15 year old Singaporean started petition to ask Lee Kuan Yew to apologize to Singaporeans for disparaging remarks made on National Geographic magazine
February 17th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
A 15 year old Singaporean by the name of Kenneth Lin started an online petition against Singapore’s strongman Lee Kuan Yew for his disparaging remarks on Singaporeans made during his interview with the National Geographic Magazine. He is currently studying in a secondary school in Singapore.
The remarks in contention from the article are:
“Over time, Singaporeans have become “less hard-driving and hard-striving. That is why it is a good thing that the nation has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants (25 percent of the population is now foreign-born).
and
“But taking a typically Darwinian stance, the MM describes the country’s new subjects as “hungry,” with parents who “pushed the children very hard.” If native Singaporeans are falling behind because “the spurs are not stuck into the hide,” that is their problem.”
He added that it is especially deplorable that such insensitive remarks can be issued forth from the very person responsible for the social engineering of Singapore to the state of being it is today:
“By forcing through dubious policies that have largely tanked, such as the Stop At 2 policy, Graduate Mothers scheme, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s irresponsible attempts at altering the demographics of our society have left the present leadership no choice but to import foreign workers in such large numbers in such a short period of time in order to make up for the shortfall in labour requirements. This has led to widespread disgruntlement and social unrest in amongst the citizenry.”
Kenneth wrote that he plans to attain a suitable quorum of about 500 signatures, and then CC the results of the petition via email to every MP, Minister by the next parliament seating. Following that, the results of the petition will also be compiled into a physical form to be sent via registered mail to Lee Kuan Yew’s home address, the Istana and the PM’s office.
Though Lee is widely credited as the architect of modern Singapore by the older generation, young Singaporeans are becoming increasingly peeved off by his apparent arrogance and insensitivity at times.
Currently nearing 87 years of age, he still calls the shots in the government despite his admission that he is not doing much work lately except “forecasting” which costs Singapore taxpayers nearly $3 million dollars a year.
Lee still hasn’t announced if he would participate in the next general elections. There will be many Singaporeans like Kenneth who cannot wait to see the last of the “Old Man”.
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111 Responses to “15 year old Singaporean started petition to ask Lee Kuan Yew to apologize to Singaporeans for disparaging remarks made on National Geographic magazine”
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This is no Kid, he should be given a PBM on this national day.
Where’s the link to the petition?
good….I will sign..to let him know we are FED UP with his patronising attitude!Way past his expiry date..by at least 10 yrs !
HOORAY! HOORAY!HOORAY!
Kenneth has shown the intelligence of young Singaporeans.
Let’s see and show to the whole world, whether MM will sue a 15 year old boy.
I am sure Kenneth will hit the target more than what he expected.
we are a sick society..to allow such disgusting behavoir to slip by! Learn from the story : The Emperor’s New Clothing” We must tell this people…in the face…regardless of their seniority…intellectualy they are bankrupt!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My balls are clapping!
Even a ginna is dissed by his ways!
15 YEAR OLD? Wow this boy has early “maturity” and great “potential”!
But hope it is not a case of 早熟早烂, meaning early ripen early rot. Hahahaha.
Why pick a 15 year old for this petition? Definitely not drafted or initiated by him.
Usually the parents will be very fearful for the police, fearful for the son’s career and ask the son to stop.
“we are a sick society..to allow such disgusting behavoir to slip by!”
So true, we are the 東亞病夫 (Sick Men of East Asia) lead on and hoodwinked by the really sick old fart and his sickening dynasty of inept puppets and clowns who lose billions and still they are great and invincible !
It used to be China in early century to be known as 東亞病夫. Now it is SinCity to be 東亞病夫 compare to other Asian tigers (Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan) due to autocratic and oppressive monarchy government run by inept and self-serving emperor and his family.
I am impressed with this lad’s courage and sense of social justice! If Kenneth is really 15 years old and the petition is initiated by him then I must say that there is hope in the younger generation and we should dispel out fears and do he right thing this coming GE!
Folks,
15 yr old boy, Mind u!!! 15yr boy only!!!
This really going to put all those pigs ministars in the cabinet to shame!!! Shame on them!!!
This is no joke!!! It’s a boy who has not even start to be in the society to work and yet make such a great call where alot of adults singaporeans dun even have the guts to do it, including those pigs in the cabinets!!!
Vote for change!!! Vote all pappies out!!!
Ha Ha ha
Do you ever believe a 15 year old would write such a letter without any instigation from someone?
Not too hard to believe there are cowards who dare not to write the letter/petition themselves, but make use of a 15 year old to do so, knowing that Lee Kuan Yew would not be able to sue him as a minor in court.
Good tactic…but also show how desperate these people are!
By the way, I do agree wholeheartedly with LKY that the majority of younger generations of Singaporeans are softies…just 2 months ago, I employed 2 young Singaporean ladies as Sales Assistants (with a above market-rate pay) for my shop, but they left after 2 days, claiming that it is so tiring to stand and serve customers.
I decided to try employing 2 more, but this time, they were Malaysian PRs and they were so diligent and hardworking, that I totally now understand why so many of business owners like me are employing foreigners…
So, tell me, what choices do I have huh? If I don’t employ these foreigners, my business would not be able to sustain in the longer term, and I would be out of job. Is this fair to my family who are true breed Singaporeans? Is it fair to them as they will be left in a lurch because the father is unable to provide for them…all because I should not employ foreigners? Who is going to help me then?
Last but not least, I urge parents to sent their kids to China to see for themselves the differences between the China kids and Singaporean kids…the China kids are not only street smart, they are also very determined to be successful in life, and have the energy to deliver their dreams under circumstances that Singaporean kids would only be capable of complaining and whining!
Face the hard facts, Kenneth Lin…you have to make things happened and you better start doing something about your own born-loser attitude!
A 15 year old does not have enough life experience to make proper political judgement.
Woh,
I see a future leader!!! Really future leader in Singapore!!! Got balls lei….
Wah there is really a wind blowing in the air..
A political climate change!!! I think the ONE who sits in the Upper (HEAVEN) already enough of all evildoers who has been getting away for too long, and its time for JUSTICE and JUDGEMENT to intervene in now!!!
This news sure get into international hot news man…i almost can’t believe it with my own eyes and ears…
Someone will fix his parents. Ah boy, u have balls, but spare a thought for the love ones around u.
Wah,
I think pappies it’s high time to give way to new generation to lead the country now.
It’s high time they return the million dollars and give it back to taxpayer’s becos it belongs to hard-earned monies…
If pappies still got some heart and conscience, better start redeem themselves to reverse the karma that will happen to them and their families to come…
It’s better to change rather than regret later… Don’t play play especially with DIVINE UP THERE!!! NEVER challenge the DIVINE cos HE is the LAW GIVER and HE definetly above the law of pappies!!!
VOTE FOR A NEW GARHMENT!!! VOTE FOR CHANGE!!
Wow, 15 years kid shows more gut and courage. The younger the better and the more courage he is.
Now it is time to teach baby how to say “Fuc@#$k PAP” !
@Teo Eng Hock-
Employing foreigners to fuel Singapore economy needs moderation because Singapore cannot take it anymore. This country is really very small. You have to think out of the box and do something that does not require many foreign workers. If it is possible, it is better if you could go overseas to start your business. Outside Singapore the jobs are not meant for Singaporean, you are free to employ as many as you like.
We empathize with your need but you have to respect Singaporean birth right. Today employer has to change and be creative in their employment. Your employee has got option so you have to think carefully if you still want to do business.
Perhaps you should quit your business and join the workforce. Then perhaps you will start to take a look at the other angle. You may then clamor for less foreign workers.
“Over time, Singaporeans have become “less hard-driving and hard-striving?
How much does this boy know? because his frens are busy playing streets soccer, computer games, blogging, working hard on 10 yr series etc. that he thinks the working class put in the same effort?
Is a 15 year old mature enough to do what he had done? or simply become a pawn for selfish ppl.
I wish someone can focus on LKY’s word of “THEIR” in his sentence of:
“the spurs are not stuck into the hide,” that is THEIR problem.”
How would it be that it’s THEIR problem as if it has nothing to do with him? Is he speaking as though he has already departed? Or otherwise, does he see the common folks who also have the same pink IC that he has as dispensible and replaceable with the FTs who are flooding into the country?
It sounds as though the locals belong to another part of SG that he doesn’t belong to which the uncaring get-out-of-my-face elite has named as the lesser mortals and donkeys.
Let me say this, with the flood of FTs here who grew up in less oppressive environment, it will be even harder for the government to remain on top of thing.
Kenneth,
If you are really 15 and are doing this by yourself, way to go, follow through with this and no matter the outcome, you will learn something and come out stronger.
If you are 15 and received “encouragement” from others to take this up, I recommend that you drop it immediately. The reasons are obvious.
If you are not 15 or using a fake identity, please don;t waste our time. TR, please investigate before this becomes pointless sensation.
Hi all,
The links to Kenneth’s Facebook and petition are included in the article. Please check them out yourselves.
This is one thing you will never read about in the papers. I admire the boy, I mean at least he dare do something that most of us would not. I certainly would not dare start a petition against our great leader. I mean the Pap will dig out my 18 generation of my ancestors and smear it all over their mouthpiece.
I wonder if his parents would force him to take it down.
One of the opposition member in disguise?
good luck to this boy. Wait till ISD asks the parents to go have some coffee.
but you know without LKY, there wouldn’t even be secondary education right now.
Bravo, I salute you young boy. When someone call us daft, lazy and stupid, it is our right without fear , to ask him to say sorry. Gong Xi Fatt Chai to you.
What he said is true what. Isn’t it?
Links to the facebook group and petition are hyperlinked in the article as red coloured links.
Or you can access them directly here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=220683258665&ref=ts
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/lkyapologise/
Even a 15 year old kid can tell that this system in Singapore is getting worse and worse!
To many who seemed surprised, astonished, skeptical or to be in disbelief that mature and highly intelligence who is also socially aware with genuine concerns. – DON’T!
With the right education and interesting growing up environment, many 15 year olds can easily be like this.
sorry… missed out typing in ” this 15 year old is” between ‘disbelief that’ and ‘mature’.
And ‘intelligence’ = intelligent
Isn’t President, SM & MM are each only a couple of hundred thousands behind his PM son’s salary?
And what about their 8-12 months of bonus when Singapore’s and their pappy’s Fave GDP is in the positive territory? As it IS THE bench for Minister’s salaries and bonuses! And in their bonus scheme game, isn’t The GDP for the VARIABLE Bonus SCORE of 6-12 months over and above the regular 13th month for Civil Service and it’s Variable Bonus too? That said, there was a time when Civil Servants were paid some 3-3.5 months bonuses. And Ministers and MPs got that too. And also stood to gain in addition to this, another like 8 months bonus when GDP is like +5%!!!
The typical Singaporean I find are rather absent minded about such important basic things and so one can look inadequate by someone else isn’t. Exact figures aren’t important in this instant. but the range is. I can be wrong too and stand to be corrected.
As the famous ancient wisdom pointed out, a good empire will not last for more than 3 generations.
Greed and corrupt in one form or another will creep up and those in power become self centred and care less.
I just hope this eventuality will not happen so soon for us “Singaporean”. How I envy the new comers, no NS, no going thru shit policies and can enjoy the same fruit of labour because our bossed need more people to wash their cars…
Hi,
First, I hope that there’s a great discussion over the points, rather than the emotions. I recognize that a lot of people might find MM Lee’s comments very hard to accept and it has unleashed a lot of unhappiness. Both sides have their points.
There has been a lot of recognition that the system in Singapore is in need of change. People are suffering from job losses and the costs of living is rising. The government is also sometimes too slow in reacting to public feedback about things that need to be addressed. These, I feel, are valid complaints. The recent 2 years have been very tough globally (except for China). Furthermore, there are signs that after the American crisis, there might soon be a Europe-related financial crisis.
However, from my own personal experience working in China (1 year only), I do find that there is some truth that Singaporeans are being complacent compared to the rest of the world.
The views represented are my own, and I hope that it helps to smooth the emotions on both sides. I am currently an undergraduate in one of the local universities and I might not be able to understand the background of the various people who have replied. If I have offended anyone or you disagree with me, I apologize in advance.
Dear Teo Eng Hock
You are one of those typical SME bosses that complain everyday with no constructive solutions at all. Instead of finding the easy way out and employ cheap foreigners, you should re-design the job and increase the productivity. These young Singaporeans are smart but they find your job boring (brainless) and not rewarding (low-pay).
Maybe you should get this young Singaporeans to sell your products in a different way – internet, modelling etc… Please make use of their strengths and don’t every day to MOM and PAP.
Dear Kenneth,
I am no big fan of LKY but I tell you this much lad; you are too young to know what you are embarking on because LKY is right. And to oppose your petition, I am supporting LKY’s analysis in this instance.
At 15, how much do you know about LKY who is 7 decades before your time. What makes you think he has insulted Singaporeans when you do not the kind of people Singaporeans had turned out to be because of success, total reliance on government and optimistic assumptions. Why do you assume that what LKY said is not right and if it is right, why shouldn’t he chide Singaporeans as a “wake-up” call?
Well, at 15 you know nothing much about world history and world leaders. Everyone makes mistakes and no leader is perfect. LKY is no exception. But if you compare his mistakes to other world leaders, say George Bush’s tragic miscalculation on the invasion of Iraq, then 4,000 NS men would have been killed and probably 10,000 would be injured. That’s how one should measure leadership mistakes and the gravity of it.
LKY did no such thing. He realised as do many employers, that Singaporeans are complacent and they just do not have the stomach to work as hard as the foreigners. And regardless of whether our population is low, it is only a matter of time before foreigners will descend on Singapore because of the ample opportunities of growth. And who made this growth possible? Yup, LKY.
Indeed it is a sad transformation that many Singaporeans think they are more superior than foreigners. It is not. This supremacist attitude is misguided and unrealistic and if left unchecked, prevails at our own peril.
Kenneth boy, trust me, you know nothing about how Singapore has developed and evolved into a contemporary city. I have travelled and seen the world and I can tell you first hand that slum city has remained slum city, poor city has remained poor, underdeveloped has remained underdeveloped and corrupt government is still searching to rid itself of corruption.
That Singapore has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world is by no means a small feat or a coincidence. It is largely due to one man’s stern and intransigent determination and vision to succeed. That man has been doing his work for 72 years before you were born. You should admire LKY not admonish him.
Cheers
Re: Douglas on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 2:17 pm
I see a canine with very long tongue and a waggy tail! Not to mention it can run very well too!
Dear Douglas on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 2:17 pm
You sounds like one of those FT who benefited from the system but did not contribute. Are you just a Singapore PR?
Contrary to what you say that Singaporeans feel superior. They actually have low self-esteem, having to bow to foreign bossess and superiors for a rice-bowl.
Singapore’s Economic success is due to the economic brains of Hon Sui Sen and Goh Keng Swee. LKY is never finance-trained and you looka this investment track record in Su Zhou and GIC -don’t have to say more.
Long years of experience means nothing if you continue to make the same mistakes. It is just like people who has 70 years of investment experience and continue to lose money in the stock market.
In the past, when LKY (and now his son) takes a decision, ministers like Goh Keng Swee, Rajaratnam, Ong Teng Cheong would speak up against it if they feel it is not right. But now sadly they are only yes-men.
If Goh Keng Swee is still in charge, GIC and Temasek will never have lost so much money – Singaporeans’ money.
You being much older as you put it… DO you EVEN KNOW THE WHYS about what you said of Kenneth???…
“Well, at 15 you know nothing much about world history and world leaders.”
1. YOU Douglas obvious do NOT know that people like Kenneth and even those double his age and a little more are ONLY Taught Singapore history. And IS PAP or MORE ACCURATELY ‘LKY History’!!!
2. And do you know too that this pappy government said too that History AND Geography ARE NOT important in this Techno -Age!!! Why so??? And politically so too???
3. Also, even in local Uni, History Or Geography CAN BE taken independently!!! Is it and is this correct too???
4. IS History WITHOUT Geography meaningful?
5. And IS Geography WITHOUT History meaningful too??? Since the latter INCLUDES “Political” geographical boundaries plus natural resources relate to historical events right?
6. So, does someone have some kind of ulterior agenda???
7. AND so too, IS Singular Authority rule healthy for any country in the long run??? The Whys AND The HOWS of it I mean!!!
8. CLUE… Can one ever find Or build a vessel or container TO BE filled with ANY KIND of liquids or materials for long??? Is this Mother-Natural’s VARIATIONS In VARIETY For Specified reasons???
9. So Why MUST governance BE an exception???
10. Bearing in mind the limitations of each and every human. And thus our VARIATIONS AND VARIETY too as with all other things in life!!!
You now Douglas, have 10 question and clues to answer and make us wiser as you have in your degrade attempt at a 15 year old! I take angst with you because of your PRESUMPTION that Kenneth “know nothing much about world history and world leaders”!!! Do you know if he is prolific reader in quiet???
And now it is your turn to show us how much better informed and wiser too about these things you’ve ACCUSED Kenneth of!!! Also, have you thought that he MAY BE even just a front for someone much better informed and wiser then many of us here in TR. Please DON’T USE Bully ways like old man of this island!!! Only COWARDS will bully SMALL BOYS who dare to come out BIG!!!
and this is why LKY is only bold enuff to say PAP can stay in power for 2 more elections. After that, more 15 yr olds are able to vote lol.
Ryan…stick to your gun or simply shut up! No need to be politically correct…choose your side and no in between…we are not keen in the comparison…to each his own…but for a senior to rap us in an international arena is both stupid and uncalled for!
Douglas,
Let me guess, you must be one of those dafts whose brain had been totally washed by people arrogant party and/or their cronies, or a pathetic ‘yesman’ civil servant instructed by papies to pose your comment here.
Go and lick MIW’s arsses and carry their balls somewhere else and don’t waste our times here in TR.
Is this the Sinkapore that I once grew up and lived in? Degraded to this level?
What happened to all the educated ADULTS? A 15 years old has more brains and guts that all the ADULTS in Sinkapore?
O M F G !
Wait a minute Teo Eng Hock! Have you ever wondered why you have found it so difficult in getting employees? Let me tell you why:
1) The PAP’s stop-at-two policy have created this manpower vs economic growth desparity.
2) You did not maximise your employee’s potential. If you have traveled to Europe and watched how their employees work and you will know what it means to be productive.
3) Why didn’t you employ one girl and train her to manage your shop, that’s the kind of employer we Singaporeans welcome! Sorry to say that if you fail to see my point I’m afraid you are not fit to be an employer.
The very sad thing about all this is, very honestly and very sincerely I ask all Singapreans this question: Has MM Lee KY ever stressed that employers must first give priority to Singaporeans and structure their business environment to enrich job satisfaction, give training to enhance productivity and provide job advancement opportunities? This is what I regard as a caring statesman and a good leader.
The PAP has raised the standard of Singaporeans through high schooling standards and I just don’t understand why LKY has failed to acknowledge that higher and better educated people need better jobs to satisfy them.
LKY has ignored this very important employment aspect on the part of the employer and this has partly caused the fall of productivity.
Teo Eng Hock, for the good of your business and Singapore please go equip yourself with basic knowledge of business management. The 15-year-old boy can see better than you can!!
Teo Eng Hock, I forgot to add a point here, that is you have obviously not taken the pain and time to select the right Singapore girls for your shop, knowing that there is always the cheaper option of hiring foreigner!
To Douglas,
Singapore indeed have become one of the wealthiest country but that is limited to the minority, national coffers and ministers of Singapore for sure.
Singaporeans today are living on negative assets, especially the very roof over our head. Singaporeans are definitely not cash rich, and this is somewhat I felt the govt have manipulated the numbers. That every Singaporean have a property, but effectively this property do not belong to us but the bank.
I hope someone can have the figures, to compare number of millionaires in places like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and others. I am sure Singaporeans will fail miserably, which gets to show that the govt only want us to work like a donkey going in circles and don’t ask question.
He reminds of the little boy in the Hans Christian Anderson story…Everyone pretends to see the Emperor new clothes,until a child yells out,
“He hasn’t got any clothes on! “…
Hope everyone can relax a bit and drink some milo peng/liang teh.. =) Realised that there are a lot of unhappy people here.. It’s CNY!
@blackfeline:
I understand what you mean by taking a stand. However, if everyone speaks their mind, and there is no common ground for understanding, Singapore will not be Singapore.
Also, I guess it’s easier to take a stand if you are anonymous.
HDB housing:
I think you are referring to the HDB scheme. That is pretty interesting. Given limited land, I’m not sure if there is a better public policy. If you can suggest something better that can be put in practice, I’m sure everyone will definitely support your idea.
I am not sure whether I am right, but I think the interest payments on the HDB scheme actually pays for the CPF’s guaranteed interest. Maybe someone who knows this better can elaborate more.
@Sinkapore and others who share his view:
View: Singapore has deteriorated.
I think you are absolutely right. That’s why we need more people like you who have identified things that are wrong and are making efforts to put things right.
@all:
There are some pretty valid comments about mistakes of judgement being made. I personally would like to be perfect too. I guess I lost that chance to be perfect when I was born human.
Please be calm, I think everyone has a good and valid point to make. The best would be some solution that everyone can accept. After all, we are all part of Singapore’s present and future.
Do you want to stand on the side of the people who are making positive change, or do you want to let other people make the change you want?
your days are numbered,
we are counting………..
Douglas,
What makes you think just because a person is 15, he won’t know about history? As a matter of fact, if that area is his interest and that he reads and studies about it, the facts and stats would be fresher in his mind than in so many of us, and he would be qualified to discuss about it too!
Just because you might be older, it doesn’t mean you know more, and even if you think you do, the question would be – more about what?. So, please do not use condescending terms in regards to age when addressing fellow persons. Perhaps your thinking should grow up a little instead, that is if you know how.
Looking at some very laughable and ignorant comments and suggestions to Teo Eng Hock’s post, I think LKY missed the point that besides less hard-driving and hard-striving, our young people are also getting more and more capable of “talk cock like sing song”…they are also becoming a generation of brainless and low IQ idiots who are simply empty vessels but think that making the most (ignorant) noise means that they know a lot!
Looks like Teo Eng Hock’s problem will not get solved anyway by Singaporeans…quite a pity, he has to continue employing foreigners to keep his business going…sigh…
I have observed that sgporeans are generally, too good to be in the service industry as the attributes and attitudes reqd in the line are different, for example a good service worker needs humility, humbleness and patience to carry out his job functions and it cant be denied that our neighbours are more soft in nature and submissive workers becos of their culture back home; our culture is more arrogrant, assuming, impatience and steep expectations so that if you are a boss, to have a into your face brash and less gentle worker wouldnt do alot of good to your sales. Unfortunately the govt has open the floodgates to free competition in here, hence this reality of personality and job mismatch were brought into light; I seriously doubt that our workers can compete effectively with these FWs in the service industry given their gentle nature and demeanor, perhaps there are other jobs where sgporeans are better at.. acting maybe?
to Ryan Teo and Douglas,
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
“Show me a Hero And I will write you a Tragedy.”
One lone Kenneth simply won’t cut it. If Kenneth had been any older, he would most probably have been picked up by the ISD and detained. Over time, Sinkaporeans will conveniently forget that a Hero named Kenneth ever existed.
