We never talk about legacies: SM Goh
It's not about legacies for Singapore's leaders, it's about getting the job done, according to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
During a visit to the Chinese island of Hainan on Thursday, SM Goh was asked by state media about his take on the views of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong inheriting his legacy in the same way SM Goh inherited Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's legacy.
"In fact we never talk about legacies, Lee Kuan Yew never talked about his legacy and I never talk about my legacy," SM Goh replied.
"There was a job to be done and someone had to do it," SM Goh was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the three-day Boao Forum for Asia, a summit for top political and economic leaders.
He told state broadcaster CCTV, MM Lee had planned for his exit because he believed he should not be there "forever and ever" and SM Goh happened to be the man to succeed him.
When he took over as PM in 1990, SM Goh said his simple goal was "to keep going and going".
"In other words, to make sure that values remain sound, economy is competitive and people live harmoniously."
And just as SM Goh built on MM Lee's work, the current PM is now building on SM Goh's work.
"Mr Lee Hsien Loong is now trying to do the same thing: make Singapore more competitive, give people a better life. That is our job," said SM Goh.
During the interview, the senior minister also touched on the rise of new media, such as Facebook and online blogs.
While pointing to it as a "very powerful tool of communication", SM Goh also cautioned that it works as a double-edged sword.
He said, "New media can sometimes suffer from the danger of being used by a small number of people... who are hiding beyond anonymity (to) spread misinformation, distort news and so on."
"But we have to live with it."
During the wide-ranging interview, he also explained how while still welcoming foreign talent from China, Singapore was being more careful of its immigration policy.
"Yes, we pay attention, I would say, not to the wealthy Chinese, but to the entrepreneurial Chinese. Those who are able, with the knowledge and skills to make a contribution," he said.
He went to explain, "It does become more difficult for outsiders who want to come to Singapore to become permanent residents. There is no choice, otherwise the flow will be too big and we will be overwhelmed."
quickly snapping up condos and apartments in Singapore.
Statistics from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) earlier this year revealed that Chinese and Indian nationals went on a huge property-buying spree in Singapore last year.
The study showed that the number of non-landed private homes bought by foreigners who were not non-permanent residents (PRs) jumped by 37.1 per cent last year.
