Commenting on a Channel NewsAsia article titled, ‘We are pursuing the right strategies, and given time they will work: PM Lee on the economy’, former Presidential candidate, Mr Tan Kin Lian expressed doubts if such strategies will make Singapore competitive again.
The CNA article is a report on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s address to the students from the Singapore Institute for Technology (SIT). PM Lee acknowledged in his Speech that Singapore was going through difficult economic conditions, but expressed confidence that Singapore is on the right track.
“We are feeling the pains of restructuring, but not yet seeing the dividends of our hard work. But we are pursuing all the right strategies, and I am confident that given time these strategies will work for us.” – PM Lee Hsien Loong
Mr Tan pointed out that Mr Lee’s ‘right strategies’ of the past decade has led to the following:
- A large increase in population;
- Over crowding;
- Inadequate infrastructure and public services;
- High cost of living;
- Unproductive work and wastefulness;
- An uncompetitive economy.
“I don’t think he has recognized the problems caused by his ‘right policies’,” Mr Tan said. Adding: “I wonder how these same policies can make us competitive again.”