Being aware of whats happenning around Sinkapore is not enough. Its taking the necessary action to change whats wrong thats important but how many Sinkaporeans are actually WILLING & DARE to?
Come GE, Sinkaporeans should forget all the hoo har, the reasonning, the threats and concerntrate on asking themselves these questions:
1. Do you want the gahment to be accountable to the people?
2. Do you want the gahment to be transparent?
If the answer to any of the above 2 question is a YES, then there is only one choice need make, thats to vote for the Opposition even if they field a donkey!
Reading some of the response and comments to Teo’s post, it is sad to now realize that beyond not having the “Hard-Hitting and Hard-Striving” attitude, Singaporean youngsters obviously do not have any business sense at all as well…I am so worried and concerned with thier future, especially faced with the rapid rise of China as an economic might, and its very enterprising citizens who are now conquering the global business scene!
Agree with Pity, some of these ignorant and defensive posters are only good at talking cock like singing song…but we all know empty vessels makes the most noise!
Teo Eng Hock on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 9:59 am
Your final comment is a “giveaway”
“Face the hard facts, Kenneth Lin…you have to make things happened and you better start doing something about your own born-loser attitude!”
Kenneth Lin is EXACTLY MAKING THIS HAPPENING with his petition befiting his thoughts – whether you or I agree with that thoughts expressed is ANOTHER matter.
If Kenneth Lin action is what belongs in his conviction, is he imbued with a BORN-LOSER ATTITUDE” in your calm collected judgment?????.
If you are a great businessman, your judgment call of perceptive observation on this closing comment is FAR WAY OF THE MARK. I think Kenneth is a BORN FIGHTER who pushes all unimaginable frontier. He see gems we all may miss.
Is he our version of Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group fame – the dare devil I win all challenges??? If I was looking for a “good-getter” in my business, the “cissy” won’t get past 2 minutes of my interview time. I won’t be looking at Kenneth Lin transcript if he came knocking and got the interview.
Every big business success story I met in my life are ALL FRONTIER PUSHER – the status quo is never good enough and must be left behind and very often they venture out of FAMILIAR GROUNDS. TO MAKE IT REAL BIG.
I have yet to see one academically inclined straight-to-the path-blind-slavish-follower made good their lives.
to Douglas,
did you know LKY supported George Bush iraq’s misadventure? so if he was in bush’s position,he will also send NSmen to the battlefield to die.
you said you have travelled and seen the world, yet you insist slum city remain slum,i wonder which cities you visited, developing countries are much better now,some even comparable or better than singapore.
i quote you :”That man has been doing his work for 72 years before you were born”
You mean LKY has been ruling singapore since he was born?? better get your facts right.
Wee Pong on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 8:14 pm
Your comment
“Reading some of the response and comments to Teo’s post,…..Singaporean youngsters obviously do not have any business sense at all as well.”
Well you are imagining a lot there. I can’t speak for other bloggers, but my age group is a long more in twilight years than you assumed.
and then this strange one
“its very enterprising citizens who are now conquering the global business scene!…”
Inside China, they are very strong. Outside China, other then little expression of foreign investment by Geely, Haier, I SEE CHINESE VENTURING ABROAD IS MAINLY BY STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES in natural resources and THEY HIT THE WALL because foreigners don’t trust the political agenda inside State-owned enterprises.
So it is an exaggerated distortion to conclude that …”its very enterprising citizens who are now conquering the global business scene….” For one thing, China lacks depth, quantity and keen appreciation foreign work cultures and legal experiences to venture in common law jurisdiction where capitalism thrives EXACTLY THE SAME WAY as foreigner find it tough going doing business in China fudging around Chinese contract law.
Teo Eng Hock on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 9:59 am
Your final comment is a “giveaway”
“Face the hard facts, Kenneth Lin…you have to make things happened and you better start doing something about your own born-loser attitude!”
Kenneth Lin is EXACTLY MAKING THIS HAPPENING with his petition befiting his thoughts – whether you or I agree with that thoughts expressed is ANOTHER matter.
If Kenneth Lin action is what belongs in his conviction, is he imbued with a BORN-LOSER ATTITUDE” in your calm collected judgment?????.
If you are a great businessman, your judgment call of perceptive observation on this closing comment is FAR WAY OF THE MARK. I think Kenneth is a BORN FIGHTER who pushes all unimaginable frontier.
Is he our version of Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group fame – the dare devil I win all challenges??? If I was looking for a “good-getter” in my business, the “cissy” won’t get past 2 minutes of my interview time. I won’t be looking at Kenneth Lin transcript if he came knocking and got the interview.
Every big business success story I met in my life are ALL FRONTIER PUSHER – the status quo is never good enough and must be left behind and very often they venture out of FAMILIAR GROUNDS. TO MAKE IT REAL BIG.
I have yet to see one academically inclined straight-to-the path-blind-slavish-follower made good their lives.
@Teo Eng Hoc
I am a ex-sin loser. you are right. I am old and out of a job in sin city. I might be able to find a service job in a shitty company lie yours. Standing 8 hrs a day, and you are damn right, I will not worj for your shitty company.
Now that I had migrated, hehe, a loser again, cannot find a well pay job, but, I am happily doing service job, standing 8 hrs a day too! Now, why same old lazy Sin-loser lije me is happily/willingly doing this same old shitty job that are probably offer by you?
Why the same old lazy me become not-so-lazy me in a foreign land?
I tell you why. With this job, the pay is enough for me and my family of 4 to have a relatively comfortable life( no luxury item la). We can rent a 8000sq ft big house, and own 2 cars, fully paid. My children still go to gym class and Chinese class( These classes are not cheap). But I have to admit that there is no money left at the end of the month to save la.
But if I do the same job in your shitty company, I wonder I would have enough to pay rent in Singapore.
I assure you the above situation of me is real, and I do not use my saving for monthly expenses. All are from my pay from this shitty 8 hr standing service job.
