from United States-China relations to political succession in China and bilingualism.
Organised by Business China, the theme of the forum was "Strategic Insights for riding China's next decade".
Responding to a question, Mr Lee said the role of the US as a world power will change in about two decades' time and it has to come to terms with China becoming a super power.
He said that the US knows that China's gross domestic product will be greater in 20 to 30 years' time.
And while ties between the two superpowers fluctuate, Singapore will not be affected said Mr Lee.
Singapore, Mr Lee said, keeps an equal distance between China and the US.
On the situation in East Asia, Mr Lee said regardless of political and other non-confluence interests, China, South Korea and Japan will not be able to form a centre of power.
He said the sheer proximity of South Korea and Japan to China will mean that the two countries will ride on China's growth.
However, Mr Lee said this does not mean Japan will align itself with China politically. He pointed out that Japan and South Korea will continue to have close ties with the US.
Mr Lee also touched on political succession in China.
He pointed out that China's next leadership succession is already in place and that the country is not short of outstanding leaders.
But Mr Lee noted that corruption will be China's greatest problem.
Doing business in China requires connections, but Chinese officials understand that Singaporean businessmen are reliable and not corrupt.
He said: "The Taiwanese are ruthless, Hong Kongers are shameless and Singaporeans are ignorant. People who are ignorant are not corrupt and reliable."
Reference #2
TODAY July 15, 2010
Legal conference dispute: Marina Bay Sands files fresh suit against IPBA
by Teo Xuanwei
SINGAPORE - He would "rather make love than war" with the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) over a spat concerning unpaid fees for a conference held at his Singapore property in May, Marina Bay Sands' head honcho Sheldon Adelson had said last month.
But even before the courts have heard MBS' first suit against the lawyers' group, the integrated resort has filed a fresh suit against IPBA.
Mr S Suressh from Harry Elias Partnership, who is acting for MBS, said his client is seeking $641,236 - the outstanding sum from the $841,246 bill IPBA had incurred when it held its 20th annual conference at MBS days after the resort opened.
The sum includes the $300,000 MBS is seeking from IPBA in the first suit. MBS will deduct $300,000 from its latest claim if it successfully recovers the amount from the first suit.
The second lawsuit, which was filed with the High Court on June 28 but has yet to be served on IPBA. This follows settlement talks both parties had held last Thursday.
Mr Yap Wai Ming, chairman of IPBA's organising committee, declined to reveal the progress of the talks.
He added that a pre-trial conference for the first suit has been fixed for July 30.
The legal wrangle arose after IPBA withdrew two $300,000 cheques to MBS after its conference was marred by numerous complaints from delegates of power failures, unfinished rooms and lost luggage.
In its defence to the first suit, IPBA said it had offered to pay $500,000 for the conference but the IR turned it down. IPBA, which is represented by Drew and Napier, also counterclaimed on June 8 for damages, claiming that MBS had misrepresented a "complete disaster" as a world-class venue.
MBS has six months to serve the writ before the suit lapses. IPBA has to respond within eight days thereafter. In response to MediaCorp's queries, an MBS spokesperson said: "MBS is working with IPBA in order to resolve all matters amicably. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
Are Singaporeans really that "ignorant" as claimed by MM Lee, just as we note as reported in TODAY that Marina Bay Sands had filed a fresh suit against Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) over a spat concerning unpaid fees for a conference held at his Singapore integrated resort and casino.
The IPBA consists of top lawyers practising worldwide. The organising committee for the recent conference comprised of top lawyers locally. Are our top lawyers really that "ignorant" too as suggested by MM Lee that they have to face the MBS top managers who are as "ruthless" as the Taiwanese, described by MM Lee to be such? Marina Bay Sands' head honcho Sheldon Adelson was reported to have said that "he would rather make love than war" with the IPBA?. Where? In our High Court, LOL, since the fresh suit is filed there?
