David Marshall: PAP Government deserves the highest praise

In 1984, the National Archives of Singapore conducted an in-depth oral history interview with David Marshall, Singapore's first elected Chief Minister (1955).

On his own limitations and what the PAP has achieved, he said:

"I don't think I had leadership qualities.. for me a leader is a great administrator, organizer... I've been a vivid personality. But that doesn't mean I have leadership quality. I had the fire of anger, the excitement of great ideas, emotional approach almost uninhibited, but not the intellectual organizational approach of great leaders. That I didn't have, and don't... frankly, I don't think I would have been equal to the ramifications of running the country. Watching now from outside, the activities of the [Singapore government], all in all they deserve the highest praise: with no background, no real aid from outside to guide their infant steps, to have achieved so much stability, international respect and economic growth."

Note:

David Marshall resigned from the Legislative Assembly and from the Labour Front in April 1957. He founded the Workers' Party on 7 November 1957 and won the Anson by-election on 15 July 1961. Played out by his own party members, Marshall resigned from the Workers' Party on 19 January 1963. The disappointed Marshall withdrew from politics after losing the September 1963 election where he stood as an independent in the Anson ward. He later even refused J. B. Jeyaretnam's request in 1968 to rejoin the Workers' Party.

http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/david-marshall-first-chief-minister

Jubilee Bridge: Brainchild of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew

It connects Merlion Park to the waterfront promenade in front of Esplanade.

Mr Lee had observed during a site visit in 2004 that pedestrians had to negotiate steps up the narrow walkways along the Esplanade Bridge. 

$2 billion in housing grants given out

 

HDB has given out nearly $2 billion in two major public housing grants since the schemes were started.

A Place To Call Their Own

Last March, Madam Selvaranee Kanakasabai, 38, and her two teenage children finally moved into a home of their own, after years of living in rented rooms and sharing interim flats with others.

The 38-year-old single parent applied for a new two-room flat in Senja Road in 2014, under a Sale of Balance Flats exercise.

Madam Selvaranee Kanakasabai works as an administrative assistant earning $1,500 a month.

Her income qualified her for the maximum Additional CPF Housing Grant of $40,000 and the maximum Special Housing Grant of $20,000.

This effectively halved the cost of her flat which was $130,000.

"I didn't fork out any cash because it was covered by my CPF," she said.

The family collected the keys early last year, and moved into the new flat in March.

On this 2nd January 1971...

On this day in 1971, Dr Benjamin Sheares became the President of Singapore.

He remained a humble man and was president for 10 years before he passed away.

And one of the unforgettable quotes from GE 2015...

Unesco City Of Design

Event that shaped 2015

Singapore being designated UNESCO City of Design.

This international recognition as a city of excellence shows that Singapore is able to preserve our rich cultural heritage while preparing for the future through innovation.