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Q & a with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, September 2009

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Q & a with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, September 2009 PETIR 50t h ANNIVERSARY INTERVIEW - Q & A WITH SENIOR MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG, SEPTEMBER 2009 Q1. Looking back on your time as prime minister, which incidents or events (domestic or international) stood out most clearly in your memory? The event which stood out for sheer pleasure, diplomacy, luck and impact was my midnight golf game with President Bill Clinton in Brunei in 2000. After the official APEC banquet had ended, we arranged to play golf at Jerudong Golf Club, about half an hour’s drive away. While waiting for our cars, the sky suddenly opened up. Nevertheless, I told a Clinton aide that I would still be going to the golf course. I told him confidently (with a straight face, of course) that I knew my weather and that it was a tropical thunderstorm which would soon stop. And it did, as soon as President Clinton arrived. At the end of a good round of golf, at about 2.00 am, I asked President Clinton if I could raise a business matter. He nodded and I made a case for the US- Singapore FTA in less than 10 minutes. He agreed and later that day, we instructed our officials to proceed to issue a press statement. Pulling off an FTA with President Clinton past midnight was a serendipitous moment. I had played golf with him once before in Vancouver during the APEC meeting of 1997. Up till then, I did not have a chance to meet him. His White House staff had blocked my request to visit him in Washington because we had caned Michael Fay for vandalism. Through golf and our interactions at meetings, we struck up a warm friendship. My saddest and most difficult moment was when I had to rebut, in Parliament, the allegations by the late President Ong Teng Cheong that the Government had been less than cooperative during his term as President. Earlier on, he had called a press conference to air his unhappiness. He dealt a heavy body blow to the Government and I had to set the record straight. Teng Cheong was a good friend and comrade. He had also backed me as the leader of the younger generation of Ministers. His wife had just passed away a few weeks earlier. It was painful to have to make the speech. Q2. Which would you rate as the single most important policy you have implemented that has contributed to the development of Singapore today? It is a toss up between Medisave and Edusave. Medisave helps to ensure that Singaporeans have enough funds to look after their hospitalization needs. But from the perspective of investing in our future, I would put Edusave ahead. My own experience prompted me to put in place the Edusave Scheme. I was helped by a government bursary in secondary school and university. Without the financial assistance, I might not have been able to complete university. Edusave has given additional resources to schools and students. I wanted to motivate every child to maximise his potential. I was prepared to invest heavily in his education. Singapore’s continued success depends on how we groom our talent and develop our human resources. Q3. On hindsight, are there any policies that you have put in place that you wish you had implemented earlier/later, not implemented at all, changed or tweaked? Yes, our population and procreation policies. In 1987, as Deputy Prime Minister, I introduced the “Have 3 or more if you can afford it!” population policy to reverse our declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR). In my 2000 National Day Rally, I detailed the Baby Bonus scheme. The policies were introduced too late to reverse mindsets. Also, they addressed mainly the financial burden of having more babies. They did not address the issues holistically, like creating a pro-family environment and the need to top up our population with immigrants. Q4. What factor do you consider has had the most impact on the success of the PAP so far, and which factor do you think will most affect the Party’s survival? The most important factor is Lee Kuan Yew. It is not only his leadership strengths - vision, intellect, determination and persuasive, communication skills - but also his character and values. He has institutionalized these values - integrity, commitment, dedication, meritocracy, discipline, amongst others - in the Party, Government and society. In fact, these values mark us out as Singaporeans. He has also institutionalized the practice of political succession. However, I worry about the ability of the Party to continue to spot and persuade the best and most committed to serve the Party and the country. This is not for want of trying. The private sector is so much more lucrative. It also offers a challenging career away from public glare. Also, more and more able Singaporeans are working abroad after graduation and do not appear on our radar screen for political talent. If Singapore does not have an exceptional leadership, it will not be able to punch above its weight. It will be just like one of the many small nation states with no voice and influence. Q5. What would you rate as the three main strengths of the Party? Integrity, dedication and conviction. The Party leadership has remained honest despite being in power for half a century - rare by international standards. Party cadres and ordinary members, too, serve not for glory or money. Without their dedication and hard slog in the constituencies, the Party would not have won elections after elections. Lastly, the Party leads by conviction and not by popular sentiments. This requires political courage in a one-man-one-vote electoral system. The Party anticipates trends and problems, adapts to changes and works out practical solutions. Many policy measures require sacrifices, trade-offs and pain. If they are right but unpopular, the Party will do its utmost to persuade the majority to accept these tough measures for the larger and longer term good. Q6. Going forward, what is your biggest worry for Singapore? Our declining TFR. Human resource is our strength. If the number of babies born per year continues to decline, Singapore will weaken. In 1998, Singapore citizens had 39214 babies. Last year, the number was 32423. If the declining trend continues, where will the vitality for the economy come from? Would we have enough Singaporeans to defend the country? Who will look after the old? Yes, we can top up our Singaporean population with new immigrants from China, India, and other countries. We can be a cosmopolitan country. It sounds good but it is not the same as having a Singapore populated mainly by the Singapore ‘tribe’. It has taken us 50 years to evolve this Singapore ‘tribe’. With new immigrants whom we welcome given our low TFR, the texture of Singapore will be radically altered. There will be more ‘tribes’ living in a small confined space. It will take time, perhaps more than one generation, to integrate them into the Singapore ‘tribe’. 13 Sep 2009.
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