S'pore prosperity linked to neighbors' health, says PAP<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Political unrest in Malaysia and Indonesia
\ncould seriously damage Singapore's economic health, the state's
\nruling People's Action Party (PAP) has warned.<\/p>\n
Singapore's prosperity \"will depend not just on its own
\nefforts but also on the political stability and growth of its
\nneighbors,\" The Business Times said, quoting a report by PAP
\npolicy makers.<\/p>\n
The report, prepared for a party conference, called for strong
\nleadership in the face of volatile international and domestic
\nsituations.<\/p>\n
It said the Southeast Asian political landscape had become
\nfluid, with some governments facing grave challenges. Ensuing
\ninstability could reduce the region's attractiveness for
\ninvestments and erode business confidence, ultimately affecting
\nSingapore's prospects, it said.<\/p>\n
\"Developments in Indonesia and Malaysia, and to a lesser
\nextent Thailand and the Philippines, will affect the unity and
\nstrength of ASEAN and the prospects for Singapore,\" the report
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In comparison with Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia had
\nrebounded well from the 1997 regional economic crisis and was
\npoised to grow strongly, the PAP executive said.<\/p>\n
The three dialog partners of the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and South Korea \"are
\nexploring cooperation amongst themselves,\" the report said.<\/p>\n
\"They are also better placed to do well in the new economy.
\nTheir workers are better educated and their population more IT-
\nliterate. The income gap between Northeast Asia and Southeast
\nAsia will widen.\"<\/p>\n
The PAP central executive, going public for the first time
\nwith a report to the party conference, said Singapore needed
\nministers and MPs who could anticipate trends and make sound
\ndecisions.<\/p>\n
PAP, in power since Singapore established statehood in 1965,
\nwill continue to look for able Singaporeans to be politicians,
\nthe report said, echoing a theme raised by Prime Minister Goh
\nChok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.<\/p>\n
Both Goh and Lee, Singapore's founding father, have complained
\nrecently of a shortage of good leaders and warned of potential
\ndamage to Singapore if they were not found.<\/p>\n
Goh, whose speech to the closed-door conference is to be
\nreleased later this week, reportedly called for a new vision for
\nPAP and leaders who can make it a reality, The Straits Times
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The weekend meeting was the last ordinary conference for PAP
\nbefore the next general election, which has to be held by August
\n2002.<\/p>\n
At the last elections in 1997, PAP won 81 of the 83 seats.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spore-prosperity-linked-to-neighbors-health-says-pap-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }