Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Singapore deputy PM is a rational politician

Singapore President indicates that the west corrupted by misusing liberty and disorderly elements.

Frank (Hongde) Li Mar. 25, 2018, updated in June 11, 2024 in Waterloo, Canada

http://www.kwcg.ca/bbs/home.php?mod=space&uid=61910&do=blog&quickforward=1&id=6307

Mar. 25, 2018, I once wrote article Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Singaporean deputy PM is a rational politician, inspired by 2015 An investigative interview: Singapore 50 years after independence - 45th St. Gallen Symposium, in which BBC Mr. Stephen Sackur, who condemns Singapore has no liberty, the Singaporean deputy PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam replied with that “our liberty is ensuring people walking on the streets freely, particularly a woman or a child at any time of the night; our liberty is ensuring people living in a city that is not defined by its most disorderly elements.”PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam made us understand that the value of government is to create a livable environment and helping people work safely to effectively contribute to country, while take own share for enjoying a happier life of own families; which made us learn the correct philosophy for social governance; and contrasted the failure of West in social governance.

“The West often quarrels over false reports. However, in Singapore, that is impossible, since that the government of Singapore stipulates that if the news media misreports, they must publish a letter of apology.”

“India has the great advantage of a democracy which ultimately I think is the most sustainable political system that we know of, but it doesn't have the advantage of accountability of elected representatives.”

“Despite China is not having a democracy in the political sense, but has a very high sense of accountability on the part of his leaders. China has created a culture of accountability.”

“India can create that culture there's no reason why democracy should not have a culture of accountability with it just means that middle-class voters especially have to hold people accountable for what they promised and to see if they deliver and it can be done.”

Mr. Stephen Sackur interrupted the talk: “All right well we're going to talk more about China and accountability over coffee but we can't have now the authoritarianism that underpins that approach to managing a society feels uncomfortable to us.”

But, PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam ignored that to continue on own way: “we are a parliamentary democracy not in exactly the same mold as Britain or the United States certainly now all parliamentary democracy and an elected government makes decisions which it feels are the best in the best interests of the country today and for the future, and we are comfortable for it.”

But Mr. Stephen Sackur continued to try to interrupt the talks, and then PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam made a joke caused the whole audience to laugh. The host immediately blushed and stopped interrupting to stay in quiet. The PM continued with his topic.

“A Liberty is able to walk the streets freely particularly of a woman or a child at any time of the night, a Liberty is living in a city that's not defined by its most disorderly elements.”

“I think one of the very important lessons of the last 50 years is that traditional concepts of welfare and social expenditure and government intervention have led to a weakening of private initiative and personal responsibility.”

“A liberty is having an opportunity for an education and a job regardless of your race or your social background.”

“The government of Singapore provided help for someone who wants to own a home and we are very generous in our grants of homeownership which is why we have 90 percent homeownership and amongst the low income population more than 80 percent owned their homes.”

Here, the comment of “defined by its most disorderly elements” is a most sighted definition for the society of the West. The sadness of the West at that it has never enlightened and has been repeating the same ignorance.

As my view, the Liberty has been in playing the dead role as that of the noose in strangling Western democratic playing countries, PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam just explained that how it plays dead role.

Nowadays, the belief of the liberty has penetrated into all aspects of Western society and even into the genes and soul of people; politicians use it as a deceptive slogan in shouting from time to time; so that it has become a deadlock in strangling Western civilization.

Don’t need to mention more, but it is just a simple one, the government cannot properly perform private gun control with helplessly viewing endless shooting on innocent people, in such country, some guy was still in advocating as sign of human civilization, how great ironic for modern education with inhuman soul to dehumanize high animals as lower one.

Here, I have to specially indicate that I watched many videos where many interviewees were irritated by the British host's rude interruptions and have to loudly scold the British host, asking them to shut up so that the interview could proceed normally. However, the PM was able to resolve the dilemma wittily, showing his superior wisdom.

