Foresight & Diligence

During the forum between Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and some 400 Young People's Action Party members, the main issues of Singapore's intrisinic vulnerabilities were brought up again.
Due to our naturally paltry geographical size and limited natural resources, we should have been overlooked in the world if not for our industrious government body and citizens.

MM Lee mentioned in this recent forum, "The biggest mistake any Singaporean can make is to believe that Singapore is an ordinary country that can behave like an ordinary country." Indeed, due to our successes around the world from having one of the most distinguished and efficient airlines and earning the reputation of being a clean and green city to being able to host 2006 IMF conference, we might be inclined to forget our humble beginnings.

Yet, we are able to achieve all that we are today because we are looking at the future and not into the past. MM Lee added: "If Singapore ever loses this kind of Government of capability and integrity, of always looking into the future, planning ahead, it will just sink into nothingness and become an insignificant island. Talent will bleed out. It will never recover. Who will make it recover? Where are the resources?"

As much as this might sound ludicrous at the moment, this scenario might be ominously true if complacency overtakes logical reasoning and foresight. We need to be aware that the achievements accomplished today is due to yesterday's diligence. There is an increasing need to be able to think ahead and plan for the future inthe face of ever-changing global trends. Thus, in order for Singapore to maintain its competitive edge, it is imperative for the government and citizens not only to embrace and adapt to change, but more importantly, to preempt change and emerging trends. In this way, we can ensure that our accomplishments and standards are augmented by a keen foresight, discipline, diligence and a united call to action.