Press Statement by George Yeo on 10 May 2011 at MFA
Thank you for waiting a couple of days for me to rest before meeting you.
I would like to make some remarks before taking questions.
Aljunied voters have decided and I respect their decision. Having committed 23 years of service to the residents, it is only natural for me to feel disappointed but this is politics.
It has been my privilege to have served them all these years and they have enriched my life. They have also enabled me to serve in various capacities as a Cabinet Minister in MITA, Health, MTI and MFA for which I am grateful.
Why did we lose Aljunied?
Mr Low Thia Kiang himself said that they won Aljunied not because the Aljunied team did not do a good job, but because the voters wanted WP to be their voice in Parliament.
Mr Low’s analysis is fair and I agree with him. This desire for a strong WP voice in Parliament was a political tide which came in through Aljunied which we were unable to withstand despite our very best efforts. Right from the start, the Workers Party made Aljunied a national battleground.
The fight became one between a Workers Party voice in Parliament and an Aljunied team with two ministers, a potential Speaker of Parliament, a potential minister and a most effective Town Council chairman.
Though I wish the outcome had been different, Aljunied voters have made their choice.
Many of my supporters asked me to stay on to win back Aljunied in five years time. I wanted to level with them and told them last night that it is better for a younger person to take on this important task. I’m already 57 years old and would be 62 by then. Naturally I would help to ensure a smooth handover.
As we ended our campaign on 5 May, I talked about the importance of transforming the PAP. This is a belief I’ve held for some time. It was not something I felt I could say when the campaign started. But, as the campaign went on, as we heard the growing cry from the heart, I decided to make it plain. Like it or not, we are entering a new phase in Singapore’s political development. How we respond to it will decide Singapore’s destiny in the 21st century.
I would help in whatever way I can to bring about this transformation of the PAP. I wish I had a mandate from the people of Aljunied to be a strong advocate of such transformation. But I don’t.
As for remaining in public life, I will contribute in whatever modest way possible.
Many young people have stepped forward to help me in this campaign. Even more have cheered me on. It is not good that so many of them feel alienated from the Singapore they love. I look forward to continue working with them so that the Singapore we struggle for is the Singapore they feel is their own. As to the actual role I can play, I’ll be happy to respond to them. In the last few years, I have learnt much from my young friends. Often they led me rather than I led them.
A younger generation has been politicized in this GE.
Since the GE results came out, there has been a flood of support for me expressed personally, through friends and relatives, on email and, in an astonishing way, on Internet and FB. The words expressed are heartfelt. Many wrote me long passages, some in tears. I’m grateful for the kind and comforting words and the many good wishes. It will be an honour for me to be an advocate of their cause.
As for what I’ll do professionally after stepping down as Minister when the new Cabinet is sworn in, I’m not rushing to make a decision. My wife and I thought we should take our time to think this over. We also need a break to spend more time with the family.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the people of Singapore for the honour of serving them in the last 23 years.
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GY spoke like man on his way out. He is no longer on a lease. Whether he remains in PAP is a moot question. Given his desire to shake the box, he might as well be out of the box. What can shaking do? Agitate those who felt very comfortable with the high salaries?
PAP will not change with LKY still holding the rein.
The time has come to examine the legality of Parliament voting to pay itself such magnificent salaries for Parliamentarians. The significant circumstance was that the move to pay itself those salaries was made possible because there were no effective countervailing voice to represent the consent of the citizenry. The WP has members who have wide and deep legal experience. Now that they have come to sit in Parliament, this matter of phantasmagoric salaries has got to be examined and put before an International body for adjudication as to legality. If not legal, then just like the ravaging CEOs of banks, the Parliamentarians must be asked to return their illegal remunerations to the Singapore taxpayer.
There is a groundswell of the citizenry who are keeping their eye on this issue.This is the singlemost issue that would render Parliament as presently constituted null and void. If the ridiculously high salaries remain in place it is an affront to the intelligence of Singaporeans at its most fundamental level. It then cannot be expected that Parl;iament works for the benefit of the citizenry and not for the enrichment of the Parliamentarians themselves. It negates Parliament itself as Parliament becomes non representatiove of the citizenry.
