Retirement - Lee Kuan Yew´s Views Retiring to take it easy is a sure route to death, according to Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s 84-year-old founding father, was quoted as saying during and interview on Monday (14 January 2008). Lee Kuan Yew, who remains active despite his advanced years, cited statistics showing that people tended to die shortly after retiring, and that the most important lesson he had learned was that we all need stimuli. "If you believe that at 55, you’re retiring, you’re going to read books, play golf and drink wine, then I think you’re done for," he said. Lee retired as prime minister in 1990, but remains in the Cabinet as Minister Mentor and is also chairmain of Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC). He is a frequent speaker in Singapore and regularly conducts diplomatic missions abroad. "I don’t much like travel but I travel very frequently despite the jet lag, because I get to meet people of great interest to me" Lee said. "It is the stimuli, it is the constant interaction with people across the world that keeps me aware and alive to what´s going on and what we can do to adjust to this different world," he said. Lee Kuan Yew added that he usually asked people who want to retire at age 62, "You really want to die quickly?" He said his advice is: "Keep yourself interested, have a challenge." Lee was also quoted as saying that in his younger days he smoked, had a big belly, and "was really fond of drinking beer." He said he enjoyed golf but later found it took too long, so he took up running instead. So folks out there - retirement is not an option.
Li Hongyi, PM Lee´s son punished
Singapore PM (PRIME Minister) Lee Hsien Loong´s son and Singapore Mentor Minister Lee Kuan Yew's grandson Li Hongyi, who is serving his national service, has been reprimanded by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for not following proper procedures in e-mailing a letter of complaint to many other servicemen. Second Lieutenant Li Hongyi had alleged that another officer from his unit had been absent without leave or AWOL on two occasions.
In the recent e-mail, which was sent to the Defence Minister and senior SAF officers, among others, Second Lieutenant Li Hongyi also stated that he had reported the matter to the officer´s superiors, but no disciplinary action had been taken. In a MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) statement released by the director of public affairs, "Second Lieutenant Li Hongyi was found to have contravened the General Orders of Mindef by broadcasting his letter of complaint to many other servicemen - almost all of whom were neither directly under his command, nor in an official capacity where they could deal with the matters contained in his letter of complaint. He has been formally charged and administered a reprimand after a summary trial."
It is understands that a summary trial deals with less serious military offences and is normally presided over by a senior disciplinary officer who may serve with the soldier´s own unit or is appointed to oversee the trial from another unit. Second Lieutenant Li Hongyi penalties include being warned by the senior disciplinary officer, forfeiture of days off or shouldering extra duties. In the statement, Mindef added that following Second Lieutenant Li Hongyi´s complaint, an investigation was conducted and the officers concerned have been disciplined. In fact, the officer that Li Hongyi complaint against, was found to have been AWOL was court-martialled and two supervising officers have been issued letters of warning for poor judgment in administering inappropriate disciplinary action.
Remember "no one is above the law"!
Background: Li Hongyi, who is the third of PM Lee & Ms Ho Ching's four children, has recently received a Public Service Commission scholarship to study economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. Li Hongyi studied in Raffles Junior College was one of the 89 students receive special awards for outstanding academic achievement. Li Hongyi is also the winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Award for Math & Science.
Lee Hsien Loong
 BG (Brigadier-General) Lee Hsien Loong (李显龙) commonly referred to as ´BG Lee´ and nicknamed ´the Rising Son´, is the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Singapore. Lee Hsien Loong is the son of Singapore´s long-time leader Lee Kuan Yew. His appointment comes with the agreement of the cabinet and parliament. Lee Hsien Loong´s signature could be found on all new SGD $10 Polymer Bank Notes.
Page Nation - Learn from the Master
ABC to nation-building with Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, August 2004, Singapore - What was nation building to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew nearly 40 years ago has become a case study in successful nation "branding". According to Mr Lee, when he became Prime Minister in 1965: "We systematically set out to be different from the start. To tell the world that we are different; do not write us off". But, Mr Lee warned that, like brands whose quality deteriorates, nations can decline and "become sloppy" if a more "laid-back generation" takes over and does not respond with the "same determination as the hungrier generation". When ask to define the "Singapore brand", Mr Lee said: "This is for the ´customer´, other nations and investors, to pass a judgement on. But we are trying to assure other countries that Singapore is a dependable, reliable partner in any joint venture." Read his book, From Third World To First - The Singapore Story (1965-2000) by Lee Kuan Yew. This is a personal history of a man who, almost single-handedly, built a great nation from a small island. It should be consider to be the first textbook in the world on how to build a nation.
Singapore is one of the most successful example of nation-building in the post-colonial era. It is difficult to imagine a multiracial model startlingly superior to what was achieved in less than 30 years. But yet, Singapore leaders, including Mr Lee, are on record says that Singapore is yet a nation. A Singaporean state exists, a Singaporean identity is forming, but Singapre is not there yet!
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His name "Kuan Yew", means "the light that shines far and wide". Man-in-the-street often refer him as "Lau Lee" and the press nick named him "