Even as the PM is trying to show Singaporeans that he understands the problems we are faced with in recent times, it does no good to him that his Cabinet Ministers are seemingly going against him in the open. Mr Khaw Boon Wan seems to have a knack for pinning blame on his colleagues and their ministries when things don't go as well as expected.
We recall the PM's May Day rally speech when he spoke about immigration, how it is a necessary evil, how it should be managed, against looking after the citizens while the calibrated influx continues.
PM Lee at May Day Rally in May 2013: " So we have to be very careful as we change policy, as we navigate this shift, as we tighten up on foreign workers. We cannot have too many foreign workers, we have to manage the numbers, but we have to be very careful as we tighten up."
However, in Bilbao, Spain, yesterday, Minister Khaw warned about "steering the economy in the right direction and inspiring the people ..." ... and called for "strong government leadership" .. as if to say PM Lee's leadership is weak, lacks concrete directions, and uninspiring.
Khaw Boon Wan, yesterday at World Cities Summit: "...many (locals) feel unsettled, anxious, and even suspicious. Some of our youths are losing optimism, as they remain unemployed or under-employed for months or years...."
He continued: "Government must show strong leadership, and inspire confidence in their people ..."
Along the way, he took another jibe at Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, his favorite archery target, by seemingly insinuating that his ministry is responsible for the high unemployment or high under-employment rate among youths which went on for "months and years".
Admid it all, he offered no solution of his own on how to tackle the issues he so grandly presented.
Does he, or the government realize that with globalization, the need to look after one's own citizens becomes more glaringly apparent and of paramount importance? The way forward cannot be focussed on the mobile global citizens more than the grounded ones who sustain the backyard economy.
Can out leaders see this crucial point, i wonder.
The Alternative View
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=535485639846106&set=a.360220640705941.85354.358759327518739&type=1