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May 17, 2011
Allow non-elected ministers
MY TEARS flowed as I read about our two respected ministers quitting the Cabinet ("Lee Kuan Yew steps down"; Sunday) .
Older Singaporeans like me, who were born before 1960, witnessed how Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew fought the communists, curbed racial riots, went through the ups and downs of our relations with Malaysia, faced the sudden withdrawal of the British forces and eventually transformed a hinterland from scratch. Thus, it saddens me to know that our founding father has decided to leave the Cabinet.
It took MM Lee many tumultuous years to lay the foundations for national stability, unity and development that have brought Singapore to what it is today.
That MM Lee, with his indomitable spirit, endangered his life to deal with the communists was a clear act of courage, and he demonstrated it again by quitting the Cabinet as an act of selflessness.
Perhaps Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong might reconsider appointing non-elected ministers, given Singapore's small leadership base, and all the more so with the departures of talented and capable ministers like Mr George Yeo and Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.
Our PM can exercise his prerogative to choose suitable, non-elected people he knows can run the ministries. It is about limited talent versus a nation's survival.
Perhaps it is also time to consider amending the Constitution to allow this, to ensure that Singapore is governed by a group of able, honest and dedicated men and women.
Francis Cheng
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_669266.html
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Responded to at:
19May2011: Allow non-elected ministers
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