PAP team lose in Aljunied is fully justified. Look at Denis Phua face on CNA, very sour and sore loser. If she feel reluctant to pursue his grassroot activity in Aljunied, just get out instead of waiting for PM instruction to tell her what to do next.
Why would he want to leave, unless he got sick of PAP brand of politics; becos the real challenge has just begun. Further at 62 years, he is still young. Just look around there are his comrades whom are in excess of 60, 70 and even 80 years and still politicking, so why be a “quitter” now !!
old soldiers never die, they just fade away…
sir, are you still the gentleman soldier i feel you always were, or have you long since forgotten the oath you once swore upon? are you giving up now…without a fight? simple, isn’t it? cash in those millions, look for greener pastures, pretend you are deaf, blind or ignorant and just stay silent…and why? because you still feel beholden to the powers that be? hmph…ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country and what together we can do for the liberty of humanity. the party isn’t singapore and i’m sure you remember where your loyalties ultimately lie. you have been an able minister and an affable representative of your electorate, but it wasn’t enough in the end because the winds of change were blowing straight into your face. that you have accepted defeat with your typical humility and grace speaks something. but it isn’t enough. if the words you have been uttering are heartfelt, and i have no reason to believe otherwise, you must stay strong and stay around to complete the deed. because there could well be no one else to do it.
you’ve always been the one PAP cabinet member that i admire most. your sharp intellect, cultured taste and quick wit are qualities not exactly found in great abundance amongst your colleagues. yet, while your verdict on the party you have been a part of for so long is damning, you also seem to have forgotten the fact that you chose to stay silent and compliant all these years. even if you had been a consummate gentleman in every sense, you also have been complicit in a corrupt, repressive system by carrying the badge, fronting the cause, spreading the word and toeing the line. face it, you were an ideologue and evangelist for the kind of soft authoritarianism that the PAP excels in. and this isn’t an irony that someone with your insight and intelligence would ever miss. if you had noticed how serious the rot had become, why did you keep quiet all these years? why didn’t you act with your convictions and your conscience? yet your words also hint at your suspicion that your secretive party isn’t quite capable of internal reform at this point. so this isn’t your fight anymore, dear BG.
the oppos made a bet on the PAP being deaf and ill-equipped to change. they have 5 years to find out if that is true. my fear is not so much that the PAP will be drastically reformed to the disadvantage of the opposition, but rather that they will make cosmetic and token changes to sweeten the ground and draw the disaffected sections of the populace back into the fold, without any of the fundamental transformation that will be needed to make the party and singapore more “normal”. nothing will be that different minus bits and pieces of astroturfing here and there. and we’d still be stuck in square one – a rigidly controlled state where the dominant party is sable to sink its influence into all areas of the life-spheres occupied by its citizens, to the detriment of civil society or even fundamental liberties. perhaps that is really the government that singaporeans deserve? or not? we need someone with the clout and heart to drive change and transformation, to create a more equitable and cohesive society that tolerates difference and embraces pluralism as well as inclusiveness, if for nothing else, in order to better weather the storms that will come. so BG yeo, if you’re really up for a fight, the battle is only just beginning. please just do the right thing because we’ll need a guy exactly like you soon. you can take your time but sign up for the right cause and lead the way, please. it will not only atone for your previous silence, acquiescence and complicity, but also be a way for history to judge you as the accomplished statesman you were always meant to be. go with your heart. i believe it has always been in the right place. please.
Let’s call for MM to retire from Parliament, maybe say after 6 months, but continues to act as MS(Mentor Supreme) to PAP. This will leave Tanjong Pagar to call for a by-election in which George Yeo can stand for PAP. This will truly be Transformation and Renewal for the PAP govt and a win-win for all.
Actually tired of the media circus surrounding GY trying to make the voters of Aljunied guilty for his departure from the pap. Shame on the Straits TImes. Nothing against GY, he’s the nice front of the pap but how many times does the Straits TImes wanna put him on the front pages during and after the elections. THe voters of Aljunied did the right thing, they are heroes and should be saluted.
