Lee Kuan Yew speaks about Sg's changing demographics
-
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 20 March 2013 2047 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said a country that does not grow its population risks dissolving "into nothingness".
Mr Lee was speaking at a wide-ranging dialogue session organised by Standard Chartered Bank on Wednesday evening.
Joining Mr Lee for the dialogue was former chairman of the US Federal Reserve and former chairman of US President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, Paul Volcker.
This was the first time Mr Lee was speaking about Singapore's changing demographics since the Population White Paper was endorsed in Parliament.
The paper, which projects 6.9 million people by 2030, charts the country's strategies in managing a shrinking and ageing population.
A question on Japan's ageing society during the dialogue triggered the discussion.
Mr Lee noted how Japan refused to take in migrants and that led to the situation it is facing today.
Mr Lee said: "So I see a nation reduced to half in 20 years, and if it still continues with the same policy, reduced to a further half, and eventually, it is all over!
"To have a nation, you must have people and you must have young people to be able to drive the economy and young people buy the products - all these gadgets and fine dining - and if you don't have that, and you refuse migrants as the Japanese do, you will just dissolve into nothingness! I think before that comes, they may change (their) policy."
A question on China's one-child policy was also raised during the dialogue.
Mr Lee said China is headed in the wrong direction with this policy as a shrinking and ageing population will mean assets, such as property prices, will go down.
"Property prices will go down, assets will go down. There is no younger generation to put the pressure up so I think it is heading towards the wrong direction," said Mr Lee.
He added Singapore is in a similar position with its low total fertility rate but the difference is that Singapore takes in migrants to make up for the numbers.
Mr Lee pointed out that authorities here maintain a "certain quality of control" and that is one reason why he feels other emerging ASEAN economies are unlikely to surpass Singapore anytime soon.
Mr Lee said: "They will make progress but if you look at the per capita they have got, the differences are so wide. We have the advantage of quality control of the people who come in so we have bright Indians, bright Chinese, bright Caucasians so the increase in population means an increase in talent."
- CNA/fa -
Originally posted by Clivebenss:
SINGAPORE: Singapore former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said a country that does not grow its population risks dissolving "into nothingness".
Look who's talking. lol.
You think I moron ar Harry Lee Kuan Yew? lol.
Women bore brunt of Lee Kuan Yew's draconian population policy
08 March 2013
Chee Siok Chin
Former prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew must take responsibility for the current population issues that Singapore is now facing. The current PAP Government has not acknowledged that it was Mr Lee's miscalculated policy of Stop-At-Two" that has resulted in today's population and immigration woes.
What is more tragic is how this policy had affected women in Singapore. The Stop-At-Two campaign launched in 1972 was aimed at the "less educated and lower income groups" to control Singapore's fast-increasing population then.
What is deplorable were the measures that the Government resorted to in order to discourage Singaporean families from having more than two children. It was women who bore the brunt of Mr Lee's notions and practices.
Women who had given birth to their second child were encouraged to undergo ligation, that is, to tie up fallopian tubes. Women with low-incomes and deemed lowly-educated, were offered seven days' paid leave and $10,000 in cash incentives to voluntarily undergo the procedure.
Mothers who gave birth to a third child were confronted with disincentives such as: civil servants were no longer given maternity leave; maternity hospitals charged progressively higher fees for each additional birth; income tax deductions were eliminated after the second child; third and subsequent children were given a lower priority in the choice of and admission to schools.
In 1984, the Graduate Mothers' Scheme was announced. Mothers who were university graduates were given preferential school admission to children over non-graduate mother. The Government also established a Social Development Unit (SDU) to act as matchmaker for unmarried university graduates. And Social Development Service (SDS) for non-graduates.
The decision to legalise abortion in 1970 was not born out of ethical considerations but to facilitate the Stop-At-Two policy. Singaporeans, especially women, were disempowered and silenced by these draconian practices.
Singapore has come some way from such warped practices against women even if they were not explicitly targets. Despite the patriarchal society that Singapore still is, women here will not be silent about such oppressive conventions.
Many of the problems Singaporeans are experiencing today are a result of the ill-conceived population policies of yesteryear. As a result, the SDP has creatively addressed working solutions that re-empower Singaporeans and make the country less reliant on foreign labour and able to stand on our own.
The Women Democrats has come a long way since its inception in 2001 and we continue to grow and play an integral part in our Party. We will continue to speak up and stand up for Singaporeans – women and men alike.
On this International Women's Day celebrated on 8 March every year, I would like to wish women in Singapore and all over the world empowering and meaningful lives. Happy Women's Day!
Ms Chee Siok Chin is a member of the SDP's Central Executive Committee and Head of women Democrats, SDP's women wing.Instead, Lee’s view of the press was that it was a tool for dissemination and promotion of government policies. One illuminating illustration was a “furious” call from Lee’s office that was received by the (now defunct) New Nation Editor David Kraal. The editors were “flummoxed” to discover that the then PM was provoked by a photograph of a large family to illustrate a story of a happy Singapore family.
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as “subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in which Lee sought to limit families to two children. …
http://leewatch.info/2013/01/03/book-review-lee-kuan-yews-taming-of-the-press/
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as “subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in which Lee sought to limit families to two children. …
-
Omg, just watch him from News8........
like skeleton like that, Botox too much?........
