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. The first period was when the violent overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship seemed to be imminent, discouraging investors. With their combined investments and with the value of preferred stock greater than common stock, subscribers in effect own about 92% of the company. One problem is the Philippines has an American-style constitution, one of the most difficult to operate in the world. Print. Sen. Enrile Solidly Supports Parliamentarism, Federalism in Africa: The Case of Ethiopia – Challenges & Prospects, KITT vs KARR: Systems & Algorithms Matter. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. (Build, Operate, Transfer) arrangements for power projects. The Philippines must press forward with fiscal reforms which President Aquino began in 1991 under IMF conditionality. I knew Filipino politics in the Marcos era as rumbustious. Third : Build up your infrastructure, like power stations, roads and communications, either in partnership with or completely by the private sector. I believe that what a country needs to develop is discipline more than democracy” were taken. 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. Their economic growth bounced from 3-4% to 8-10% per annum. The question I ask is: 5. Women are equal to men in intellectual capacity.” “Societies which do not educate and use half their potential because they are women are those which will be the worse off.” Speech at … Correction, March 22, 2015: Lee Kuan Yew died at 3:18 a.m. Singapore time on Monday, March 23. Among the highest phone rates in Asia – only Japan is more expensive – and probably the worst service.”. They cut their budget deficits which brought inflation under control. Unlike these countries, the Philippines can pull itself together and get on with the job. These life experiences drove him to fight for independence. Lee … To bring myself up to date, I asked for the latest press reports on the Philippines. Contrary to what American political commentators say, I do not believe that democracy necessarily leads to development. They have a densely populated archipelago with little oil, gas, or other valuable natural resources. I do not believe that Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Singapore could have succeeded as they have done if they had to work under such a constitution, where gridlock on every major issue is a way of life. Election campaigns were colourful and entertaining. 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. By the early 80s, at first, Thailand, and next Malaysia, changed policies. Lee Kuan Yew fighting for workers . Central Intelligence Agency. He was Singapore’s first prime minister and the architect of the small Southeast Asian city-state’s spectacular ascent from a British tropical outpost with no natural resources to a global trade and financial center, and one of the world’s wealthiest countries on a per capita basis. In an earlier story I talked about Lee Kuan Yew‘s top down approach to overcoming corruption in a nation. 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. Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of Singapore (1959-1990). The fundamentals of our foreign policy were forged during those vulnerable early years. They wrote the constitution in 1787 and ratified it in 1789. A little less conversation, a little more action please. Further, if it cannot raise tax revenues, it will be unable to put in place the necessary infrastructure. If the president carries through his liberalising of trade and investment regulations he will generate a new momentum in economic activities. (09/18/1947 - 12/04/1981). Occasion: CONFERENCE/EXHIBITION/MEETING. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In 1979, oil painter Chua Mia Tee depicted Lee's return from London after the Merdeka Talks. Mr Lee did not set out to be a politician, let alone a statesman, as a boy. They hold their jobs on merit. Lee Kuan Yew also spelled as Lee Kwan Yew 李光耀 is known as a very successful politician, born in Singapore, Mr.Lee successfully turned Singapore from a third world to first world.The other 2 non western countries that managed to reach developed status are Taiwan and South Korea, but both are still behind Singapore in term of Human Development Index (HDI) and Purchasing Power … 3. Foreign investors would not have gone into Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia if they had not got their macro-economic policies right. The London Economist, July 4, 1992, said: “, 6. Here the omens are less good. 9. 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 … 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. Polls aren’t just for Metro Manila: Why Federalism? 22. 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. In 1973 the then President Ferdinand Marcos, using his martial law powers, ordered all telephone subscribers to invest in preferred shares of PLDT before they were issued a phone line. One daily recently suggested that relatives of kidnap victims ask police how much the ransom is. 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. Diagrams that Explain the Parliamentary System, Proposed Malolos-style New Constitution Draft, Title II on The Filipinos and their National and Individual Rights and Duties, US Government Shutdown: The Presidential System Sucks, No Parliamentary System, No LKY & No Mahathir, Problems of Presidentialism & the US Exception. There is already legislation to allow B.O.T. The exuberance of democracy leads to undisciplined and disorderly conditions which are inimical to development. 21. The Philippines is immensely better off compared to Afghanistan or Lebanon or Sri Lanka. How will the Government pay for its COVID-19 Expenses? When ordinary Filipinos know that the country’s stagnation and their joblessness is because of vested interests, corrupt politics and general disorder and lack of confidence, they will agitate in support of those who want to establish law and order and discipline, cut high tariffs, quotas to licensing and other restrictive monopolistic practices, in order to get investments to give them jobs. Lee Kuan Yew’s Speech at the Philippine Business Conference. One Man’s View of the World (2013). Chicken or the Egg: Culture Change or System Change? 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 … 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 ‘, 8. On population policy. But when it was over, it was back to more wheeling and dealing until the next elections. (Build, Own, Operate) B.O.P.S. President Duterte campaigned on the promise of following in President Ramos’ and President Macapagal-Arroyo’s footsteps in setting up the three main comprehensive reforms we need, but his unfortunate choice in Consultative Commission members led to so many of them out-voting the experts in the team, so that a substandard draft was produced. This problem must be put right urgently. The Philippines has a lively and rumbustious press and television. They wanted a weak executive president. With foreign investors closely monitoring the country for a stable political transition, the infrastructure problem is publicity it can ill-afford.” I understand that the brown-outs have got worse and Makati is back to 5-6 hours a day of brown-outs. First : Restore law and order. Since the swearing-in of President Ramos, there have been positive signs for the future. Why Do So Many Filipinos Misunderstand System Change? It has to be systematic with a publicly announced timetable during which the protective barriers enjoyed by the industrial and the services sectors will be dismantled, and foreign competitors allowed in. 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. Speaker: Lee Kuan Yew. Then the world will soon change its views of prospects for the Philippines. 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