TOC, kindly give us more articles on the likes of solid candidates that were never given coverage by the Straits TImes, capable individuals, like Michelle Lee SDP, Lim Li Lian WP, Alec TOk SDP, etc etc. The list goes on.
I have been a PAP member since 1994. I wish the opposition will become strong enough to be an alternative choice. When the opposition is strong enough, I will vote for PAP. A two-party political system is good for Singapore. To me, Nation-building is more important than Party-builidng!
Mr George Yeo is right that the PAP must transform itself – for the sake of Singapore and for the PAP’s own future.
As for Mr Yeo; he should be allowed to follow his heart, and may his free spirit and heart lead him to happiness and to do what is right and good for Singapore. So, all the very best to him.
Moving on, agree with Mediacircus that it would be proper for the ST to run stories on other candidates, including the elected WP MPs in waiting.
ST – after this GE, you guys must also transform yourselves. Being sycophantic is harmful to everyone – to the ST, the government and to Singaporeans.
You have a vital responsibility in educating and informing Singaporeans in a balanced and objective fashion. There are many issues – beyond those thrown up by the GE to examine, to clarify for your readers. C’mon – you can do it.
Are the “Ultrascale” salaries of the ministers justified?
We would like to think we will gladly pay for high competence and efficiency in governance,but the YOG had massive cost overruns,the roads are still congested,patients at government hospitals find themselves in long queues….
I would be ashamed of myself if I were one of them.
The ousting of george yeo serves as a strong signal that we do not support, accept and agree with the pap’s way of working.
It is also a reminder that they are not indispensible, that there are many candidates of great calibre to take up the post of a MP.
PAP Ministers should practice what they preach. Just ask them to listen to Lee Kuan Yew’s speech in the 1950′s when he exhorted all PAP ministers to live a clean and spartan life, so that they are above reproach and unassailable by their political opponents.
The PAP will instantly gain all Singaporeans’ respect if they pegged their salaries to the salaries of the highest paid ministers in the rest of the world.
@ Bernard CHAN 11 May 2011
Willow: I predict George Yeo could join the SDP with his friend Tan and Col Ang.
Then the SDP’s 2016 General Election “A” team would be lead by BG Yeo assisted by Dr. Vincent and Col Ang and Mr. Tan.
—————————————–
Hi, Bernard. Thank u for your friendly remark :O)
SDP is rather confrontational in their style (ok this is based on my personal observations). George seems more of the diplomatic type. He’s been with the PAP far too long, I doubt he would clique well with the local opp parties.
Anyway, when a team has too many leaders, they start disputing among themselves (which seems to be the case in PAP – never mind terms like “groupthink” that make it seem so sweet). Everybody wants to lead but no one wants to follow.
But I’m keeping my fingers crossed that
he will seriously consider this alternate route of running an opp party (fact is he mentioned he’s already 57 and will be 62 by the next election …).
George would make a formidable foe of the PAP if he rises up to challenge them. It will be a landslide victory for him if he stands against ma or lss or sitoh (this is 1 guy who can sure make me lose appetite … ok u can call me biased).
BG Yeo shd not beat behind the bush. Just form a new party or join the opposition to knock some sense into PAP. Why shd u insist of being in PAP to effect change?
For a start try bargain for a reduction in Minister salaries. Till this date NONE of the MP’s ever mention abt this issue? Why?
Mr Yaakob Ibrahim u shd take pride in the Malay’s progress. They have now adopted the tattoe, piercing & gangsterism culture. Want to know why? Simple: check out their salaries and their occupation. Many are doing 2 jobs and still hv to fight for their jobs with FOREIGNERS. Is this the progress Yaakob is proud abt? Is he really listening, or is he just ensuring but not listening.
Mr Goh CT shd look at himself and ask why only NOW he starts to put e blame on TPL? At a time when she needs & look fwd to yr support, u are now saying she is the factor for the drop in votes. What kind of SM are u?
