The Straits Times, March 29, 2007
By Lydia Lim, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
CONTRIBUTION TO SINGAPORE LAUDED: MM Lee speaks to the Australian media after the ceremony, where his 'unparalleled contribution' to Singapore's development was highlighted by the ANU Council in a citation.
CANBERRA - MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew received an honorary doctorate yesterday and told his critics here afterwards that he was prepared for Singapore to be measured by any yardstick of governance they could find.
The ceremony for his award from the Australian National University (ANU) went smoothly despite a protest outside the university hall by some 50 students and a handful of faculty members.
Opposed to an award for someone they saw as having an authoritarian leadership style, several held placards that said 'ANU not for Yew' and chanted the same slogan.
Approached by the Australian media after the ceremony, Mr Lee stood by his record and Singapore's standard of governance.
'I go by the rules of governance,' he said to a question after leaving the hall.
'You measure us by every single yardstick of governance. Look up the World Economic Forum global competitiveness report.
'You run through every single item: rule of law, transparency, integrity of the system, efficiency of the civil service, confidence in the courts both domestically and internationally.'
The WEF last year ranked Singapore as the world's fifth most competitive economy based on nine factors, including the strength of its institutions.
On the protest, he said, far fewer people would have known about the award if his critics had not drawn attention to it through their opposition. 'Because they made the protest, therefore they have highlighted the fact that despite their protest, the ANU proceeded and I was not deterred from coming.'
He shrugged off their hostility and said he was 'quite accustomed' to such a reception.
'It's not going to change me; I'm not going to change you. We are going to prosper; you are going to prosper. But if I allow you to run my country, it will spiral downwards and we will hit rock bottom,' was his message to his critics.
As for his one-time warning that Australia risked becoming 'white trash' in Asia, he noted it was an issue the media here liked to raise.
'There are some words sometimes thrown in the heat of the argument which perhaps at that time was warranted. You have changed,' he said.
The Australia he visited in 1965 was a very different country, he said, noting it had a 'White Australia' policy and the Asian Exclusion Act.
At yesterday's ceremony, Mr Lee's 'unparalleled contribution' to Singapore's development was highlighted by the ANU Council in a citation which set out why it conferred the Doctor of Laws degree on him.
It said under his leadership as prime minister from 1965 to 1990, Singapore 'moved from a state of extreme economic vulnerability to its current position as the region's most vibrant economy, whose people enjoyed standards of education, health and welfare among the highest in the world'.
'Few leaders have had such a singular impact on their country's history,' it said, adding that Mr Lee was receiving the award on the grounds of his 'service to the development of Singapore, his international statesmanship and his friendship with Australia'.
In his speech to 100 faculty members and guests, Mr Lee highlighted, among other things, how Singapore and Australia worked together to enhance conditions for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.
Later yesterday, Mr Lee met Australian Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House.
Asian Studies undergraduate Ernest Ng, 24, a Singaporean at the ceremony, was very proud to see Mr Lee receive the award.
'I have benefited from his leadership,' he said.
But of a different view were those protesting outside, including law student Simon Henderson, 21. He said he was frustrated the award was given as Mr Lee 'suppressed his political opponents and democracy'.
But next to him was self-declared fan Rachel Mourad, 21, whose mother is Singaporean. She came to catch a glimpse of Mr Lee, whom she admired for his 'wonderful job' in developing Singapore.
'I think people are willing to give up a certain amount of liberty to enjoy these economic benefits,' she said.
By Lydia Lim, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
CONTRIBUTION TO SINGAPORE LAUDED: MM Lee speaks to the Australian media after the ceremony, where his 'unparalleled contribution' to Singapore's development was highlighted by the ANU Council in a citation.CANBERRA - MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew received an honorary doctorate yesterday and told his critics here afterwards that he was prepared for Singapore to be measured by any yardstick of governance they could find.
The ceremony for his award from the Australian National University (ANU) went smoothly despite a protest outside the university hall by some 50 students and a handful of faculty members.
Opposed to an award for someone they saw as having an authoritarian leadership style, several held placards that said 'ANU not for Yew' and chanted the same slogan.
Approached by the Australian media after the ceremony, Mr Lee stood by his record and Singapore's standard of governance.
'I go by the rules of governance,' he said to a question after leaving the hall.
'You measure us by every single yardstick of governance. Look up the World Economic Forum global competitiveness report.
'You run through every single item: rule of law, transparency, integrity of the system, efficiency of the civil service, confidence in the courts both domestically and internationally.'
The WEF last year ranked Singapore as the world's fifth most competitive economy based on nine factors, including the strength of its institutions.
On the protest, he said, far fewer people would have known about the award if his critics had not drawn attention to it through their opposition. 'Because they made the protest, therefore they have highlighted the fact that despite their protest, the ANU proceeded and I was not deterred from coming.'
He shrugged off their hostility and said he was 'quite accustomed' to such a reception.
'It's not going to change me; I'm not going to change you. We are going to prosper; you are going to prosper. But if I allow you to run my country, it will spiral downwards and we will hit rock bottom,' was his message to his critics.
As for his one-time warning that Australia risked becoming 'white trash' in Asia, he noted it was an issue the media here liked to raise.
'There are some words sometimes thrown in the heat of the argument which perhaps at that time was warranted. You have changed,' he said.
The Australia he visited in 1965 was a very different country, he said, noting it had a 'White Australia' policy and the Asian Exclusion Act.
At yesterday's ceremony, Mr Lee's 'unparalleled contribution' to Singapore's development was highlighted by the ANU Council in a citation which set out why it conferred the Doctor of Laws degree on him.
It said under his leadership as prime minister from 1965 to 1990, Singapore 'moved from a state of extreme economic vulnerability to its current position as the region's most vibrant economy, whose people enjoyed standards of education, health and welfare among the highest in the world'.
'Few leaders have had such a singular impact on their country's history,' it said, adding that Mr Lee was receiving the award on the grounds of his 'service to the development of Singapore, his international statesmanship and his friendship with Australia'.
In his speech to 100 faculty members and guests, Mr Lee highlighted, among other things, how Singapore and Australia worked together to enhance conditions for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.
Later yesterday, Mr Lee met Australian Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House.
Asian Studies undergraduate Ernest Ng, 24, a Singaporean at the ceremony, was very proud to see Mr Lee receive the award.
'I have benefited from his leadership,' he said.
But of a different view were those protesting outside, including law student Simon Henderson, 21. He said he was frustrated the award was given as Mr Lee 'suppressed his political opponents and democracy'.
But next to him was self-declared fan Rachel Mourad, 21, whose mother is Singaporean. She came to catch a glimpse of Mr Lee, whom she admired for his 'wonderful job' in developing Singapore.
'I think people are willing to give up a certain amount of liberty to enjoy these economic benefits,' she said.
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