TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE APPRECIATION DINNER FOR DR YAACOB IBRAHIM, MR LIM SWEE SAY AND MR LIM HNG KIANG 30 MAY

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1 TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE APPRECIATION DINNER FOR DR YAACOB IBRAHIM, MR LIM SWEE SAY AND MR LIM HNG KIANG 30 MAY 2018 Colleagues and friends, we gather here today to honour the three Cabinet Ministers who retired last month. Yaacob, Swee Say, and Hng Kiang, they have all served the country well for many years. It is only right that we show our appreciation to the three of them, together as a Party. Renewal is not easy Making changes to the Cabinet is one of my most difficult, but important responsibilities as the Prime Minister. I have to build a team that is on top of its job, has a full range of strengths and skills, and commands the confidence and support of the population. Having done that, I have to renew this team regularly, to bring in new and younger talent, so that the team remains fresh, energetic and in sync with the times. This is a never ending exercise. Every year, I think about it, consult, discuss, make adjustments, see how things settle down, rearrange them and think again. The world around us is constantly changing. Singaporeans expectations, needs and aspirations are changing rapidly too. Our political leaders must always be in sync with the current generation. To understand and identify with them, to share and to shape their world view. To respond to their needs, help them achieve their aspirations, and earn their trust. Only then can the leaders and the people work together to set new directions for Singapore, and create new possibilities for the future.

2 Mr Lee Kuan Yew often talked about succession. Once, at a National Day Rally, he recounted how three of his Old Guard Ministers were hospitalised all at the same time in 1983 Hon Sui Sen, Goh Keng Swee, and S Rajaratnam. Hon Sui Sen eventually did not make it, he passed away. Dr Goh had a remission, and Mr Rajaratnam a reprieve. That is the way Mr Lee put it because Dr Goh at that time had cancer, and Mr Rajaratnam at that time, had a heart operation. So Mr Lee said the amber lights were flashing. This gave him renewed impetus to press on with leadership renewal. Ever since then, political renewal has always been a key priority for the PAP. Most of the third-generation ministers, including myself, are already well into our sixties. We are still largely in good health, touch wood. We can carry on for one more term, at most two. But time and tide waits for no man, or as they say in Chinese 岁月不留人. We must renew our team while we are still vigorous and on top of our game. We cannot wait until our generation runs out of steam, before handing over the reins to the next generation. So I take stock every year whom to bring in to political office, whom to promote, and who should move on. I reshuffle my ministers to expose them to new responsibilities, or to test them in more demanding positions. A single round of Cabinet changes is often incremental but over time, these regular adjustments add up, and substantially alter the shape and composition of the Cabinet. It is a balance because on the one hand, we want to avoid abrupt discontinuities. On the other hand, we must not keep the status quo for too long, and gradually drift out of touch. Otherwise, by the time this shows up in our performance, support, and election results, it will be far too late. On the emotional level, making these changes is also difficult for me. It is not like moving pieces on a chessboard. It involves colleagues, comrades, and close 2

3 friends. People whom I have worked with for many years, who have fought battles side by side, and who have developed trust and respect for one another. This round of changes is particularly difficult, because three senior Ministers from my generation are retiring. I have known them and worked with them over many years nearly 20 years in the case of Yaacob, and 40 plus years in the cases of Hng Kiang and Swee Say. In terms of ministerial experience, we are losing 70 years of solid, battle-tested experience. Yaacob, Swee Say, and Hng Kiang still have much to contribute but they have graciously agreed to retire, so that younger Ministers can take over their responsibilities, and we can make progress on leadership renewal. This is how the PAP Government works. Our duty is not only to look after the country well during our time in office. It is also to ensure that the country, and its future, stay in good hands after we leave office. Hence we are preparing a new generation of leaders to take over from us and will hand over to them in good time. In good time meaning not in a long time but in good time early enough. They will build on the work which we have started. Their success will be our success too and that is stewardship. A few words on the three retiring Ministers When Yaacob, Swee Say and Hng Kiang stepped down, I wrote them valedictory letters. I recounted the notable ups and downs that we went through together, as well as the critical occasions when their judgment and steadfastness helped to carry the day. Younger Singaporeans reading the accounts commented that they did not realise the Ministers had played so many roles, and made so many contributions, over so many years. I hope that 3