-
Originally posted by Rbs70:
Omg, just watch him from News8........
like skeleton like that, Botox too much?........
is that a robot?
-
Originally posted by Dalforce 1941:
Look who's talking. lol.
You think I moron ar Harry Lee Kuan Yew? lol.
Women bore brunt of Lee Kuan Yew's draconian population policy
08 March 2013
Chee Siok Chin
Former
prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew must take responsibility for the
current population issues that Singapore is now
facing. The
current PAP Government has not acknowledged that it was Mr Lee's
miscalculated policy of
Stop-At-Two" that has resulted in
today's population and immigration woes.
What is more tragic is how this policy had affected women in Singapore. The Stop-At-Two campaign launched in 1972 was aimed at the "less educated and lower income groups" to control Singapore's fast-increasing population then.
What is deplorable were the measures that the Government resorted to in order to discourage Singaporean families from having more than two children. It was women who bore the brunt of Mr Lee's notions and practices.
Women who had given birth to their second child were encouraged to undergo ligation, that is, to tie up fallopian tubes. Women with low-incomes and deemed lowly-educated, were offered seven days' paid leave and $10,000 in cash incentives to voluntarily undergo the procedure.
Mothers who gave birth to a third child were confronted with disincentives such as: civil servants were no longer given maternity leave; maternity hospitals charged progressively higher fees for each additional birth; income tax deductions were eliminated after the second child; third and subsequent children were given a lower priority in the choice of and admission to schools.
In 1984, the Graduate Mothers' Scheme was announced. Mothers who were university graduates were given preferential school admission to children over non-graduate mother. The Government also established a Social Development Unit (SDU) to act as matchmaker for unmarried university graduates. And Social Development Service (SDS) for non-graduates.
The decision to legalise abortion in 1970 was not born out of ethical considerations but to facilitate the Stop-At-Two policy. Singaporeans, especially women, were disempowered and silenced by these draconian practices.
Singapore has come some way from such warped practices against women even if they were not explicitly targets. Despite the patriarchal society that Singapore still is, women here will not be silent about such oppressive conventions.
Many of the problems Singaporeans are experiencing today are a result of the ill-conceived population policies of yesteryear. As a result, the SDP has creatively addressed working solutions that re-empower Singaporeans and make the country less reliant on foreign labour and able to stand on our own.
The Women Democrats has come a long way since its inception in 2001 and we continue to grow and play an integral part in our Party. We will continue to speak up and stand up for Singaporeans – women and men alike.
On this International Women's Day celebrated on 8 March every year, I would like to wish women in Singapore and all over the world empowering and meaningful lives. Happy Women's Day!
Ms Chee Siok Chin is a member of the SDP's Central Executive Committee and Head of women Democrats, SDP's women wing.Instead, Lee’s view of the press was that it was a tool for dissemination and promotion of government policies. One illuminating illustration was a “furious” call from Lee’s office that was received by the (now defunct) New Nation Editor David Kraal. The editors were “flummoxed” to discover that the then PM was provoked by a photograph of a large family to illustrate a story of a happy Singapore family.
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as “subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in which Lee sought to limit families to two children. …
http://leewatch.info/2013/01/03/book-review-lee-kuan-yews-taming-of-the-press/
Apparently, this was perceived by the PM as “subtle but effective criticism” of the “Stop at Two campaign” in which Lee sought to limit families to two children. …
No wonder most Singapore people were very cautious in having more future (babies) for LKY and its government. Disrespecting female is one, and the pushing for economy is the only gauge for well beings aint right as well. Imagine the future PR will be affected by the sole purpose of economic driven policy instead of humanity peace and joys. More people but less joys due to conflict for economy driven is not a favorable sign for people. These future PR was also not being earnestly welcome as truly being treated as people but economy. And if Singapore policy for population cannot ensure a happy even in moderate population or lesser, can Singapore as a whole or government still considered themselves being a happy country. What the people want is loving and genuine mutual considerate amongst one another, and what the government desires for is only economy...
-
-
I just ignored LKY speeches and I saw the two caucasian gentlemen on stage were rather like falling asleep and anxiously waiting for him to complete his sentences.
-
population growth was, is and will be a ponzi scheme...
so how much is enough?
or like MBT says "go for the maximum which resources can handle" ?
then what? no more capacity in case we have disasters? hell even the hospitals are overflowing, along with the roads, trains, buses...
there has to be a new model.. because lau lee's model shows we'll eventually die out without a prayer of turning back
-
well , he is not going to admit that his son is useless n doing nothing gud to this country so he dun have to jump out of his coffin wen he is dead.
but he is still going to die with a heavy heart for those oaths to his people.
like father like son?
-
How to die out, human population is reaching 10 billion soon.
-
-
Originally posted by lce:
well , he is not going to admit that his son is useless n doing nothing gud to this country so he dun have to jump out of his coffin wen he is dead.
but he is still going to die with a heavy heart for those oaths to his people.
like father like son?
-
Originally posted by Rbs70:
One up there.
-
Originally posted by Rbs70:
make me laugh.