Advertisement

PAP is not out of touch: Foreign Minister George Yeo

Foreign Minister George Yeo has rejected claims the ruling People's Action Party is out of touch as "completely untrue".

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore in a frank and honest one-on-one interview, the 56-year-old Minister said, "I know what I do as an MP and what my colleagues do. We spend a lot of time just working with ordinary people... We can't solve all problems but we do what we can."

He added, "So I would say we are more in touch that those who criticise us for being out of touch.

Even as the Singapore economy shot out of the blocks from the 2008 financial crisis to a record 15% growth in 2010, concerns about the rising cost of living, competition with foreign workers and housing issues have dominated discussions both online and in coffee shops around Singapore.

The year 2010 was also dominated by headlines surrounding the escape of JI terror leader Mas Selamat and recurring flash floods around several areas of Singapore.

Asked about what kind of report card he would give the PAP for its performance over the last few years, Minister Yeo said it was not fair for him to assess he and his own PAP colleagues.

"It's hard, I mean here you are putting me in a position of a student and I cannot be writing a report card on myself. But if you take a step back, and compare Singapore to other countries... in every country, what sets their success or failure in the end is politics," said the former President's and SAF scholar.

But the Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC also urged voters to look at the big picture ahead of the impending General Elections.

"If you are to rank countries, Singapore comes right near the top. And people marvel, you have nothing, just a little speck of land, but out of it, just harnessing the ability, the energy of individuals we are able to accomplish so much," he said.

During the hour-long interview at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Tanglin, he also addressed those who were frequently critical of the PAP.

"Even those who are anti-PAP, who are critical, when they travel they feel so proud of being Singaporeans... When they come home, the moment they get the SIA boarding pass, there's a flutter in their hearts... yes, I'm on my way home."

For more on Minister Yeo's interview with Yahoo! Singapore, listen here.

In the next part of our interview with the Minister, he talks about social media and the effect it will have on the Elections.