As for LKY, blame it on yourself for all this blunder, & the future blunders due to yr continued persistence to withold yr outdated philosophies.
BG Yeo and most recently Hwee Hua announced they wont stand in the next election. Their decision is really apparent. BG Yeo and Hwee Hua knows full well that they will not be able to wrestle Aljunied in the future elections as can be seen in Hougang & Ptg Pasir. Once opposition wins a constituency, it is very difficult for PAP to take it back. By giving their age as an excuse, they are actually trying for the last time to fool Singaporeans. Actually BG Yeo & Hwee Hua knows the actual reason, so they CHICKEN OFF by asking the younger PAP candidates to fight in Aljunied. If BG Yeo & Hwee Hua cannot win Aljunied despite their many years of service to Aljunied, what makes them think that the yuonger candidates can win it back? It’s like sending them to a firing squad. Unfortunately, that is George & Hwee Hua. He even have the cheek to mention abt the Presidency or UN seat. Now we all know why Jayakumar insists that George is articulate..
Dear BG Yeo,
If you truly believe in transforming PAP, you must not support GRC election system. You must learn from Tan JS, join opposition party and push for the transformation and not choose to quit politics now.
To tell you honestly, I don’t believe your words that you want to transform and reform PAP.
like all of our NEW GAURD ministers,GEORGE YEO has been paid very substantial salaries and benefits that most of us would never receive form our ‘state’ in the next 5 life-times.
GY talked about he is ‘a llitle bit of a Taoist..”
and,does GY know what a true TAOist BELIEVES?
GEORGE,you are right,you are just a small part of ‘alrger flows’ AND YOU HAVE BEEN RICHLY REWARDED by this ‘LARGER FLOWS’ WHILE COUNTLESS AMONG YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN HAVE BEEN forcefully’pushed out’ of this FLOW of which you were a ‘huge’ part.
SIR, i strongly believe that you ‘OWE IT TO SOCIETY’,being among the most endowed and generously so,thta you should use your many GIFTS to help ‘BRING ABCK’ all the ‘diaplaced’ SINGAPOREANS into this ‘LARGER FLOW’.
it is not a question of choice but TRULY, A CALL TO DUTY and PAYING FORWARD.
I M SURE THE WHOLE NATION INCLUDING LOW THIA KHIANG will SUPPORT YOU FOR THE ELELCTED PRESIDENCY.
GOD BLESS.
Yeoman,
You have a good point.
The opposition cause is a good cause for Singaporeans at this juncture.
GY is someone with the fairness of mind and generosity of spirit who can help out in upholding this good cause.
2016 election starts today. It will be a different Singapore if there is such a national goal shared by all.
Mr. Low Thia Khiang will now be able to rally all gifted people to make a bigger vision come true.
Grace is something that is a blossoming of one’ being (egs kind, considerate,wise,ethical and …).
Why shift blame now, why blame the system.
You benefitted from it more than the commoners. Now u sing a differnt tune. Is this not being ugly, is this not being ungracious, is this not being hypocritical?
When u were in office and during your tenure have you in any way tangibly enhanced human lives? Decorating the estates, upgrading does not and cannot be equated quality living.
So much for grace lor!
Stop justifying for yourself, or you make things worse, gy.
Your game is over and please exit quietly.
Well said, BAR-SO. Turn it into an online petition for GY to stay in politics, and I’ll sign up.
ok this is it!!!
we are fed up with all the lies and cheating of Lee Kuan Yew.
this sunday from 9am we come together
raise funds and plan for next election
17A Telok Blangah Crescent #22-270 Singapore (091017)
food and drinks provided
Seriously, Mr Yeo I have got nothing against you cos you don’t really make any policies that will affect much of my life since you are the Foreign Minister. All I can say is that you are truly a victim of the GRC system which was created by your party in the first place.
You had the portfolio to elicit changes or transform many things during your tenure. You feigned ignorance, eschewed ethics, principles, sense of justice for political orthodoxy/patronage and continued being a carpet-bagging elitist!