January 25 at 9:44 AM, on face book, Tharman Shanmugaratnam post comments in Davos World Economic Forum, Switzerland.

I appreciate his analysis of global political and economic dilemmas, especially the analysis of Singapore's difficulties and advantages. I excerpt as follows.

“Clouds are gathered over the global economy. They will not disappear soon, and will probably get darker and more troubling in the years to come.”

“But the situation is not bleak for Singapore, and we do not look on these global problems helplessly. We can still do well, by educating our young for a new world, developing deeper skills in every job and paying special attention to helping those who lose their jobs, strengthening the innovative capabilities of our enterprises, and by building on our biggest international asset - our credibility among countries and businesses from around the world.”

“My basic take from some three dozen meetings in three days:”

“The major powers are more divided than at any time since the end of the Cold War thirty years ago. The US - China trade conflict, much in the news now, is a symptom of deeper and more enduring problems.”

“Technological rivalry is now a major fact. And the prospect of a world divided into technological blocs will have major consequences for innovation and growth.”

“But the biggest difficulties lie within nations themselves. People are now deeply divided in the advanced nations that led the world for decades (Japan is an exception).”

“Until these domestic divisions and the loss of trust in political leaders is repaired, there is little hope of fixing the divisions in the international order. A spirit of common interests globally, and of wanting to resolve problems in a cooperative way, will not return until there is a sense of shared interests among people at home, in their own societies.”

“It is also why the world is losing the race against climate change, with dire consequences for people and the natural environment everywhere.”

“Unfortunately, there is little prospect of the domestic divisions that are at the heart of the problem being repaired soon. Politics has become more fragmented in most democracies, with populist leaders and extreme parties now being part of the mainstream.”

“Politicians of all stripes and businesses too, need the humility to understand why ordinary working people have voted this way. There was more humility in Davos this year than in the past.”

“But things will probably have to get a lot worse within the advanced democracies before there is a return of a strong centre in politics, and forward-looking policies to help the majority of people to improve their lives. The unfortunate irony is that ordinary people will most suffer the costs in the meantime, much more than the elite. Actually a tragedy.”

“What does this troubled global picture mean for us? We have to double up on our efforts to develop strengths in our people - strengths that the world finds useful.”

“We are on a good track. More countries and regions are tying up with us to have FTAs, which will open up more opportunities for growth. The EU and Singapore recently signed the EUSFTA which is expected to be ratified soon. We are also working with countries in the Eurasian economic community (Russia and its neighbours), the Middle East and Latin America to free up channels for trade and investment. More global businesses are wanting to create hubs in Singapore, for innovation and to serve Asian markets. Global foundations in healthcare too are keen to develop a base in Singapore for tackling infectious diseases globally, given their confidence in our ability to protect data and the capabilities we have developed in clinical research.”

“We are never helpless. If we keep building on our skills and capabilities, and the trust the world has in us, we will do well even with the clouds hanging over the world.”

Singapore has many policies that are much rational.

The Singapore government regards housing of citizen as a public responsibility. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once said, the house should be bought for live, not for speculation. Singapore is one of the countries recognized as a better solution to housing problems in the world.

In the international environment in which most countries advocate a neoliberal economy, Singapore holds two large state-owned economies - investment firm Temasek Holdings and sovereign wealth fund GIC.

June 3, 2015, I once wrote article Canada Pension Plan must develop in kind base as key body of state-owned economy: Norway's Government Pension Fund in Oil Makes Every Norwegian a Millionaire lessons us that Canada must avoid the mistake that allows oil wealth to be ripped by so called Free Market, Canada Pension Plan – CPP must take over all available wealth, especially, the farmland to develop in kind base and as key body of state-owned economy to make profit for all Canadians at the juncture of baby boomer generation farmers retiring.

Thereby stop the speculation that is taking farmland as gambling chips by the greedy speculators. Such speculation has been pushing farmland prices up unreasonable high, it will ruin the agro-industry by destroying competitiveness of agro-products and the future of Canadians.

