Straits Times 4 Sep 08;
CommonWealth Magazine's Diane Ying and Alice Yang interviewed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in June. Here is an edited excerpt of the interview, which ran first in the Aug 14 issue of the Taiwanese magazine.
# Singapore has a new slogan - Centre For Liveable Cities. Is Singapore always transforming itself?
If we were unable to find new paths, our people would starve. China is changing very quickly and the world is changing very quickly.
Right now, environmental protection has become a very important topic in China, so we've discussed this issue with them. We're working with Tianjin to implement an eco-city programme. The talks have already been concluded, and we'll launch the programme in September.
To join the ranks of one of the most liveable cities is partially contingent on economic factors. You have to have a vibrant economy or there's no point in talking about it. Part of the equation is hardware - which includes basic infrastructure, public transportation, parks and shorefronts. All these elements must be planned rigorously and innovatively, and managed systematically and meticulously. They must be well-administered.
Third, there is the spirit of society - whether person-to-person relationships have an atmosphere of civility. This is harder to achieve. We can encourage it, but bringing it to fruition will take a long time.
# With the rise of globalisation, money, personnel and technology have all become internationalised. Under these circumstances, what do you think are the opportunities and challenges facing Asia?
Saying that all of Asia is on the rise is far too simple. Yes, China has become a world power, and India is on the rise. This has mobilised all the countries in the region to strengthen their economic ties with China and India.
The level of regional cooperation has greatly increased in Asia, and diversified beyond mere trade to include a variety of exchanges, including increased brain flow and travel. These changes, along with media interaction, have invigorated the entire region. That Asia has been able to maintain fairly good economic growth this year is directly due to these factors.
# In the face of globalisation, what new challenges does Singapore face?
Our challenge is to accept globalisation, to welcome it, because we have no other choice.
We understand the pressure. We also know that we need to create an environment that can adapt to globalisation. Therefore, our position is to become a useful member of the greater Asian economy. We must be a competitive economic body, a competitive labour force. In all things, we must have high operational effectiveness, and a robust ability to react to change.
# Singapore is constantly saying that its lack of natural resources means it must rely on talent. Where is the talent coming from?
First, we have to discover our own. Singapore is people-poor. So we need to do everything we can to cultivate and promote what human resources we do have. This pertains not only to academic and technological personnel, but also to other areas, including the arts, sports and commerce. We need to first discover talent in all these fields, and then help them to develop their full potential in a merit-based system.
Singapore has a population of 3.2 million, not including the million-plus foreign professionals and other workers. Shanghai has a population of 10 million, but its talent pool includes the entire Yangtze River Valley, even extending to the whole of China. That's why it's the regional leader. Taipei is also a magnet for talent, not only from within Taipei, but also from all of Taiwan, including those who came from China over half a century ago. Talent needs to be drawn from a wide base.
In order to attract talent, we need to become a competitive and bold city, full of youthful vigour. Singapore needs to attract talent from India and South-east Asia, indeed from all of Asia and even from other continents.
This isn't just a question of numbers, but also of backgrounds and experience.
# What comprehensive policies do you have for attracting talent?
First, we need a liberal and accepting society. We need people to feel at ease here, to be willing to settle down here and bring their families. To do that, we must provide a liberal, peaceful, law-abiding and systematically organised nation.
Second, Singapore provides an English-based work environment that allows international talent to work together. A Japanese company can employ Chinese engineers, Indian clerks and South-east Asian or Malaysian administrators, all of whom are able to communicate in English.
This wouldn't be such an easy task in any other Asian country. We have the language advantage, as well as a good social climate.
Third, we need to create economic opportunities. With a good business environment but no business opportunities, Singapore might have potential as a popular vacation spot but not as an economic hub.
What we need is a self-perpetuating beneficial cycle in which Singapore attracts talent, and talent attracts more talent. The Government's promotion of new technologies such as biomedical R&D or nanotechnology cannot succeed without the aid of top-notch scientists.
Of course, we do need to cultivate local talent, local scientists, but we can't depend only on our own. We must lure the world here.
# What are the Singapore Government's measures for attracting talent?
Government departments offer 100 to 200 scholarships annually to promising high school students. Some go to the National University of Singapore and others abroad. The scholarships come with the condition of several years of mandatory service in the civil service upon graduation. This is a very important policy which not only attracts talented persons to the system but also allows Singaporean youth to understand the inner workings of their government.
By accepting the scholarships, students are making up their minds to become civil servants. They are thus obligated to their studies beyond their desire for education. This is a unique policy that you don't see in many countries.
In the political arena, we're famous for our tea parties. They've helped us to attract many Members of Parliament, even a number of ministers. These tea parties are systemised, not random.
Certain ministers and Parliament members are charged with the task of finding potential candidates and inviting them to tea. If that works out, the candidate is invited to tea with more ministers. An interview is the next and last step - it's harder than getting into college.
We do this for many reasons. One, we're a small state and we don't want to miss out on any local talent. And two, not everyone in the system is prone to recommend himself. If you don't invite him, he'd find a job on his own. But if you do, he is willing to consider your offer. Sometimes we'll come across someone who is too eager to join us. Then we'll ask ourselves: 'Why is this person so keen?'
# The Singapore Government is known for its efficiency and low rates of corruption. How do you do it?
We believe that a Government's management mechanism is vital to a nation's success. A government cannot create wealth. But it can create the conditions for wealth-creation - that is where our responsibilities lie.
A government must, therefore, have the same level of efficiency as a private enterprise. A government's ability to think, analyse and operate must be as strong as that of a private enterprise.
Hiring civil servants goes beyond finding top-notch talent. Each post in the system must be occupied by someone who is good at and devoted to his or her given tasks. If you do well, you're rewarded; and if you don't, there will be consequences. A government post can't imply a lifelong meal ticket.
The entire system, from top to bottom, needs to be based on merit. You are given a position because you're the best person for it, not because you have the right connections or because you've been in the department longer than anyone else. That just can't happen.
We didn't always use this system. We used to use the traditional, colonial-era system. Twenty years ago, we became aware of its rigidity. Once they become civil servants, they are civil servants for life. Without ever needing to pass an examination, their salaries are adjusted annually until they reach retirement. That's wrong. That's not how things should work.
We began making changes to the system when former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee was in office. He thought this was an extremely difficult task, and that with over 20,000 teachers in the system, it would be impossible to evaluate everyone annually. It just couldn't be done. Later on, we had no choice but to do it and we had to change the entire system.
We opened up the system and allowed each ministry and department a certain level of authority. At present, every ministry has a permanent secretary who reports directly to his or her minister. One among the permanent secretaries is selected to be head of the civil service, head of the entire administrative organisation. It's his responsibility to establish cooperative relationships among permanent secretaries, and to establish decorum among civil servants, including uprightness and discipline.
# What does Singapore see in its future?
There is no end in sight. We have a saying - 'the endless marathon'. In 10 years, we hope to see a different Singapore. We hope it will be a Singapore possessed of greater culture, with a transformed economy and a new generation of political leaders who understand the wants, needs and habits of a new generation of voters.
# What has been the greatest challenge for you so far?
Finding a group of leaders to succeed the present government has been my greatest challenge.
TRANSLATED FROM CHINESE BY ELLEN WIEMAN
In 10 years, we hope to see a different Singapore. We hope it will be a Singapore possessed of greater culture, with a transformed economy and a new generation of political leaders who understand the wants, needs and habits of a new generation of voters.
