"Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him": Lee Kuan Yew | From the archives

I can tell you that when I met the Sia Pilots I didn't meet them on TV I met them face to face so five feet across the table so they can see me and see whether I'm still vigorous able to campaign and take them on whether it's worth taking me on and I offered them two choices either you argue you stop this intimidation which is what it was bringing Sid Sia right down disrupting Services ruining his reputation millions of dollars worth of advertisements and sales ruined within a matter of two weeks it will take many many months to repair the damage and I said gentlemen and one of them one of the captains on the committee is a Founder member of Mr Champs Singapore Democratic party and I knew it he thought I didn't but I first announced elections on Sunday that I met them on Monday so that they know I am ready to meet them during elections I gave them a choice continue this and I will by every means at my disposal teach you and get the people of Singapore help me teach you a lesson you won't forget and I'm prepared to stop all over again or stop it get back to work restore discipline then argue your case took them 65 minutes they did as much talking as I did a lot of them in answer to my questions and they decided okay it isn't worth the fight why because they know they lose they know that I'm prepared to ground the airline I didn't know that I can get the airline going again without them and let there be no mistakes about this whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him or give it up this is not a game of cards this is your life and mine I've spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as I'm in charge nobody is going to knock it down [Applause]

Channel: CNA

Views: 409,991

Keywords: CNA, Channel NewsAsia

Id: kGDqLeRuyCA

Length: 2min 48sec (168 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 15 2023