One day the oil will run out, but the farmland will continue to benefit Canadians generation to generation.

Singaporean PM Tharman Shanmugaratnam is my most appreciated one of the rational politicians, also in Singapore; there is other gentleman I appreciated very much also, who is Dr. Kishore Mahbubani, the Senior Advisor (University & Global Relations) and Professor in the Practice of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Dr. Kishore Mahbubani, who made many TV shows in telling the civilization of China is humanized one and humanized deeds of the government of China; while condemns the inhuman deeds of the U.S. coerced west.

Jan 1 2019, I once wrote article Dr. Prof. Kishore Mahbubani is a rare outstanding scholar: I learn Dr. Prof. Kishore Mahbubani from his lecture What Happens When China Becomes Number One in Kennedy School of Government Institute of Politics, Harvard University, which published on YouTube in Apr 9, 2015, .

Dr. Prof. Kishore Mahbubani is rare outstanding scholars who can see the essence from chaotic world and frankly speak out, thereby; inspire people to rationally view the reality.

Thanks Lee Kuan Yew, who not only established an admirable Singapore,

Thanks Lee Kuan Yew, who not only established an admirable Singapore in unicameral parliamentary government with human civilization, but also attracted and nurtured a group of pragmatic rational politicians and scholars.

In contrast, in the west, there are few politicians have sober mind as that of Tharman Shanmugaratnam; it was why that Dr. Francis Fukuyama has pronounced the death penalty for Western civilization in 6 years ago.

Follow are some of speeches of Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam (SG), Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance of Singapore. 

Lecture by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore in Frankfurt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_mYE_9jQok

Published on Dec 7, 2017

Speaking at the invitation of the Bundesbank on 5 December 2017 at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for Social and Economic Policies spoke on the challenge of inclusive growth, which has been the exception internationally. Inclusive growth means creating opportunities for all segments of society and ensuring that everyone gets their fair share of the acquired wealth. https://www.bundesbank.de/415526

Housing, inclusion, and social equity: Introduction and keynote address

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyjtGb_CzIk

     45th St. Gallen Symposium 

    An investigative interview: Singapore 50 years after independence - 45th St. Gallen Symposium▶ 48:51https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwPciW74b8
May 7, 2015 - Uploaded by StGallenSymposiumTharman Shanmugaratnam (SG), Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance of Singapore. Topic Leader: Stephen Sackur (GB), Presenter, BBC HARDtalk

      Mandarin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAUYIlpZxs

       Lecture by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore in Frankfurt

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_mYE_9jQok

      Published on Dec 7, 2017

      Speaking at the invitation of the Bundesbank on 5 December 2017 at the Goethe University in Frankfurt, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for Social and Economic Policies spoke on the challenge of inclusive growth, which has been the exception internationally. Inclusive growth means creating opportunities for all segments of society and ensuring that everyone gets their fair share of the acquired wealth. https://www.bundesbank.de/415526

Tharman Shanmugaratnam - Wikipedia born 25 February 1957) is a Singaporean politician and economist. He is currently Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies. He is also Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Singapore's central bank and financial regulator.

 Incumbent Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore since 21 May 2011

He has spent his working life in public service, in roles related to economic policy and education. He served as Minister for Finance from 2007 to 2015,^[1] and as Minister for Education from 2003 to 2008.^[2]

Early life and education[edit]

Tharman attended the Anglo-Chinese School. He went on to the London School of Economics (LSE), where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics; LSE later honored him with an Honorary Fellowship in 2011.^[3] He subsequently obtained a master's degree in economics from Wolfson College, Cambridge,^[4] and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he received a Lucius N. Littauer Fellow award for outstanding performance and potential. Tharman was a student activist while studying in the United Kingdom during the 1970s.^[5] He originally held socialist beliefs, but his views on economics changed over the course of his working career.^[5]

Career before politics[edit]

Tharman started his career at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). He later joined the Singapore Administrative Service and served briefly in the Ministry of Education as a Senior Deputy Secretary for Policy,^[6] before returning to the MAS where he rose to become its Managing Director.^[7] He resigned from this position to contest in the 2001 general election as a candidate for the People's Action Party.

