“Yes I don’t doubt you have nothing to hide K Shanmugam. Yes I am also sure everything was done above board. However, you must also be aware that as a minister, the electorate is watching you all the time – the car or cars you own, the watches and shoes you wear, the lifestyle you lead and of course where you live.” – Gerard Ong
Former Managing Director at Foreword Communications, voiced his opinions on the conduct of the two ministers through a Facebook post. Gerard Ong has ignited a discussion with his recent post, raising important points about the expectations placed on government ministers in Singapore. Ong emphasizes the need for ministers to be conscious of their public image, specifically regarding their personal possessions, lifestyle, and residence. Drawing upon historical examples, Ong highlights the conduct of past leaders such as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee and Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Ong recalls observing Dr. Goh Keng Swee during the early 1970s, witnessing the minister drive to work in an old, worn-out Morris car and dressed in modest office attire. Despite his ability to afford a more luxurious vehicle and fashionable clothing, Dr. Goh chose to avoid being showy, acknowledging the need to lead by exampl, as it reflected an understanding of the financial struggles faced by many citizens and the importance of avoiding a showy display of wealth.
Ong also references Lee Kuan Yew’s views on living arrangements. Although Lee Kuan Yew, as Prime Minister, had the option to reside in the Istana, he deliberately chose to live in a relatively humble home on Oxley Road. This decision demonstrated Lee’s desire for his children not to grow up in luxury, as well as his sensitivity to the concerns of citizens who might question extravagant living arrangements during challenging times.
Furthermore, Ong shares an encounter with Lee Hsien Yang, son of Lee Kuan Yew, during their attendance at a senior officers’ staff course in the 1980s. Ong playfully questioned Lee Hsien Yang about his choice of a modest car, despite his ability to afford a more extravagant one. In response, Lee Hsien Yang explained that he had been raised not to flaunt his position or lead an extravagant lifestyle. His humility reflected an awareness of the public scrutiny that accompanies his family name and a desire to avoid any perception of leveraging his father’s status for personal gain.
Ong urges current ministers, to recognize their roles as servant-leaders, serving the people of Singapore with a sense of duty, commitment, and empathy for the less fortunate. While acknowledging their generous salaries, Ong emphasizes the importance of maintaining decorum and dignified propriety in their personal lives, as they hold positions of power to serve the citizens of Singapore.
Ong’s post highlights the deep-seated expectations within Singaporean society regarding the conduct of ministers. The electorate expects their leaders to display humility, modesty, and an understanding of the challenges faced by ordinary citizens. As public figures, ministers are continuously under scrutiny, and their actions and lifestyles are subject to close observation.
I wonder why we have to wait till July for the explanation.
