Singapore pays tribute to Sim Kee Boon

Former top civil service head Sim Kee Boon, who had been battling stomach cancer for 15 years, died on Friday morning. He was 78.

Mr Sim is one of the most well-known and respected public figure, who headed the civil service from 1979 to 1984, and had held numerous top positions in the public sector and statutory boards. He is survived by his wife Jeanette Sim, 76, five sons and five grandchildren.

The passing of former civil service head Mr Sim Kee Boon is a "loss" to the nation, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Mr Lee said Singapore owed an 'enormous debt' to public servants such as Mr Sim. "They grew up; they saw the country change; they made the change happen."

The prime minister said that as head of the civil service from 1979 to 1984, Mr Sim set the tone for the organisation and led it to achieve many highs, including the building of Changi Airport.

Tributes poured in from many who had worked with him in the civil service and business community. Many who knew him described Mr Sim as "a very sharp and intuitive man, and a good teacher." It is reported that whenever he's at any airport, he would make an effort to look around. He is known to go to the airport about one or two hours earlier and board the plane at the last minute. A hands-on man with exacting standards, he made frequent unannounced walks around the Changi terminals, instituting the habit of Management by Walking Around (MBW) in CAAS.

Leading the tributes from the Keppel group where Mr. Sim presided 16 years as Excecutive Chairman, Mr Lim Chee Onn, the current Executive Chairman of Keppel Corporation, said: "He developed a strong and stable platform for Keppel upon which we have been able to develop and grow at a sustained pace during these last 8 years. Keppel's success today is a result of his vision and efforts.

Mr. Sim is an outstanding personality who has left his mark on a country that is proud of and grateful for his contribution.

Innovate in order to compete

The Singapore government is now focused into high-tech research in areas like the biomedical sciences. It has also ensured that intellectual property is protected while managing political and economic risks as well as maintaining top quality living standards.

Speaking to about 300 delegates from 26 countries at the World Economic Forum(WEF) meeting held in Singapore, Mr. Lim Siong Guanin, Chairman of the Economic Development Board said competition was a "reality of life, so we have to watch out as to what things are happening and what advantage to take".

With the cost of labour and land more expensive compared with its neighbours, the natural resources-starved nation had to think of ways to be competitive in attracting foreign investment, he told the forum.

Mr. Lim urged the Asian countries, particularly those in Southeast Asia, to focus on collaborating in areas where they are weak and to remain competitive in innovation.

Singapore wants to be at the top end of the market, but the costs of doing business are going up. Businesses will want to be in markets where they can innovate and make money, Lim said.

"We take that as a reality of life. Some of the biggest projects we've lost are to developed countries such as Germany and the United States. So we try to link up with (countries such as) Vietnam and Indonesia so investors can do their high-end work in Singapore and low-end work in Vietnam or Indonesia," he said.

Singapore ushers in 2007

Over 150,000 people turned up at Marina Bay on Sunday evening to usher in the New Year.

Marina Bay is in Singapore's Central Area which refers to the core financial and commercial districts in Singapore. Marina Bay is becoming the marketing brandname for the new developments to extend to the central business district in the Marina South area.

Future developments around Marina Bay are expected to further support Singapore's continuing growth as a major business and financial hub in the region. The area has also been planned to become a lifestyle hub with round the clock vibrancy and energy.

After major land reclamation was done, now the legendary Singapore River empties into the Marina Bay. Singapore river steeped in myth is the lifeblood of Singapore's early trade and commercial activity.

Now the river brings romantic charm entertaining visitors in riverside pubs and restaurants. Cruise boats and river taxis use the river to take tourists around, seeing historical landmarks like the Raffles Landing Place and the watchful Merlion standing guard at its entrance.

The sleepy town that once was, has transformed into a well-run city state with creative and performance arts taking the centre stage as was shown by the glittering fireworks that usherd in the new year.

IMF Meet- Singapore a good example of security

It is a feature of IMF/World Bank meetings to engage with accredited representatives of civil society groups who stage protest rallies coinciding with major international economic conferences on a range of issues including the perils of globalization.

They also call for good governance and structural reforms of these lending agencies. These voices need to be heard and they play a vital role to bear pressure on these agecies to do what is right and fair.

When some of these civil society activists and they certainly are a minority, become over-zealous and engage in street battles torching vehicles and damaging buildings as was seen in Seattle and Hong Kong, that cannot be considered civil and it must be stopped. It should not be allowed as it is harmful to public safety.

Singapore has banned about 28 such activists from attending the meetings, saying they posed a threat to security. A secure area has been earmarked at the lobby of the conference venue for indoor protests by the accredited civil society groups.

Singapore does not allow street protests and it can be proud of peace and progress of a vibrant nation. It cannot take these for granted and therefore remains averse to unruly street protests.