This is not a post to curse Lee Kuan Yew but a realistic deduction of an imminent event. When the mainstream media started spreading news and rumors of his death, the pertinent question is the impact of his death on the political future of Singapore. Will Singapore continue to be a single party dictatorship or progress on to be a free multi-party democracy?
Old Lee welds significant influences, albeit symbolic as only a MP, on Singaporeans. There are a good percentage of PAP voters who are only voting the PAP out of respect for him. His death mark the end of such support because his effeminate son inherited none of his shrewdness and political capital. Whenever Lee Kuan Yew make a disparaging remark about Singaporeans, nobody really dare voice out their opposition. Not the same can be said for Lee Hsien Loong, when Singaporeans will have the audacity to gather in arms to openly challenge him or demand apologies. It is hence evident that senior Lee's absence in the PAP will be exceptionally damaging to junior Lee's administration. Significant percentage of votes will be lost and it could tip the pivot putting the PAP out of ruling governance.
Singaporeans should fast forward our mindsets and picture an electoral decision where dictatorship is history. We have the power to remake fundamentals befitting of a first world nation like Finland. Elderly Singaporeans devoid of retirement can be a thing of the past; a true pension fund can be Singapore's future. Singaporean students bypassing higher education can be a thing of the past; free education and free universities can be Singapore's future. Cheap and unskilled foreign labor reliance can be a thing of the past; highly paid and technically competent workers can be Singapore's future. Businesses that survive through cheap labor can be a thing of the past; innovative and productive businesses that make meaty profits paying good wages can be Singapore's future. Lee Kuan Yew is a thing of the past; Singapore can be a first world nation of South East Asia. Young Singaporeans will no longer have to lament about their disadvantages of been born in Singapore, emigration to first world nations will no longer be an option to escape poverty.
Every end is a new beginning, and so will LKY's death be. His passing will also mark the death of a competent leader in the PAP. The current administration is disappointing at the very least, it is no longer the PAP LKY started off with. Senior Lee's team served Singaporeans first, not foreigners or only the rich. Singapore was far from an ultra-capitalist state that tells its people to make sacrifice their comfort and livelihood for GDP growth. Let's bring back the Singapore that take cares of its citizens, and abolish the one that treats foreigners better.
LKY started off with an altruistic cause to better Singaporeans' lives and he held on to power to his last breath because Singaporeans' lives are still far from good. He knew his son is doing a very bad job and this is why he cannot retire. Singaporeans should pay Lee Kuan Yew a tribute by removing his son out of power.
Alex Tan
TRS Contributor