4 some of them will be inspired to come forward and serve! Tonight, let me just say a few words to thank each of them, starting with Yaacob. Like the other two, Yaacob has held several ministerial portfolios, and made a big difference to the lives of Singaporeans. In MCYS (as it then was) he started the Sports School, which has produced many champion athletes for Team Singapore. In MEWR he turned our canals and reservoirs into beautiful waterways and parks for Singaporeans to enjoy, with the ABC Waters Programme. In MCI he made Singapore one of the most wired-up cities in the world, with fibre optic cables to every home, pervasive 4G networks and Wireless@SG. He has also developed the National Library into an outstanding institution. Yaacob joined Cabinet at a critical time, just after the September 11 terrorist attacks. As Minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs, he provided crucial leadership for our Malay/Muslim community at a moment of anxiety and uncertainty. He felt strongly about what made a good Muslim and a good citizen. He rallied our Malay/Muslim PAP MPs and the Malay/Muslim community, to take a clear public stand against extreme and perverse interpretations of Islam, and held the ground. On sensitive issues of race and religion, Yaacob always took a principled and sensitive approach. This called for courage and conviction, a willingness to take flak and not just to do the easy thing. I have no doubt that Yaacob s firmness exposed him to criticism, and came at some cost to his personal popularity but Yaacob held firm, and in doing so he made a vital contribution to maintaining our racial and religious harmony. 4

5 Yaacob also worked hard to lift up the Malay community. In Mendaki, he kept up the emphasis on upgrading through education, and took a personal interest in helping lower-income families. His efforts paid off, with more Malay students making it to university and post-secondary education every year, and in the workforce holding PMET positions and doing well. In Jalan Besar GRC, Yaacob looked after Kolam Ayer ward, where he had grown up as a boy. Jalan Besar has been vigorously contested at every general election but Yaacob and his team held the GRC each time, five times in a row. They did this by systematically reaching out to different segments of society the youths, the old, the poor, and the dialect-speaking. They made full use of public amenities such as the Kolam Ayer ABC Waterfront to bring everyone together and thus they built a community. On a personal level, Yaacob had time for everyone, regardless of rank or station. I am told that during Yaacob s farewell lunch at MCI, the first group of people he thanked was the cleaning staff. This speaks to the kind of leader and person Yaacob is. Swee Say I have known since our days together in the SAF. I told this story to the Cabinet but I should tell it to you too. The first time I met him, I am not sure he remembers, but I do. I went to see him. I had made an appointment. He was in his office. I was in the unit, in S4. He was Head of Equipment Branch in MINDEF Logistics. MINDEF had just issued this new set of instructions on what kind of stuff we should have in every battalion changkols, pickaxes, camouflage, jerry cans, all the things which S4 spent their time counting. I looked at it and I said I don t want all these things, I wanted certain other things, perhaps I can persuade so I made an appointment to see Swee Say. And he listened to me and to my astonishment, he accepted some of the ideas. 5

6 MINDEF saved some money and I got the equipment I need. That is not why I brought him into politics! I brought him into politics, because I thought he had many suitable qualities practical, persuasive and effective and also perhaps was a little unconventional and irreverent. As Swee Say would say, compared to other men in white, he is same same, but different. Swee Say started off in the unions, and after several other appointments, he returned to NTUC as Secretary-General. There he played a crucial role in strengthening tripartism, especially during the Global Financial Crisis. Mr Lee Kuan Yew once wrote that Swee Say was a natural as Secretary-General. One of the many reasons Swee Say is a natural is because he is a gifted communicator. Although he jokes that when he speaks Mandarin, people think he is English-educated; and when he speaks English, people think he is Chinese-educated! But we all remember the vivid slogans he coined. In MEWR he guided his team to invent NEWater. In NTUC he came up with Upturn the downturn, "Cheaper, better, faster", "Better, betterer, betterest", and the 3Fs to describe leadership succession in the unions Flow in, Flow up and Flow on. Its punchy, folksy and effective, he brought home key points to Singaporeans. Swee Say steps up to the plate when it comes to difficult issues like the GST increase. We all know how hard it is to persuade people of the need to raise taxes. If anyone can do it, it is Swee Say. In fact, he has done it over and over again, in hundreds of block parties, block by block, with his residents in Bedok, to remarkable effect. I met his Constituency Director at PA at a function recently. He says, I take my hat off to the MP, to the Adviser. He is quite remarkable. I said put on a demonstration. So he tried to do what Swee Say did and demonstrated to me. Not quite the same but I got the idea. 6