A question remains, in that, is the IPBA "ignorant" to have book the MBS facilities with "eyes wide open" to hold the conference there soon after the opening of the casino? See my posting "A Conference Too Soon" in this BLOG and also my letter to TODAY here. (Link)
From this and other recent freak events in Singapore, can we then imply that our Government and corporate leaders are not willing to take responsibility because Singaporeans are "ignorant", but according to MM Lee, we are actually "reliable" ? Or, are our leaders just as "ignorant", while they want to be "reliable"? Can we be "ignorant" and also "reliable" at the same time? Perhaps, we are only "reliable" by being "ignorant" to the elites in the Government and Authorities, and also the "ruthless" and "shameless" in business. If the logic is right and works out, is Singapore then unsustainable and doom hereon, and there would be no more Golden Era as was "forecasted"? Or is it a point then, that we need "elites" to rule? As "doing business in China requires connections" as noted by MM Lee, do we then only have "connections" with the elites who rule these lands, and will our destiny then only rest on them?
Reference #1
TODAY July 14, 2010
China needs to master English, says MM Lee
Singapore's bilingual experience a useful example
by Claire Huang
SINGAPORE - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says China needs to master English to grow economically.
Speaking at the inaugural FutureChina Global Forum Meeting, Mr Lee said mastering bilingualism is difficult but China has to create an English-speaking environment to master the language.
During the forum, Mr Lee also tackled a host of other issues, ranging from United States-China relations to political succession in China and bilingualism.
Organised by Business China, the theme of the forum was "Strategic Insights for riding China's next decade".
Responding to a question, Mr Lee said the role of the US as a world power will change in about two decades' time and it has to come to terms with China becoming a super power.
He said that the US knows that China's gross domestic product will be greater in 20 to 30 years' time.
And while ties between the two superpowers fluctuate, Singapore will not be affected said Mr Lee.
Singapore, Mr Lee said, keeps an equal distance between China and the US.
On the situation in East Asia, Mr Lee said regardless of political and other non-confluence interests, China, South Korea and Japan will not be able to form a centre of power.
He said the sheer proximity of South Korea and Japan to China will mean that the two countries will ride on China's growth.
However, Mr Lee said this does not mean Japan will align itself with China politically. He pointed out that Japan and South Korea will continue to have close ties with the US.
Mr Lee also touched on political succession in China.
He pointed out that China's next leadership succession is already in place and that the country is not short of outstanding leaders.
But Mr Lee noted that corruption will be China's greatest problem.
Doing business in China requires connections, but Chinese officials understand that Singaporean businessmen are reliable and not corrupt.
He said: "The Taiwanese are ruthless, Hong Kongers are shameless and Singaporeans are ignorant. People who are ignorant are not corrupt and reliable."
Reference #2
TODAY July 15, 2010
Legal conference dispute: Marina Bay Sands files fresh suit against IPBA
by Teo Xuanwei
SINGAPORE - He would "rather make love than war" with the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) over a spat concerning unpaid fees for a conference held at his Singapore property in May, Marina Bay Sands' head honcho Sheldon Adelson had said last month.
But even before the courts have heard MBS' first suit against the lawyers' group, the integrated resort has filed a fresh suit against IPBA.
Mr S Suressh from Harry Elias Partnership, who is acting for MBS, said his client is seeking $641,236 - the outstanding sum from the $841,246 bill IPBA had incurred when it held its 20th annual conference at MBS days after the resort opened.
The sum includes the $300,000 MBS is seeking from IPBA in the first suit. MBS will deduct $300,000 from its latest claim if it successfully recovers the amount from the first suit.
The second lawsuit, which was filed with the High Court on June 28 but has yet to be served on IPBA. This follows settlement talks both parties had held last Thursday.
Mr Yap Wai Ming, chairman of IPBA's organising committee, declined to reveal the progress of the talks.
He added that a pre-trial conference for the first suit has been fixed for July 30.
The legal wrangle arose after IPBA withdrew two $300,000 cheques to MBS after its conference was marred by numerous complaints from delegates of power failures, unfinished rooms and lost luggage.
In its defence to the first suit, IPBA said it had offered to pay $500,000 for the conference but the IR turned it down. IPBA, which is represented by Drew and Napier, also counterclaimed on June 8 for damages, claiming that MBS had misrepresented a "complete disaster" as a world-class venue.
MBS has six months to serve the writ before the suit lapses. IPBA has to respond within eight days thereafter. In response to MediaCorp's queries, an MBS spokesperson said: "MBS is working with IPBA in order to resolve all matters amicably. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
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