Political career[edit]

Following the 2001 general election, Tharman was appointed Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industryand the Ministry of Education. He then served as the Minister for Education from 2003 to 2008.

In May 2006, Tharman was also appointed Second Minister for Finance^[8] before becoming Minister for Finance ^[9] in December 2007.

Following the 2011 general election, Tharman was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, while remaining as Minister for Finance. He served concurrently as the Minister for Manpower between May 2011 to July 2012. He stepped down as Minister for Finance in September 2015 after 9 years. After the 2015 general election, Tharman remained Deputy Prime Minister and was also appointed as the Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies in October 2015.^[1]

Tharman was first elected Member of Parliament in Nov 2001 in Jurong GRC^[10], and has been re-elected three times since. At the 2015 general elections, Jurong GRC, helmed by Tharman, garnered a vote share of 79.3 per cent against a Singaporeans First (SingFirst) team. Tharman has been elected to the Central Executive Committee of the People’s Action Party since Dec 2002, and was appointed 2nd Assistant Secretary-General in May 2011.

In May 2017, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) conferred on Tharman the Medal of Honour, the highest award of its May Day Awards. NTUC cited amongst other things “his deep commitment to building an inclusive society”^[11].

On 2 March 2012, Tharman responded during the debate on the Singapore Budget to concerns expressed by non-constituency member of Parliament (NCMP) Gerald Giam about Singaporeans being unable to afford a flat in Singapore, "I would like to assure Mr Gerald Giam, who might not have caught up with all the developments, that our enhanced housing grants for lower income families are such that a family with a monthly income of as low as $1,000 can now purchase a small flat."^[12] He added that “98% of our younger cohorts, those who are below 35, earn at least $1,000 of income a month. A family that earns a bit more, say $1,500, can purchase a medium-sized flat. This is because the housing grants that have been given are more aggressive than what any other Government would give. For those who really cannot afford it, other schemes are available to help”. He was criticised for the statement by netizens who were not aware that the scheme had in fact led to many poor families being eligible and taking up the offer to own a new 2-room flat.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Other national and international appointments[edit]

In April 2017, Tharman was appointed to chair a G20 Eminent Persons Group on Global Financial Governance, which was set up to review the system of multilateral financial institutions. He also succeeded Jean-Claude Trichet as Chairman of the Group of Thirty, an independent global council of leading economic and financial policy-makers from January 1, 2017.^[17]

Tharman had previously been appointed by his international peers as Chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC)^[18], the key policy forum of the IMF, for an extended period of four years from 2011; he was its first Asian chair. In announcing Tharman's selection, the IMF said that his "broad experience, deep knowledge of economic and financial issues, and active engagement with global policy makers will be highly valuable to the IMFC".^[18][19].

Tharman is the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).^[20] He also sits on the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Board, and chairs its Investment Strategy Committee.

Tharman led the SkillsFuture programme, which was launched in 2014 to provide broad-based and funded opportunities for lifelong learning among Singaporeans, aimed especially at developing the skills of the future. He subsequently chaired the tripartite Council for Skills, Innovation and Productivity (CSIP) until May 2017, which developed programmes to spur industry transformation and job upskilling across the economy.^[21]

He also chairs the International Advisory Council of the Singapore Economic Development Board,^[22] and the International Academic Advisory Panel that advises the Government on strategies for the university sector.^[23]

In addition, Tharman chairs the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute. He also chairs the Board of Trustees of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), which seeks to uplift educational performance and aspirations in the Indian Singapore community.^[24]

Legal charge and conviction[edit]

