Look to Singapore

Look to Singapore

From Surabaya Post

Indonesia will soon have a new Cabinet. As a member of ASEAN,
which was early on dubbed ASEAN's "Big Brother", I think it would
be appropriate for us to study the economic achievements of one
of our neighbors: Singapore.

When Singapore was ruled by Britain, Lee Kuan Yew set up the
People's Action Party (PAP) in 1954 and become the first Prime
Minister of an independent Singapore in 1961. From 1990 he became
Senior Minister.

One of the country's senior economists, Lim Siew Yea, conveyed
his views on the PAP regarding its success in building the
nation. He wrote, "Essentially pragmatic in its outlook, the PAP
is unhampered by ideological dogma. Rooted in reality, it shows
itself to be versatile, in devising unconventional but practical
policies, to fulfill the changing needs of the country. With
rationalism as its guiding principles, the PAP has succeeded in
turning Singapore from a Third World country, with no natural
resources, into a competitive nation in the global scene, with
its adoption of technological innovation".

Lim Siew Yea added, "Cohesive within itself and honest in its
working, the PAP has proven its leadership capable, highly
efficient and productive, one able to secure high economic growth
and stability for the nation".

If the meaning of the last sentence were applied to the morale
and culture of the forthcoming Indonesian Cabinet, we hope the
results could be enjoyed by the people in the near future.

MARSETIO DONOSEPOETRO

Surabaya