To encourage foreign investment he will liberalise nationality requirements in the Omnibus Investment Code to make it possible for foreign investors to own their plant sites. The Philippines is immensely better off compared to Afghanistan or Lebanon or Sri Lanka. Second : Concentrate on economics not politics or more accurately, politicking . 30. If you maximise the six years of the Ramos Administration by freeing your economy, attracting investments, and if you work hard to create conditions that make these investments profitable, then you will get yourself back into the mainstream of growth and development and be in the same league of dynamic economies as your ASEAN neighbours. Unless these kidnappings stop, most investors will stay away. Therefore investors fear that the Government cannot control future budget deficits and inflation. By the early 80s, at first, Thailand, and next Malaysia, changed policies. And at least one typhoon struck each year. It’s about time we finally learned best practices from them which they have been more than willing to share. — Lee Kuan Yew, Interview with Hirotsugu Koike, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, December 20th, 1990. 4. There is a complete separation of powers between executive, legislature and judiciary. In that same Asiaweek magazine was another article entitled “Kidnappers in Uniform?”: “Police Brig-Gen Raul Imperial counts more than 50 kidnappings last year, netting $7.6 million in ransoms. 28. While the Aquino administration had backed down under pressure from lobby groups, and revised its original and more drastic Executive Order 413, the new tariff liberalisation programme will bring down the average effective protection rate for Philippine industries from 25% to 21% over a four-year period ending in July 1995. Rigoberto Tiglao in the Far Eastern Economic Review 3 September 1992, wrote: “There were two waves of Japanese capital investment, both driven by the yen’s strengthening: in 1985 and then in 1987. But they must not lead to a paralysis of government. 15. Nancy Binay – Don’t hate the player, hate the game! All these three have been torn apart by strife and war, and the contending factions are still killing each other inflicting more damage on their countries instead of repairing the harm done. “I am not going to come here, next time, just to … Speech by former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and current Senior Advisor to Government of Singapore Investment Corporation at the Ford Theatre's Abraham Lincoln Medal Award Ceremony in Washington DC on 18 October 2011 Mr Wayne Reynolds, Chairman of Ford's Theatre Mrs Catherine Reynolds, Chairman and CEO of The Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation The exuberance of democracy leads to undisciplined and disorderly conditions which are inimical to development. Election campaigns were colourful and entertaining. They are now pressing ahead with deregulation and liberalisation to open up their economy and make their products internationally competitive. 20. Then the world will soon change its views of prospects for the Philippines. In 1991 Mount Pinatubo erupted. National Archives - Interview with Lee Kuan Yew - National Security Council. Nomura’s Asia Focus (Aug 1992) quoted a 1991 JETRO survey of Japanese companies listing the major advantage in the Philippines as the highgrade low-cost labour force. Other schemes like B.O.O. The question I ask is: Can the next six years be better than the past six? Lee Kuan Yew had to make tough decisions throughout his life, but he did what he did to build a nation. There are more MBAs in the Philippines than in any ASEAN country, both Filipino and US trained. The American Forces have left Subic Bay. From the 1950s to the 70s, their policies were like those of the Philippines. But whatever the misfortunes of the past, if a fresh start is made, the future can be better. The CoRRECT™ Movement Website © 2020. 18. Politicians revelled in democracy, and its freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and for those in office, the freedom to wheel and deal. (Build, Open Profit Sharing) can also work, so that the infrastructure projects especially roads, telecommunication and industrial estates can be done quickly when public funds are short. An example of a powerful vested interest that has to be tackled was reported in Asiaweek, 21 August 1992, the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company which has had a monopoly for 64 years. … 19. Then you will find that Filipinos can perform just as well as Singaporeans or Thais or Malaysians. He is known for his political pragmatism in his governance of Singapore but has been criticised for his authoritarian and sterile policies.. Lee was elected prime minister of Singapore for 31 years, making him the longest … SPEECH BY MR LEE KUAN YEW 2004 The Case for Higher Salaries for Government Ministers SPEECH BY MR LEE KUAN YEW, SENIOR MINISTER, TO THE NATIONAL TRADE UNION CONGRESS AT THE SINGAPORE CONFERENCE HALL ON 19 JULY 1996 The tariff barriers had been a major element of an intricate web of regulations that have shackled Philippine entrepreneurs and only nurtured the favoured few cartels and monopolies, from banking and telecommunications to shipping – who have thrived through their privileged access to licenses, franchises and concessional loans.”, 16. My remarks today are based on published reports. A little less conversation, a little more action please. Lee Kuan Yew 1966 First National Day Rally - Hokkien Speech On population policy. Federalism & Decentralization: Evaluating Africa’s Track Record, Evolving Federalism & Region-based Decentralization, Useful Information on the Parliamentary System, Video Gallery: Human Costs of Economic Protectionism, The Filipino First Policy caused the Philippines to Fail, Marina Bay Sands is One Big Foreign Direct Investment, Lee Kuan Yew talks about the Failure of Maoism and Deng Xiaoping’s shift towards Capitalism, Why FDI & Economic Liberalization are necessary, The Difference Between OFW Remittances versus FDI, Philippine Progress: Shift in Sport, Shift in System, Parliamentary Systems are Less Prone to Corruption, Claro M. Recto on the Presidential System. Through the infusion of technology and high quality management from successful countries like Japan, the NIEs, America and Europe their goods and services became internationally competitive. A founding member of the People's Action Party, He is credited as transforming Singapore from a third world country to a first. A US-style constitution failed long before Marcos declared martial law. The system worked in America because of a super-abundance of resources and riches in a vast under-populated continent. Other crimes especially corruption must be suppressed and punished. Candidates made eloquent and stirring speeches. In the 1950s economic development in the Philippines was better than that in Korea, comparable to that in Taiwan, and was at the lower end of the same bracket as Japan. MR LEE KUAN YEW'S EARLY YEARS. At the end of the day, after discussion and debate, the legislature must allow the executive to take the hard decisions. Mr Lee did not set out to be a politician, let alone a statesman, as a boy. 2. This restored confidence in their currencies. The Ramos Administration has started deregulation and liberalisation. The legislature and the executive must showed the world that they are determined to reimpose discipline and control in the police and military the key bodies for order and stability. But if the people understand what economic liberalisation means to them in jobs and wages there will be counterpressure on Congressmen, cabinet ministers and officials. This has generated a sense of optimism over economic recovery. In that same Asiaweek magazine was another article entitled “Kidnappers in Uniform?”: “Police Brig-Gen Raul Imperial counts more than 50 kidnappings last year, netting $7.6 million in ransoms. In this speech, Lee Kuan Yew had clearly given solid bits of advice to the audience as well as to all Filipinos, and it is this particular speech from whence the famous words “I do not believe that democracy necessarily leads to development. Constitutional Reform First before claiming Sabah! Almost 28 years later, despite many attempts at getting these reforms through, we have not yet been able to make these necessary reforms become a reality. The Ramos presidency will have to prove that this democratic constitution can be made to work and that development is achievable. March 23, 2016, marks the first death anniversary of Singapore’s founding father and long-serving Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Print. Unlike these countries, the Philippines can pull itself together and get on with the job. The experience of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia is especially relevant. Covering Date: 16/08/1964. The Philippines has a lively and rumbustious press and television. The result: “, 7. To bring myself up to date, I asked for the latest press reports on the Philippines. 21. 8. His duty first and foremost is to the people. Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, often described as the "shrewdest politician of the region," was the head of Singapore's Government since 1959. TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, MR LEE KUAN YEW'S SPEECH AT THE POLITICAL STUDY CENTRE ON 16TH AUGUST, 1964, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SEMINAR ON "THE CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY" ORGANISED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE FOR RADIO COURSES. First : Restore law and order. In conclusion, I hope I have provoked you, the business and government establishment of the Philippines, into setting your priorities for getting your act together so that you can achieve your potential. Foreign investors would not have gone into Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia if they had not got their macro-economic policies right. Singapore — A speech that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made in 2003 on an outbreak of Sars in the country is being widely shared online. They wanted a weak executive president. Speech by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor, at the S. Rajaratnam Lecture, 09 April 2009, 5:30 pm at Shangri-La Hotel. One Man’s View of the World (2013). If government workers are adequately paid, they deserved to be punished with severe penalties when they take bribes. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tried to pick up where President Ramos left off by attempting once more a much more comprehensive set of constitutional reforms that included (1) Opening the economy to foreign investors by removing the anti-FDI constitutional restrictions, (2) shifting to a Evolving and gradualist form of Federalism, and (3) shifting to the Parliamentary System and again, she too was demonized by Philippine Mass Media with all kinds of false accusations and falsehoods thrown at her and the reform initiative. The London Economist, July 4, 1992, said: “, 6. I believe that what a country needs to develop is discipline more than democracy” were taken. This photo taken on April 28, 2006 shows the late Kwa Geok Choo, wife of Singaporean Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, attending at the Foreign Correspondents gala dinner in Singapore. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. Here the omens are less good. Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of Singapore (1959-1990). What do they get for that? How will the Government pay for its COVID-19 Expenses? It was politics enjoyed for its own sake. The question I ask is: 5. Sen. Enrile Solidly Supports Parliamentarism, Federalism in Africa: The Case of Ethiopia – Challenges & Prospects, KITT vs KARR: Systems & Algorithms Matter. You must expect domestic vested interests to exploit the political system to slow down economic liberalisation. Chicken or the Egg: Culture Change or System Change? In 1990 Philippines was struck by a powerful earthquake. The result: “The joke in the Philippines is that 98% of the population are waiting for a telephone, and the other 2% for a dial tone. Products were poor and growth was slow because there were monopolies and no competition. Lee Kuan Yew’s speech @ NTUC’s 50th anniversary dinner. My remarks today are based on published reports. In this story we’ll talk about how Lee defined leadership and chose leaders. 5. The second task is to free the economy from controls and monopolies. They estimate industries could lose 20 billion pesos during this three-month period. An efficient and strong anti-corruption unit under the President with powers to investigate any person however high up, and to carry it to a successful prosecution, will work wonders. Singapore — A speech that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made in 2003 on an outbreak of Sars in the country is being widely shared online. 13. Central Intelligence Agency. In the nature of an economic recovery, there cannot be instant dramatic reversal. Malays were assured by Mr Lee Kuan Yew last night that they did not need to worry about the arrival of Hongkongers who migrate there … As the Hongkongers would be coming in as employment pass holders each earning at least $1,500 a month, he said that … There will be no foreign military presence to conscribe the growth of the Filipino nation. Even China and Vietnam now offer very liberal incentives and full foreign ownership. Three victims, two university students and one businessman, have been killed. They will put pressure on Congress to clean up their act, to demolish barriers which are depriving Filipinos of the progress enjoyed by their neighbours. Lee … 3. 27. One problem is the Philippines has an American-style constitution, one of the most difficult to operate in the world. From Third World to First: The Singapore Story: 1965-2000 (2000). The Philippines must press forward with fiscal reforms which President Aquino began in 1991 under IMF conditionality. There must be a cleanup of racketeers in the police, whether for kidnappings or other crimes. When I received your invitation to speak, I hesitated in accepting. ‘, 8. Among the highest phone rates in Asia – only Japan is more expensive – and probably the worst service.”. And Filipinos cannot blame others for it. Dismantle the web of measures which keep out foreign companies and make Philippine companies compete to survive, not thrive at the expense of ordinary Filipinos. Lee Kuan Yew. But a developing country faced with disorder and underdevelopment needs a strong honest government. The Philippines has 6 postgraduate schools for MBAs and the prestigious Asian Institute of Management. He has sacked some senior police officers and removed others to less sensitive positions. Asia-Pacific region in the new geopolitical context Lee Kuan Yew (1990). 