I heard that in Malaysia, some Chinese Media schools are still teaching this. I guess it is well worth considering implementing it in Singapore.

兄道友 弟道恭 兄弟睦 孝在中 财物轻 怨何生 言语忍 忿自泯
或饮食 或坐走 长者先 幼者后 长呼人 即代叫 人不在 己即到
称尊长 勿呼名 对尊长 勿见能 路遇长 疾趋揖 长无言 退恭立
骑下马 乘下车 过犹待 百步余

长者立 幼勿坐 长者坐 命乃坐 尊长前 声要低 低不闻 却非宜
近必趋 退必迟 问起对 视勿移
事诸父 如事父 事诸兄 如事兄

I read about a petition from a 15 year old boy asking our Mentor Minister to apologize with regards to the interview with National Geographic. I just want to say that Mr Lee as an elder, even if you kena scolded by him, right or wrong, just take it. Not saying that he is the Founder of Modern Singapore, the most senior figure in the Singapore government, just his age alone, he has the right to “scold” Singaporeans. Is he wrong? I myself take a look at some of my Singaporeans counterparts. I did want to send some of my Singapore employees for courses. Full subsidy, no contract, even allow claims of taxi fares to and from lessons. Their answers, can we go for the course but don’t take the exams? Too stressful to take the exams! If they find the courses too stressful, I told them look for the ones you think can help you and is not stressful, I will approve. No news. They expect everything to be handed to them on a platter for them to choose. In contrast, the new migrants really work their hearts out. They requested to be able to attend the courses. But then the subsidies are for Singaporeans. Isn’t it a joke? We Singaporeans do not want to upgrade. Others beg for such an opportunity. Aren’t we too comfortable?

I don’t like to write these, I will be bombarded for sucking up to the ruling party. But this is the truth that we are facing now! Our lives are too comfortable! I am not saying all Singaporeans are like this. But I did met quite a few. I look at my China staff, some of them can work and sleep in office and they are still taking MBA courses. We do not have a large population. I just hope that my fellow Singaporeans who are totally against upgrading themselves do consider, we are competing against the world. We are in a change paradigm. Old skills and old jobs die fast and are gone forever. You need new skills and a willingness to learn new things in order that you have a job and also improve on productivity in order that you can have a raise!

As a man in the twilight of his years, Mr Lee still takes the efforts to get Singaporeans to face up to the competition of the world. Just tell me, is it easier for him to say that all Singaporeans are fantastic, we are hardworking, innovative, excellent, don’t need to improve anymore? Or is it easier for him to tell Singaporeans to buck up? The worse enemies in the world are sweet talkers who tell you what you want to hear. It is far more difficult to find someone to criticize you and tell you your faults! For me I read the article in National Geographic in its entirety and feel that he is right. 忠言逆耳利于行. I am not bothered about politics. I am talking about an elderly man’s 苦口婆心! In the twilight of his years, with his achievements, he don’t really need to say unpopular things. He can retire to a much more relaxed life. But he did not. We are really lucky that he is staying on to share with us the wisdom of his years!

Lee Kuan Yew