Commentaries
Singapore 2.0: Making our own hard choices

By Carlton Tan
It is over. The 91-year-old former Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2015 at 3.18am.
As in life, so also in death. Mr Lee will be at the centre of attention for an entire nation and even of the world. Obituaries are being prepared, flowers are being arranged, a grand state funeral is being planned, and condolences are streaming in from state leaders we’ve never even heard of.
And once again, with one final act of defiance, the man who ruled with an iron fist has silenced his critics. No longer can they speculate about his death and no longer can they curse him with it. He is gone now and he has not a care for what his detractors think; though it is not as if he ever did.
Those who love him will mourn his passing and celebrate his life. Those who hate him will celebrate his death and curse the day he was born. Those of us who are indifferent will check Facebook, think of something witty to say, turn up empty and carry on with our lives. But somewhere deep inside, all of us will know that things will never be the same again in Singapore after Lee Kuan Yew.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) had suggested in a special report that the elder statesman’s leadership style has had a strong influence on the current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong. It also suggested that “Lee Hsien Loong’s leadership will be challenged once his father is not around.”
The EIU may be right. Lee Hsien Loong may adopt a different style of leadership now that his father is no longer watching him. And there may be some infighting within the PAP now that the towering figure holding things together is gone. But all that pales in comparison to the rare opportunity that Singaporeans now have to make a break from the past.
This is an extract from an article that was first published on Asian Correspondent.

- Labour7 days ago
Government forms work group to tackle illegal delivery work by foreigners, protect local platform workers
- Politics7 days ago
Progress Singapore Party unveils new leadership team as founding leaders step aside in major renewal effort
- Singapore2 days ago
Chee Hong Tat: MAS takes ‘risk-proportionate’ approach as family office approvals speed up
- Community4 days ago
Singapore sees 7% drop in marriages in 2024; more elderly living alone as family dynamics shift
- Comments4 days ago
PAP urged to clarify what specific harm Pritam Singh’s Malaysian podcast interview caused Singapore
- Singapore5 days ago
Four golf courses to close by 2035 as Singapore reclaims land for housing and national needs
- Politics2 days ago
Trump’s nominee for Singapore ambassador, Anjani Sinha, faces tough Senate grilling over knowledge gaps
- Civil Society5 days ago
Faishal Ibrahim urges restraint over personal attacks on 3 women on trial for pro-Palestinian procession