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Q: "Prime Minister, it's been 13 years
since you've been Prime Minister. How would you describe your tenure thus
far?"
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Mr Goh: "I find it satisfying. My main
mission when I became Prime Minister was to keep Singapore going and Singapore
has been kept going. So, I'm happy with what I've done for Singapore."
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Q: "What was the hardest part in terms
of following the footsteps of somebody like Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew? I
mean, he must have been a pretty tough act to follow?"
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Mr Goh: "When I was sworn in as Prime
Minister, I made it clear that I was not going to wear his pair of shoes. His
shoe size is 13,14 or 15. Mine is only size nine. So, I wear my own pair of
shoes and I walk comfortably."
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Q: "How has your approach, though,
been different from him?"
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Mr Goh: "Basically, it's a personality
difference. In terms of policies, no disagreements, generally. In terms of
attitude, values; I don't see any differences. But in terms of style, that's
where the difference is."
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Q: "How so? Give me an example?"
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Mr Goh: "I think his own character,
his own historical experience makes him a very firm leader; that means a
no-nonsense leader, who is very much top-down. He has an image of being very
authoritarian. Whereas, my style is softer, I would say gentler and probably,
more in keeping with the mood of the day."
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Q: "You obviously grew, I wouldn't say
grew up as such, but grew in politics as him as the sort of founding father.
Did he not influence you in any way or?"
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Mr Goh: "He influenced me
tremendously. Just by working with him, one gets to know his thinking; the way
he works. And you are bound to be influenced by him, consciously or
unconsciously. I would say he makes a worrier out of me. As the Prime
Minister, he worried a lot and, of course, he still worries a lot about
Singapore. Having gone into the job, I now begin to worry everyday about
Singapore."
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Q: "You have said quite publicly that
when the economy is stable, you will step aside. What do you mean by
"stable"? Is Singapore stable now?"
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Mr Goh: "Last year, we had a very bad
patch. We almost went into a recession. For the whole year, we grew only by
0.8 per cent. This year, the expectation is three to five per cent. When I see
signs of growth and the growth is sustained, that's the time for me to decide
when to quit."
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More.....
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PM Goh's interview on CNN programme TALKASIA
