Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong<\/a> invoked India\u2019s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru while debating how democracy should work in the city-state during a spirited debate in Parliament.<\/p>\n\u201cMost countries are founded and start off on the basis of high ideals and noble values. But more often than not, beyond the founding leaders and the pioneer generation, over decades and generations, gradually things change,\u201d Lee said on Tuesday during the debate on the Committee of Privileges\u2019 report on complaints about untruths told by former Workers\u2019 Party lawmaker Raeesah Khan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings start off with passionate intensity. The leaders, who fought for and won independence, are often exceptional individuals of great courage, immense culture, and outstanding ability. They came through the crucible of fire and emerged as leaders of men and nations. They are the David Ben-Gurions, the Jawaharlal Nehrus, and we have our own too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Imbued with enormous personal prestige, they strive to meet the high expectations of their peoples to build a brave new world and shape a new future for their peoples, and for their countries. But beyond that initial fervor, succeeding generations often find it hard to sustain this momentum and drive, Lee said.<\/p>\n
The texture of politics changes, respect for politicians declines. After a while, the electorate comes to think this is the norm, and you cannot expect better. So, standards get debased, trust is eroded, and the country declines further, the prime minister said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany political systems today would be quite unrecognizable to their founding leaders. Ben-Gurion\u2019s Israel has morphed into one which can barely form a government, despite four general elections in two years. Meanwhile, a stream of senior politicians and officials in Israel face a litany of criminal charges, some have gone to jail.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Nehru\u2019s India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder. Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
Singapore’s\u00a0 70-year-old Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said each succeeding generation must protect and build upon the system that Singapore has inherited.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis requires us to uphold integrity, enforce rules and standards, apply the same rules equally to everyone, make sure nobody is above the law. If we can do that \u2013 consistently, persistently, unflinchingly \u2013 then we have a shot at making things work. People can trust our leaders, our systems, and our institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur democracy can mature, deepen and grow more resilient, as both the governed and the governing embrace and express the right norms and values. Singapore can continue to flourish. But if we allow ourselves to slacken \u2013 loosen standards here, just a bit; overlook a lie there, just this time \u2013 the virtuous cycle will stutter and start to fail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n