2008 is coming to an end, and in my second installment to the round up, I am putting up some of the great quotes from our Division 1 team of elites.
I have tried to rank them, but in the end, I decided to just list out all that I can recall. You can comment and let me know your personal top 3.
“(Singaporeans need to) get real, and get practical”
- K. Shanmugam, Minister of Law, when asked to comment on the issue of the foreign workers, and foreign worker dormitories in Serangoon Gardens during a community dialogue session.
[Nov 08]
“I don’t think we’re heading for a recession.”
- Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister of Finance. Less than 5 months before we went into recession.
[June 2008]
“I’m totally appalled and flabbergasted at this slip-up…”
- Wong Kan Sen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs commenting on the incident in which an old man managed to clear customs at Singapore Changi airport and flew to Vietnam using his son’s passport, even beating a biometric finger print scanner in the process.
[June 08]
“I had made comments which had been misunderstood and had upset some Singaporeans. I sincerely apologise for causing any grievances, any stress.”
- Lee Bee Wah, MP, president STTA. At the end to the STTA fiasco in which she terminated the services of the table-tennis team manager and head coach, even before they arrive back from the Beijing Olympics with a team silver medal.
[Sept 08]
“The worse thing that any country does at a time of high inflation would be for the unions and workers to push for wage inflation. Wage inflation is different from wage increment. Wage inflation means you are pushing up wages to fully offset the inflation.”
- Lim Swee Say, Minister Prime Minister Office, Secretary-General of NTUC. On what labor unions should and should not do in response to inflation and hard times.
[Aug 08]
“I have thus been misled into attending the ceremony…”
- Chan Soo Sen, MP. In a letter to the newspaper clarifying that he didn’t know the graduation ceremony he attended was that of a degree-mill.
[Oct 08]
“Since I took office, I have helped to resolve different issues. This was, by far, the most draining.”
- Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, MCYS. On the mediation work he did within the STTA.
[Sept 08]
“What to do? It has happened”
- Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister. In a television interview on the escape of JI terrorist Mas Selamat from the Whitley Road Detention Centre. 11 days after the escape.
[Mar 08]
“There’s a conspiracy to do us in. Why? … They see us as a threat.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor. Responding to criticisms by a human rights organization on the style of governance in our country.
[July 2008]
“I am satisfied that the ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action, and that the minister and top management were not to blame for what has happened.”
- Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister. On the findings of the COI report on Mas Selamat escape.
[Apr 08]
“But that’s life — if you want to have a good rewards, you’ve got to take risk. Otherwise, leave your money in your CPF… ”
- Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister. On Singaporeans who have lost their savings to the fallen Lehman Brothers related investments.
[Sept 08]
“We expect them to do the right thing.”
- Heng Swee Keat, managing director, Monetary Authority of Singapore. On what financial institutions that had sold investment instruments linked to the collapsed Lehman Brothers, should do.
[Oct 08]
“Please remember, when you get higher returns than what is the average in the markets, that means you are incurring higher risk. So on that message I leave you to ponder about your next purchase.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor. On members of the public who had invested in Lehman linked instruments.
[Oct 08]
“He’s a liar, a cheat, and altogether an unscrupulous man. I could also add that I’ve had several of my own doctors who are familiar with such conduct… tell me that he is near-psychopath.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor. On Dr. Chee Soon Juan.
[May 08]
“…let me ask the member whether he thinks the DPM ought to resign because of this? (pause) No answer, so I think that settles the point.”
- Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister. During parliament, in response to suggestion made by opposition MP Low Thia Kiang that since ministers’ pay are pegged to that of top earners in the private sector, when mistakes are made, similar to common practice in the private sector, heads should roll.
[Apr 08]
“Each town council has the duty to explain to its residents how it invests its funds, what is its philosophy, what are the risks it takes.”
- Mah Bow Tan, Minister of National Development, after it was revealed that PAP town councils have total of $16 million invested in structured deposits tied to Lehman Brothers.
[Nov 08]
“I know how we got here and I know how we can unscramble it.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, Minister Mentor. In a newspaper report aptly entitle ’5 Years all it takes to ruin Singapore’ in which he cautioned voters against wanting more opposition MPs and on the dangers of ‘freak election results’.
[June 08]
“They should thank the Town Council for working hard to come up with a diversified portfolio to generate income so that residents do not have to fork out more money.”
Teo Ho Pin, MP, co-ordinating chairman of the 14 PAP town councils, on what residents should do, despite the fact that town councils had invested $16mil of the sinking fund in troubled structured deposits.
[Nov 08]
“Your honour, apart from demonstrating that in Singapore, old people have the dignity of employment, that question is irrelevant… ”
- Davinder Singh, Senior Counsel (and former MP). Objecting to a question asked in the cross-examination of PM Lee by Ms. Chee Siok Chin during the recent defamation suit hearing. Chee had asked if PM Lee had ever came across old people in their 60s, 70s working as cleaners at food courts and public toilets.
[June 08]
Filed under: In the News