(Apology: one of the letter not able to type, replace by j)
In conclusion. I believe singaporeans are not lazy.
How can you expect someone to put in full time, more than 40 hrs a weej and cannot feed a family, why would he want to worj?
If the pay if right, I am sure Singaprean will be tajing all those job that come to them.
just sign who care
He’s got balls.
Major balls.
I’m in with him.
To Bluecollar on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 5:40 pm… What you MEAn is that Singaporeans ARE Actually SingaPOOReans living on BORROWED MONEY of UP To 85 YEARS!!! And at that, how many percent of that more than 85% HDB dwellers as our sons and daughter’s ARE IN THIS TRAP??? And even then ALL HDB flat owners ARE ONLY Leases of 99 years or less since IT IS HDB who own their flats!!! DON’T BELIEVE??? WHY THEN IS hdb En-Bloc take back by HDB no need for owners agreement or at least Ay-Ay???
And To Ryan Teo on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 6:38 pm… You look like a handsome and pleasant guy in your pictures and writings. just enjoy your schooling in China and youth!!! You can’t understand right not the FRUSTRATIONS of your papa’s generation, especially those who ARE NOW NOT ONLY OLD AND CASH POOR… But also have to pay for stints like your overseas immersion type of education lah! Chinese wisdom is that youth can never FULLY understand the feelings of the old until they are are OLD TO… REALLY OLD when… Their Spirit IS STRONG When their flesh is weaker. Yet… in Singapore… Even BEFORE our flesh is really weak… Our SPIRITS ARE BEING TORN DOWN by one GUNGHO very wealth old geeko who never knew the meaning of being TALKED DOWN TO IN HUMILIATION EVERY TIME he OPENS HIS BLOODY MOUTH!!! BECAUSE he likely never had been talked down to by anyone for the last 60 years!!! TELLING ISN”T IT about a man???
AS for Pity on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 7:34 pm… Teo has a point. on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 7:43 pm AND… Wee Pong on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 8:14 pm TOO… I have this to say to you all and Ryan too…
1. DO you turn A Blind Eye to MOST LKY’s SIGNIFICANT failures and make THE EXCUSE FOR him too that he is just human?
2. And seeing where each of you likely come from too… SERIOUSLY… haven’t you all read and counted too all his Significant Fail Policies?
3. And so ARE both the youth and old here really Spouting-Hot-Air??? Seems you sound SIMPLISTICALLY and EXACTLY like how the Pappy and Pappies view the rest Singaporeans who are middle-class WAGE-EARNERS ONLY right???… Lesser-Mortals TO-BOOT!!!
4. And so as you say too that Teo has a point… But then who DOESN’T have A POINT??? As how that point translates into “One’s” Truth or NOT… also depends on a few things…
5. Like whether one is in…
a. Daddy’s Goody-Two-Shoes or not right???
b. THE Average asset rich and cash poor or not lot or not!!!
c. THE endless Struggling till gray and old and tired of worrying how retirement will be like AS NEVER really better off in reality due to escalating!!!
d. Like Born with A SILVER SPOON or NOT!!!
e. One’s association with the incumbent or NOT… And THIS one IS the Clincher to one’s senses becoming BIASED or NOT!!!
And all of the above SIMPLY means THAT… The VERY Well-To-Do by WHATEVER MEANS, association or born rich WILL BE in the MINORITY. These like WON’T HAVE Empathy for the average working class!!! JUST BORN LUCKY YEH or NOT!!! The CASH and also Asset rich will more have allusions to the realities of those lesser off being anxious about their futures AS BEING Ungrateful, Negative, Pessimistic, Unrealistic AND MORE … YES or NOT???
Suffering MAKES a BOY A MAN… BELIEVE IT OR NOT??? DON’T???
Why then a Kongfu Master makes his pupils go through the physical rigors of PAINFUL and Practical Training… The NS ARMY Training for example!!!
What DID lky say about Obama… Before AND After his election into the White House??? POLITICAL HYPOCRITE AT WORK or LACK OF WISDOM??? Let’s see who picks which one from here one!!!
How can you expect someone to put in full time, more than 40 hrs a weej and cannot feed a family, why would he want to worj?
But this is exactly what the ruling party wants you people to be so forever work and work and work and work and please don’t fall sick but you can choose to die, Oops! before you die, please leave your organs behind, they are worth alot of money to the nation you noe!
excuses for the job proposition does not matter, if you believe your worth is more than the job, obviously that job is not for you. Whether in sg or not does not matter. So no point grumbling becos it is a willing come willing go situation where no one owes another a living. Sgporeans are not just kiasu, etc but also, let’s just say, smart and leave the word alecks out, this probably explains why they are so overqualified in many areas. In HK, where the infamous service levels were once common place, everything has changed since the mainlanders took over the service jobs; I suspect we could be seeing the same changes here. In perspectives, the malaysians are good at food catering, hairdressing, accounting, contractor jobs, the pinoys are good at design, architecture, housekeeping, the mainlanders are good at their things including aero space, the reasons perhaps our linked cos are contracting truckloads of them and the list goes on. So I think that if sg opens the flood gates of free flowing labour, our people must make up their mind about what they are good at, instead of complaining about how much they should be paid or how much they think they are worth; otherwise we should not compete, just shut the flow of talents altogether and insulate this place.
Does Kenneth exists or is he a PHANTOM of the TR???????
Does his parents approve of what or even aware of what he is doing??????? Or is it the 51 year father passing of as his son???
We are discussing serious National policies here not attending an OPERA
Kenneth is a new breed of Singapore Hero. Good going my friend.
Dont argue so much whether ah boy can write a petition or not, at least he have the guts to state his name. can anyone of you dare to write such a petition ? if no , then lets give our support to this ah boy. 3 cheers to you ah boy, well done.
At the end of it all, everyone has the power of the VOTE.
Why then does the majority keep voting in pappy and the gang?
Answer: Better to stick with an old enemy we know so well than to have a new one that can go either way – God forbid the new one goes maverick.