While serving as Director of the Economics Department of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 1993, Tharman was one of five persons charged under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) in a case involving the publication of Singapore's 1992 second-quarter flash projections in the Business Times newspaper. The others were a research director, Raymond Foo, and economist Manu Bhaskaran, of Crosby Securities, journalist Kenneth James and editor Patrick Daniel of the Business Times.^[25]

The OSA case, which stretched over more than a year, was reported extensively in the Singapore press.^[26] Tharman contested and was eventually acquitted of the charge of communicating the GDP growth flash projections.^[27] Senior District Judge Richard Magnus then introduced a lesser charge of negligence, because the prosecution's case was that the figures were seen on a document that he had with him in a meeting room during his meeting with the private sector economists together with one of his colleagues.^[28] Tharman also contested this lesser charge of negligence, and defended himself on the witness stand for a few days.^[29]

The Court nevertheless convicted him together with all the others in the case, including the editor of Business Times newspaper which published the figures.^[30] Tharman was fined S$1,500, and the others S$2,000.^[30] As there was no finding that he knowingly communicated any classified information, the case did not pose any hurdle to his subsequent appointment as the Managing Director of the MAS, or to his subsequent higher national responsibilities.

Personal life[edit]

Tharman is a Singaporean of Ceylonese Tamil ancestry.^[31][32] One of three children, he is the son of Emeritus Professor K. Shanmugaratnam,^[32] a medical scientist known as the "father of pathology in Singapore", who founded the Singapore Cancer Registry and led a number of international organisations related to cancer research and pathology.^[33][34][35]

Tharman is married to Jane Yumiko Ittogi, a lawyer of Chinese-Japanese heritage.^[36]She is actively engaged in social enterprise and the non-profit arts sector. The couple have a daughter and three sons.

Tharman was an active sporstman in his youth, and has highlighted the way sports instills lessons for life. He spoke about sports as part of education in Game for Life: 25 Journeys^[37], published by the Singapore Sports Council in 2013, as "a huge deal for character. Children learn the value of teams. They learn the discipline of repeated practice, and how there is no other way to develop expertise. Plus, the ability to fall or lose in competition and pick oneself up and to with humility."

The Chinese translation of his name, Shàng Dámàn (尚达曼), was given to him by a leading language specialist in 1995.^[36]

 新加坡副总理尚达曼2015年在瑞士圣加仑论坛高度评价中国的政治体制。驳斥了西方新闻自由和民主制度的虚伪. 同时介绍了新加坡的社会政治理念。   尚达曼在社会治理和金融管理方面有着十分出色的表现。他历任新加坡央行行长，尚达曼和马凯硕是新加坡两位不可多得的哲人。两人不仅在新加坡，同时也在中国和印度备受尊敬。希望两人退休以后多多去中国和印度为两国的社会经济政治发展出谋划策。   战后几十年里面，新加坡涌现了不少的李光耀式的哲人，他们的思想影响鼓励了广大的第三世界国家。 新加坡的繁荣与否不仅仅关系到新加坡民众的福祉，新加坡的存在更是照亮了东南亚，东亚，南亚以及世界各国前进的道路。
张高丽会见新加坡副总理尚达曼2017-06-29 19:24 来源： 新华社

6月29日，中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理张高丽在北京中南海紫光阁会见来华出席夏季达沃斯论坛的新加坡副总理尚达曼。新华社记者 张铎 摄

新华社北京6月29日电（记者 王慧慧）中共中央政治局常委、国务院副总理张高丽29日在中南海紫光阁会见了来华出席夏季达沃斯论坛的新加坡副总理尚达曼。

张高丽表示，中方高度重视发展对新关系。自今年2月中新双边合作系列会议举行以来，两国各领域交流合作取得积极进展，不断推进中新与时俱进的全方位合作伙伴关系，为促进地区发展繁荣作出了贡献。中方愿同新方一道，加强政治互信，共建“一带一路”，提升务实合作，深化金融合作，加强多边配合，进一步发展两国友好合作关系。当前世界经济不稳定不确定因素增多，面临风险和挑战，中新双方应加强合作，共同为贸易自由化和经济全球化作出贡献。

尚达曼说，新方热烈祝贺香港回归20周年，愿在“一带一路”框架下与中方推动互联互通、金融支撑、三方合作三个平台建设。

45th St. Gallen Symposium - YouTube

▶ 48:51https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwPciW74b8

May 7, 2015 - Uploaded by StGallenSymposiumTharman Shanmugaratnam (SG), Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Finance of Singapore. Topic Leader ...

