PROFESSOR Kishore Mahbubani's comment on the challenge for Singapore has provided some perspectives on what has made this country what it is today ("S'pore's challenge: 'Be confident while being paranoid'"; March 17).
However, it is fundamentally our national culture that has brought Singapore to where it is now, and our future will again depend on whether, as a country and people, we will continue to embrace it.
Our national culture was forged by the first generation of leaders.
By force of personality, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was able to influence his team of able people and the population to share a culture of upholding the values of meritocracy, racial and religious harmony, diligence, thrift and innovation.
This national culture characterised Singapore, and the resulting shared values, beliefs and principles, and behaviour of the Government and population enabled the country to overcome various crises of growth and survival, and steered Singapore to where it stands today.
My hope for Singapore is that this national culture will prevail, now that Mr Lee is no longer with us, as it would give the nation a better chance of survival in the future.
Jolly Wee
However, it is fundamentally our national culture that has brought Singapore to where it is now, and our future will again depend on whether, as a country and people, we will continue to embrace it.
Our national culture was forged by the first generation of leaders.
By force of personality, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was able to influence his team of able people and the population to share a culture of upholding the values of meritocracy, racial and religious harmony, diligence, thrift and innovation.
This national culture characterised Singapore, and the resulting shared values, beliefs and principles, and behaviour of the Government and population enabled the country to overcome various crises of growth and survival, and steered Singapore to where it stands today.
My hope for Singapore is that this national culture will prevail, now that Mr Lee is no longer with us, as it would give the nation a better chance of survival in the future.
Jolly Wee