Petitions, whether by a 15 year old or no, whether we agree or agree to disagree, the past, the present – they don’t matter for much. We need to focus on the future and the future of our kids. Personally, I feel our kids, by and large, have become spoilt … just look at how our army recruits are turning out today compared to 25 years ago. Then again, you do have some good kids who know true value of life and good work. To them I say; thank your parents for doing a good job.
But that’s just my opinion and you don’t have to agree or disagree.
The future – this is what we have to vote for. And if so many of you are so unhappy with pappy, remember to vote for the other guy next time.
And when you do, you’ll realize that the other guy is no better in most cases. So that leaves you with only the pappy choice.
So why can’t we get better choices to vote for? Because sinkaporeans have become complacent and won’t step up to make a difference. I’m guilty too but then, I’m not qualified either.
LKY stepped up when no one else would have taken the job. I think we are no one to talk if we don’t step up the way LKY did.
This 15yo kid, if he really is, is stepping up. But will you vote for him if he was of legal age to be nominated? This is the nature of his petition.
I am neither for nor against our current government. But I believe; if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
I am for one totally not suprise at all when a 15 yr old boy dare to nake such a daring great call move.. Can u see in china , indonesia, phillippines, those children at their very young age llike aroud between 7 year old onwards, able to do stunt performance show, able to go to the streets and do business with adults, these are those children that lived in hardship , poverty and difficult life. Circumstances will shaped a person up, let me tell all of u guys here first!
So if this AH boy born in a quite hardship family background, it is no surporise that his thinking will be mature almost as the same level of an adult… And who knows, if he can really make such a great call, his IQ and EQ is definetly 101% better than those idiot ministers who is in the cabinet who i say IQ and EQ is below 0!!!!
So stop having that kind of negative thought that singaporean kid are spoilt. Based on the circumstances and the climate of singapore now, singaporean kid can rise up to be a great future leader of ABraham Licoln or our Late President Mr Ong Teng CDheong!!!
Let’s be proud of our singaporean kid !!! Do us proud, Ah Boy!!!
U have my support !!!!
Well Done!!!!
Not only that, if he can make such a great move, i think LKY should start to engage this 15yr old boy to be a future leader instead of punish him.
If LKY really live up to his name as forecaster (which i believe he used to be , but not now), he will definitely proud to see such a young kid have such a great potential like he used to have when he was in his younger days time in politics.
And maybe maybe LKY will step in and put all his so called concubines ministers into shame and asked them to learn from this 15 yr old boy who got foresight and guts for his future and alll his own ppl future…
Pui! to those ministers and MPS who should be wearing a mask and be put to shame and should have step down long long time ago already….
And before they step down, they better return us the taxpayer’s hardearned monies , which is the million dollars paycheck they received every month!!!!
And also pls unlocked the CPF system!!! It’s our own money. There is no need to wait for until 55 or 62 yrs old then to withdraw, it should be able to withdraw as and when as we like it becos it belongs to our own hardearned monies!!!
IT’s our monies, we have every human rights to withdraw as and when and we will be accountable for any future consequences if anything happens, we won’t put blame to the govt!
So once again i says, : Return us back our CPF money and let us withdraw as and when we like it!!! We are adults, and not kids, we know how to manage our own money and we know how to be a good stewardship when it comes to our own money!!!
Vote the pappies out!!!
Dear Kenneth
i hope the comments you gave were from your own convictions.
Perhaps you should consider to go into politics when you grow up. I totally agreed with douglas point of views.
i use to be so negative with MM.Having travelled to so many third world country i realised that i am ungrateful .
i grow up in a kampong without proper toilets ,house was infested with mosquitoes most of the time . Look at singapore today. We have zero resources and Yet we prosper . i thank God we have MM.He weed out communism corruption and have He has to bear the branch of agony after separation from Malaysia.
Today you have a comfortable home a cohesive nation, great education . Be contented my boy.
Your need to respect MM. He is the man who dare to dream and dream big. that is why we are where we are today. Yes i agree that some policies he made may not be favourable at times .
Hey he is just a man , he makes mistakes too.
To demand an apology from our founding father is too much .
i am sure if MM thinks that you are right. he will make the apology. But first you must lernt respect for the elders .
you can make a different if you stop looking at the negative things in life. God Bless
regards
uncle terence
“Stop At 2 policy, Graduate Mothers scheme”
Ask yourself honestly. Are these two policies the reason why Singapore has declining birthrates? If you’re a couple, what exactly is deterring you from starting a family?
It’s not the policies. It’s the unstoppable inflation of living costs that has depressed our wages. The long hours of work. The hyper education system. The insane HDB prices.
That is what should be petitioned. Asking for an apology isn’t helping anyone, just your own ego. Ego don’t feed babies.
This Kennith boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He no idea the struggles the earlier generations of Singaporeans went through to get to today. Even back then, work was hard but people had direction and aim, they achieved prosperity for themselves and the state. Go and ask anyone worked few generations ago and ask them to when they think of the current Singaporean youngsters. Most of them will agreed with KLY’s observations.
It is ridiculous that this boy who hardly, if ever, worked in his life to believe he knows the current and past Singapore better than KLY.
If this Kennith boy think KLY is wrong then go and be a productive member of the society , but not tried to petition and cover up the fact that the current Singapore,relative to other asian countries, is losing its edge.
Dear Terence
MM and Singapore succeeded LAST TIME because of a team of top class ministers like Goh Keng Swee, Hon Sui Sen and other Singaporeans. But obviously MM Lee wants to take all the credit for himself and his family only who occupies top posts everywhere.
If MM Lee needs a one-off pension eg SGD 100 million? To retire for once and for all, I think it is OK. So that he can be kept out of the mess like losing billions of our money through GIC, getting effective foreigners to head DBS and SGX (ex-CEO John Olds and Thomas Kloet)
All the pros & cons over Kenneth Lin and his petition would be fully justified if he did petitioned and does exists.
