No problem with 'lack of freedom'

CRITICS of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's policies and contributions have totally missed the point ("Amid the tributes, some brickbats and questions"; last Friday).

Most of us Singaporeans, the silent majority, do not have a problem with the way Mr Lee governed Singapore.

No government is perfect. The policies Mr Lee and his team implemented were for selfless reasons, only for the good of the people.

I greatly admire the courage of our Government in implementing tough policies, as it was its foresight and its strength in not yielding to populist pressure that brought Singapore to our present state.

I have no problems with the banning of chewing gum or other "inhumane restrictions".

I am grateful that I was able to grow up in Singapore, with the emphasis on the importance of education, a roof over my head, and equal opportunity, even though I came from a poor family. What is the use of freedom if I do not even have a roof over my head and a stable livelihood?

Freedom and democracy as defined in the West are not what I desire if it means one group can freely impose its ideals on another. Freedom must be accompanied by maturity and the expectation that all can behave in a responsible way.

But we are all human and have our weaknesses, so it is impossible to expect this level of accountability among us.

This article was first published on Apr 1, 2015.
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