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Halimah Yacob, current President of Singapore
On feminism:
“Whether openly or silently, I have always rebelled against attempts to define women. Women in politics are not spared … by all means disagree with her policies if you wish to, but don’t try to diminish her by trivialising her role because she is a woman … the lesson I have learned is to never let anyone or anything, define you as that means, seeding your choices to others and limiting yourself.”
An acceptance speech delivered at the main ceremony of NUS commencement, 2016.
Watch her speech here.
S Rajaratnam, Singapore’s first foreign minister
On the appreciation of Singapore history:
“Looking at these photographs with a touch of imagination convinces me that these people made Singapore history and that without them and people like them Singapore would be a different place from what it is today. It is largely their anonymous history and not the grand histories of China, India, or Britain which made the Singapore we inherited.”
A speech made by S Rajaratnam at the official opening of the exhibition “A Vision of the Past” at the National Museum Art Gallery, May 14, 1987. Here he was commenting about a series of old photographs in the exhibit depicting ordinary Singaporeans.
Read the speech here.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister
On diversity:
“A Singapore of the future… [is] when you’ve got a deep core of the Singaporean identity that comes from respect, for each other’s cultures, [and] respect for each other as individuals, that’s not de-culturalised. It’s having the love for diversity. And that, to my mind, is the Singapore of the future.”
SG50+ conference with Tharman Shanmugaratnam in conversation with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, July 3, 2015.
Watch the conference here.
Philip Yeo, chairman of Economic Development Innovations Singapore
On the value of a good worker:
“When a person is given more work, it means they are worthy of contribution, and he appreciates that… so if you work for me, remember, if you have more work, you should be thankful.”
In a U@live interview featuring Philip Yeo head at the National University of Singapore, January 18, 2012.
Watch the interview here.
Chew Gek Khim, executive chairman of Straits Trading Company
On the value of accountability:
“People always think they’re right but when you have to be transparent and accountable, it forces you to think: Is this really right? If you can’t explain your actions, then perhaps it’s not exactly right.”
In an interview with The Business Times, adapted in The Peak, March 21, 2017.
Read the story here.
Chong Siak Ching, CEO, National Gallery Singapore
Lee Kuan Yew, founding prime minister of Singapore