It is apparent that u had turned a blind eye to so many inequities and inequitable policies that were (and still is) negatively impacting Singaporeans. The effects are so numbingly palpable and no thanks to the likes of you lah.
Now this stance of yours is much too late and it seems more of an attempt to salvage what is left of your esteem rather than anything else.
Even now, it feels like you are running with the hares and hunting with the hounds.
The undoing of this nation is the likes of you. I do sympathize with u (aka meaning that you are simply unable to reconcile to the inherent dichotomizing/polarizing beliefs n …). As for emphathy, I feel none whatsover.
PS – As a foreign mininster you were probably privy to the many FTA signed with other countries, especially those pertaining to foreign workers or whatever the incumbents defined it to be. As it concerns citizens” lives, dont you think that it ought to be transparent and what is the criteria for such a stance.
If it is not transparent, certainly there must be something within one of the many clauses that does not favour Singaporeans or it negatively impacts Singaporeans.
I repeated read the press release but could not find what I was looking for in George Yeo’s press statement. What transformation was he refering to? His statement was so vague. In my opinion, he should come clean to speak of what he sees wrong in PAP’s policy and practices and what he will like to see PAP be transformed into! If he dares not speak up the problems in PAP, then he has a weak base for his transformation arguement. If his transformation is to win votes of the young generation, I foresee his so-called transformation will be just shifting the goodies (lift upgrading, dishing out money…etc) to some other forms of baits to entice the young generation.
Let’s face it, one has to question George Yeo’s intention. Is he putting Singapore ahead of PAP? If he is really thinking of the future of Singapore and really concerned that PAP will not be up to the mark to continue governing Singapore in future, then he should address the pitfall of the current political system in Singapore. I sense that he feels very bitter about his loss and feels that it was not his fault at all. Or, does he has a bigger hidden agenda?
I can tell by your eyes that youve probbly been cryin forever,
And the stars in the sky don’t mean nothin to you, they’re a mirror.
I don’t want to talk about it, how you broke my heart.
If I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, wont you listen to my heart, whoa, heart?
If I stand all alone, will the shadow hide the color of my heart;
Blue for the tears, black for the nights fears.
The star in the sky don’t mean nothin to you, they’re a mirror.
I don’t want to talk about it, how you broke my heart.
If I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, wont you listen to my heart, whoa, heart?
I don’t want to talk about it, how you broke this ol heart.
If I stay here just a little bit longer,
If I stay here, wont you listen to my heart, whoa, heart?
My heart, whoa, heart.
Her wife, Jennifer Yeo ???, sued and make so many singaporean bankrupt becaused of credit card debts. Yeo Leong and Peh, one of the leading agency for collection of credit card debts and one which are so well known in the industry for it heavy ways without compromising and ganged up with the banks to sued people, what do you think of her now or one who would betray fellows sg just to make big bucks with the banks!!!
george stop whining,go spending
overpaid salary and pension with purse bulging,
Thy fate is the best of all,
Where on earth can such luck fall?
Bet our peers must secretly pining,
Well, this is what he said in 1995.
You judge for yourself whether he is a gentleman or not, enough said!
DEBATE YES, BUT DO NOT TAKE ON THOSE IN AUTHORITY AS “EQUALS’.
20 February 1995
REMEMBER your place in society before you engage in political debate, said Information and the Arts Minister George Yeo yesterday.
Debate cannot degenerate into a free-for-all where no distinction is made between the senior and junior party, or what the Hokkiens describe as “boh tua, boh suay”.
“You must make distinctions – what is high, what is low, what is above, what is below – and then within this, we can have a debate, we can have a discussion,” he added.
Speaking to reporters at the end of his Moulmein tour on the parameters of debate, an issue sparked off by the Catherine Lim controversy, he made it clear that people should not take on those in authority as “equals”.
the talk about him representing a voice in the party about speaking out against govt when necessary is just an election plot.
not real at all
Worker’s party entrance into parliament marks a ‘new chapter’ of Lee dynasty part 2. I would like to see if their clan can last 3 generations.