(FULL) BBC HARDTalk: Singapores DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam ...

▶ 40:25https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pp4qm5iyF8Aug 21, 2017 - Uploaded by Alexander JohnstonPublished on Aug 21, 2017. BBC HARDTalk: Steven Sackur Interviews Singapores PM Lee Hsien Loong All ...

(FULL) BBC HARDTalk: Singapore's DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam ...

▶ 48:51https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOtlNZN2ZVg

Mar 2, 2017 - Uploaded by The Jewish PandaAn investigative interview: Singapore 50 years after independence - 45th St. Gallen Symposium. Presented ...

BBC's Stephen Sackur gets sucker punched by DPM Tharman at St ...

https://mothership.sg/.../bbcs-stephen-sackur-gets-sucker-punched-by-dpm-tharman-at...

May 19, 2015 - Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam vsBBC's Stephen Sackur was the verbal boxing match many Singaporeans were interested in during the past few days. ... Let's recap the seven highlights of the verbal joust that took place at the 45th St Gallen Symposium on May 7 in Switzerland.

HARDtalk host: DPM Tharman dodged 'Sackur punch' at symposium ...

www.asiaone.com/hardtalk-host-dpm-tharman-dodged-sackur-punch-symposium

Feb 28, 2017 - The last time Mr Stephen Sackur squared off with a Singapore politician, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnamearned rave reviews for how ... The most memorable exchange at the St Gallen Symposium in Switzerland in May 2015 was perhaps Mr Sackur pressing Mr Tharman on whether he ...

TODAYonline | Tharman dealt well with HARDtalk bluster

https://www.todayonline.com/voices/tharman-dealt-well-hardtalk-bluster

May 21, 2015 - I took pride in how Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam stayed collected and polite throughout his interview at the St Gallen Symposium (“How the Government helps Singaporeans help themselves”; May 19). He listened intently, framed his respons.

Lee Hsien Loong - Last week, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam ...

https://www.facebook.com/leehsienloong/posts/910978552298185

Last week, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke of the Singapore “trampoline” at the 45th St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland. :) He was interviewed by BBC...Missing: 2017

Bouncing off Tharman's trampoline, Opinion - THE BUSINESS TIMES

www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/bouncing-off-tharmans-trampoline

May 23, 2015 - TWO seconds - that's all it took for Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to deliver the sound bite of the month. The gem of a comment happened during a one-on-one interview by BBC Hardtalk presenter Stephen Sackur, at the St Gallen Symposium in Switzerland earlier 

DPM Tharman: The Man Rumoured to Sleep Very Little – happiebb.com

happiebb.com/blog/2015/07/05/the-man-rumoured-to-sleep-very-little/

Jul 5, 2015 - youtube/StGallenSymposium. DPM Tharman had raised this same point when he was at the ST. GALLEN SYMPOSIUM in Switzerland in May. He was interviewed by BBC HARDTALK presenter Stephen Sackur. Now in case you didn't know, STEPHEN SACKUR is a rather famous and yes, award-winning ...

University of St.Gallen | Knowledge | Singapore's Deputy Prime ...

https://www.unisg.ch/en/wissen/.../singapurs-erfolgsrezepte-sg-symposium-7mai2015

May 7, 2015 - At the 45th St. Gallen Symposium, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, spoke about his country's recipes for success. ... In his interview with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the BBC journalist Stephen Sackur wanted to know the reason for ...