"2011 has seen a generation that does not remember from whence we came, but that is to be expected. But I do, and those amongst you who are over 50 will remember" said MM Lee.
I'm much nearer 40 but I remember and I thank you for your selfless devotion to Singapore and all Singaporeans.
On Saturday, 14 May 2011, MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, 87, and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, 69, have announced their retirement from the Cabinet.
In an unexpected joint statement on Saturday evening, they wrote: 'We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore.'
'The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation. The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate.'
Calling the General Election five days ago a 'watershed' one, they wrote that they have decided to leave the Cabinet and have a 'completely younger team of ministers connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of Singapore.'
Between them, the two former Prime Ministers of Singapore have 91 years of experience in politics.
Mr Lee was Singapore's first Prime Minister, a post he held from 1959 to 1990.
The length of his premiership made him the longest-serving PM in the Commonwealth and the longest-serving head of government in Asia.
Mr Goh first entered Government in 1977, after leaving shipping company Neptune Orient Lines.
He rose rapidly up the ranks to become Deputy Prime Minister in 1985, and then Prime Minister in 1990.
He handed over the reins to current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2004, after 14 years at the helm.
Mr Lee and Mr Goh will remain MPs, in their wards of Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade GRC respectively.
We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation. The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non-corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them. After a watershed general election, we have decided to leave the cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.
But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after.
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