If an unseen hand is behind all this than we have wasted time and space for a “Phantom”.
In my other posts I request that Kenneth and his Parents identify themselves for TR’s CREDIBILITY SAKE and not sensationalized for increase readership’s sake.
OnFuture on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 9:33 am
A lot of emotions here. Comments like
“This Kennith boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”
“It is ridiculous….. believe he knows the current and past Singapore better than KLY”
How do you know these statements of your assertions are true? I believe even the most informed mind in Government is hazy of what the current fluid economic situation, let alone any presumption that a 15 year old could know the current situation.
“cover up the fact that the current Singapore,relative to other asian countries, is losing its edge.”
How do you know if Kenneth Lin is attempting to “cover up” your presumed conclusion that he is actually aware of the fact that Singapore is losing its edge? Surely he can’t cover up any “fact” he does not know exists even if he really wants to.
That is an irrational outburst, don’t you agree of yourself – presumably much older and wider of experience than a 15 year old?
OnFuture on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 9:33 am
On the contrary, Dear OnFuture, the fact that a 15-year old can feel so outraged after watching the said video must surely means something is outrageous.
Is it not?
1. What Conman on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 1:34 am said…
“I am neither for nor against our current government. But I believe; if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”…
2. We can all be swayed by Conman’s quote of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The origin and purpose of it’s meaning for application is important. And it has been LOOSELY applied to other situations.
3. So, his reference to it is out of context here. Because, this came about DURING the Industrial Revolution. And it was about Equipments made by Factories and their Manufacturing, Operation Procedures and Processes!
4. Question IS: Can it be APTLY and SENSIBLY applied within “A Broad Stroke” to governance from one’s Personal Perspectives? Since one may have certain Views, Biases, Preferences, Societal and Economic status that can influence one’s views and choice of it!!! In short, one’s social standing, knowledge depth and breadth or LACK of IT in the Area of Vision CAN and DOES INFLUENCE one’s Acceptance of A STATUS QUO or NOT.
5. With this in mind, won’t those who DO NOT PUSH FRONTIERS… Tend TO BE more easily satisfied with the present PAP government and it’s many failures Past and Present? Because they prefer their COMFORT ZONES? Since they have “Made-It” and are not financially GROSSLY affected by pappy’s policies from lack of FORWARD And Visionary Planning in many areas???
So I seek Conman on Thu, 18th Feb 2010 1:34 am AND Wee Pong keep it up on Wed, 17th Feb 2010 10:08 pm to return ans coherently and numerically list to us their grouses at us Naysayers of Pappy & Pappies COMPLETE with SUBSTANTIATION of HOW and WHY they THINK (Not just feel haw!) old man lky has don’t so well and not too… Meaning all of Those PROS as well as CONS!!! Then WE The Not Foolish Naysayers can know better why Conman & Wee Pong are so steadfast about Status Quo being better in “A Fast Changing World” as he lky kept REMINDING us!!!
Last but not the least in question IS… Why Does PAP keep changing the ‘Rules’ of their game??? To correct their mistakes OR otherwise? And what’s that latter one???
To LIKE-MINDED ones like conman & Wee Pong I’ll say that…
We can all also be Complacent BY Forever EMBRACING our COMFORTS in our own Comfort Zones!!! Because such man ARE actually ‘boys’ who have neither The Compassion, let alone Empathy nor Conviction to even AT THE VERY LEAST IN Cyberspace ANONYMOUS to CHAMPION FOR OUR lees-Endowed and Less-Fortunate Fellow Citizens GROSSLY affected negatively by PAP’s failures!!! If they can CONSTANTLY BRAGGED of their ‘achievements’… Then they should also BE BOLD and HUMBLE ENOUGH to come forward and OWN-UP of their mistakes too. THIS WILL command OUR respect. But of cause don’t keep making a WHOLE STRING of them mistake yah!!!
LHL as DPM once said that they changing much because they are FLEXIBLE!!! Another side IS of course due to LACK of ABILITY in Visionary Plus IN-DEPTH Planning right Conman, Wee Pong and your LIKE-MINDED type!!!
And as PM after taking over from GCT, LHL was asked some 5+ years ago by a LADY reporter “Why he wanted INTERACTIVE Digital Radio, when we ALREADY HAVE Interactive land-line telephones, Internet, mobile phones, so to come Interactive Digital TV (WHERE now???? So why too INTERACTIVE Digital Radio and on the road as well (WHERE now???). LHL’s answer???…
“OH, it is a NEW Technology and so we MUST HAVE IT. Ha HA Ha”!!! THAT’S IT?????????????????????? What a FART!!! It is like being caught with ‘one’s pants down or like the ‘naked king without his ‘new’ clothes when ONLY a small shouted that “But He is naked”!!! Everyone else was just as HYPOCRITE AS THAT king.
Kenneth Lin… YOU HAVE DONE US REAL PROUD. Whether you are really 15 years old or not is not the issue. THE REAL CRUX of THE ISSUE… YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT “THE TRUTH” LIKE that boy about that naked king!!! SOLDIER ON!!!
I smell a rat. Is the boy trying to do a rony tan?
@OnFuture,
Pls don’t understimate the young kids nowadays…U be surprised nowadays kids at the age of 9 yrs old can even create programmes on the computer and sell it to the world.
This testimony is true and it actually broadcast it on the channel 8 news @ 2008. And guess what? This kid is a local native born singaporean!!!
So we do not alot of youngsters as young as 10 years old mature enough and intelligent enough to see the political climate happenings around them, if they can be already so technology super intelligent!!!
It’s just that the MSM hardly wants to reveal it so locals always think that all he best candidate is always from the outside and not the inside !!!
It’s time to realise that we singaporeans kids in fact are very super intelligent smart!! i should even say that it is first world singaporean kids!!!
So some typo error,
it should be we do have a lot of youngsters…
http://mashable.com/2010/02/15/youngest-ted-speaker/
TED’s youngest speaker. Hope that the both of them can learn from each other. I think that would be fantastic.