7 So I asked Swee Say whether he would do a video of his pitch, or even a hologram, like Mr Modi in India, to multiply his effectiveness. But he told me, no, it has to be done in person, because he has to be there with the audience, to sense their mood, to react to their responses, to tune his pitch just so. And he is quite right. This is an important lesson in politics even in the digital age, there is no substitute for working the ground in person, for being there, to show your sincerity, your compassion, your conviction and leadership. Now that Swee Say has stepped down as a Minister, perhaps he will have time to conduct some master classes, to show younger Ministers and MPs how it should be done. If each of us can be doing it half as well as him, there are 80 plus of us, I think we will have made an impact. Finally, I have known Hng Kiang the longest, ever since we were contemporaries studying in Cambridge 45 years ago. We have worked together in multiple roles, in and out of politics. As a Minister, Hng Kiang left his mark in successive ministries. First MND, then the MOH, and for the last 14 years MTI. He played key roles in major crises, like the SARS outbreak, and then recently, the Global Financial Crisis. In MTI, Hng Kiang has been a steady, absolutely reliable hand overseeing our economy. He made many significant contributions revitalising the manufacturing sector, strengthening SMEs, and expanding overseas markets through FTAs. He knows when to let things be, and allow the free market to make our economy competitive and efficient. At the same time, he also knows how to step in when the market is not working, to achieve political or social objectives with just the right policy measures. Hng Kiang did not neglect his political work either. He has helmed West Coast GRC as Minister for more than 20 years and despite travelling often and 7

8 holding multiple portfolios, residents could count on him to give them his full attention, and attend to their concerns. They have confidence in Hng Kiang and his GRC team, as reflected in the team s consistent performance in elections. Hng Kiang is a laconic man perhaps the only part of him that is unusual for a politician! But his point of view is always rational and incisive. He cuts to the core of issues, calmly and decisively. His proposals are always pragmatic, and with a human touch. That is why I always take his views very seriously. While Yaacob, Swee Say and Hng Kiang have stepped down from ministerial office. I am glad that they will continue to serve Singapore in other capacities. I trust that they will make themselves available to help the younger ones, and keep on providing ideas and feedback to the team. I look forward to the three of them remaining active for many years to come. Conclusion Let me also thank Zaqy, Xueling and Wu Meng for organising tonight s function. It is appropriate for the incoming POHs to recognise the outgoing office holders and it is also a reminder that we are only here because our predecessors have paved the way for us, and one day, it will be our turn to make way for our successors. The transition to the fourth generation leadership is well under way. Younger Ministers now head two thirds of the Ministries. This process will continue, for both Ministers and MPs. To those who have run your laps, and passed on the torch, you can take pride in your service. You have done your duty, and contributed to Singapore s success. You are leaving Singapore and Singaporeans in a better place. We 8

9 wholeheartedly thank you, and also thank your family members, especially your spouses. Without them standing by your side, being supportive and understanding, making sacrifices and taking care of the kids, it would have been tough for you to focus on your public duties, and to keep up what you have been doing all these years. Maria and Elaine are not able to be here today, and Ai Boon passed away a few years ago. But we owe them too, a debt of gratitude. To those who have taken up the torch, and will come after you. May you carry on the spirit of service and stewardship of those who came before you, build on what they have done; and lead Singapore to new and even greater heights. Thank you very much. 9