15 October 2001

Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew Shares Words of Wisdom at NUS

	"To stick to the past, and become habituated, reluctant to face new challenges, new methods of doing business, new methods of living our lives, new ways of adjusting to new technology and the world situation... would lead to retrogression," warned SM Lee in his address to the students at NUS.

Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew had encouraging words for undergraduates in these uncertain and difficult times. In the Senior Minister Forum 2001 organized by the NUS Students' Union entitled "Remaking Singapore for the New Age", SM Lee urged his rapt audience to embrace change as the very essence of life and to counter the uncertainties ahead with courage.

During the two-hour session, SM Lee shared his insights as well as responded to questions from the audience on the challenges ahead, particularly for Singapore. Speaking of the grim global economic outlook, especially since the September 11 attack on America, he eloquently reminded everyone present that Singapore is not divorced from global events and changes.

SM Lee also related how Singapore weathered the political and economic upheaval of the 60's and emerged a stronger nation through reaching for the stars while keeping its feet firmly planted on the ground. Similarly, SM Lee believed that the younger generation, which "has grown up in a period when incomes rose every year as did creature comforts", would emerge from these tumultuous times stronger and tougher.

SM Lee and Mrs Lee are welcomed by (from left) NUS President Prof Shih Choon Fong, NUSSU President Mr Ivan Ho, forum chairman Mr Samuel Ang, Dean of Students Prof Bernard Tan (fourth from right) and Mrs Shih (right), at the University Cultural Centre's foyer.

"You will have to tough it out and meantime take temporary jobs. It is best to keep yourself occupied even in occasional work like private tuition until the economy turns up, as it will," advised the Senior Minister.

For almost two hours, SM Lee answered questions from students, some of whom were foreign students from Mexico and China.

The forum saw about 1,750 students and staff from NUS, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University converging on the NUS University Cultural Centre in a rare opportunity to see and hear the Senior Minister.

The full house making the most of a not-to-be-missed chance to hear Singapore's pre-eminent leader.