17. A few years later Indonesia also changed policies. The first task is to restore law and order. The ultimate test of the value of a political system is whether it helps that society to establish conditions which improve the standard of living for the majority of its people plus enabling the maximum of personal freedoms compatible with the freedoms of others in society. 26. Filipinos should not tolerate a slower pace of liberalisation than what their ASEAN partners have achieved, especially Thailand and Malaysia and now Indonesia. In this speech, Lee Kuan Yew had clearly given solid bits of advice to the audience as well as to all Filipinos, and it is this particular speech from whence the famous words “ I do not believe that democracy necessarily leads to development. Lift restrictions on trade and investment. 2 Filipinos: A Football Legend & A Spanish Prime Minister, Sen. Claro M. Recto on the Presidential System, Crowdsourced Malolos-Style Proposed Constitution, Read This Before Registering to this Site, Dismissing Gridlock: A Case for Parliamentary Systems, How I Came to the Conclusion that the Phils Needs Constitutional Reform, Parliamentary Systems Offer Better Representation, The Anti-People Constitution (from PhilStar), Chan Robles' Copy of the 1987 Constitution, The Parable of the Good Father and National Five-Year Plans, Please read this first before registering. It found that while Singapore paid its civil servants one of the highest salaries in the world, they also had the least amount of money in their bank accounts among politicians in the region. It is good that there will be a bill in the House to increase the salaries of government workers by some 500 to 1,250 pesos a month from 1 January 1993. The Wit and Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew (2013). The late Lee Kuan Yew had already brought these up back in late 1992, and not long after, former president Fidel V. Ramos himself tried hard to set up the very reforms that Mr. Lee said that the Philippines needed: (1) An economy that is open to foreign direct investments and without idiotic anti-FDI restrictions in the Constitution, and (2) a Parliamentary System which allows for better quality leadership and greater decision-making efficiency. Being true to himself was one of the many strengths of Lee Kuan Yew. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. 9 April 2009 THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SINGAPORE’S FOREIGN POLICY: THEN AND NOW Independence was thrust upon Singapore. There is already legislation to allow B.O.T. 14. The president will have to show political skill and courage to cut a way through the conflicting interests of businessmen and the people. They cut down protection and opened up their industries and services to competition. (Build, Own, Operate) B.O.P.S. In August he announced the complete liberalisation of foreign exchange regulations and ended 40 years of foreign exchange control in the country. Singapore is a country that used to be poor and third world just like us. On woman at work “The only differences between men and women workers are the physical and biological ones. I knew Filipino politics in the Marcos era as rumbustious. Make Manila safe from organised kidnapping and major crimes. These factors are good for development. The Aquino Presidency achieved the restoration of a democratic constitution. If the Ramos Administration can make ordinary Filipinos understand that politics is not simply elections with singing, fiestas and giveaways, but that it is about their lives, jobs and wages, homes, schools, hospitals, the situation can change dramatically. If political leaders, in the Administration and in Congress go back to politics as usual, more time will be lost. If the next six years are wasted, the Philippines will lag even further behind. Alas, even nature has been unkind. NRI (Nomura Research Institute) in the Asia Pacific Economic Outlook third quarter 1992, reports on the Philippines page 28, “Huge losses suffered by the industrial and commercial establishments due to the electricity shortages and the scheduled power blackouts averaging 7 hours a day could not have come at a more inopportune time for the country. Because you wanted this conference of leading Filipino businessmen and the military effect on everyone about your device and connection. Organised kidnapping and major crimes has sacked some senior police officers and removed others to sensitive. Their industries and services to competition if I were a Filipino, I asked for the latest press on. Every Filipino knows the other ASEAN countries have overtaken the Philippines is immensely better off compared to the people ”. 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