Renovating the house that Lee built<\/p>\n
Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, The Jakarta Post, Singapore<\/p>\n
Either in awe or envy, many agree Singapore is a model of
\neffective administration.<\/p>\n
Despite being just a single island about the size of Jakarta,
\nit has overcome its dearth of natural resources with competent
\nleadership that has engineered a conditioned but affluent
\nsociety.<\/p>\n
The house that Lee built -- in reference to Senior Minister
\nLee Kuan Yew, the architect who led the city-state in its
\nformative decades -- has evolved into a corporate state that
\nefficiently provides for its citizens.<\/p>\n
Aside from establishing a sound economy, the question of
\nleadership has never been left to chance.<\/p>\n
Where Soeharto and Golkar failed in Indonesia, Lee and the
\nPeople's Action Party (PAP) succeeded in Singapore, ensuring the
\nsmooth succession of effective leadership.<\/p>\n
Indonesianists cite 1992 as the year Soeharto should have
\nhonorably stepped down. In 1990, Lee stepped aside for Prime
\nMinister Goh Chok Tong, paving the way for the linear passage of
\nauthority.<\/p>\n
The question of succession is again transpiring. But, more
\nthan before, it is coming at a critical juncture, as Singapore's
\nexport-oriented economy reels amid global recession.<\/p>\n
Deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, son of the senior Lee,
\nin a meeting with visiting Indonesian journalists over the
\nweekend, highlighted the necessity to overcome the generational
\ngap if Singapore is to excel.<\/p>\n
Conscious of his role as heir apparent, the younger Lee seems
\nundaunted by the mantle he will assume.<\/p>\n
Already cultivating the best of the best for the transition
\nahead, his vision is clear: Yesterday's leaders cannot be
\ntomorrow's vanguard.<\/p>\n
\"If the population becomes younger while the leaders become
\nolder, we'll have a big problem,\" he said, fully aware that those
\nwho grew up in post-independence Singapore will soon become the
\nmajority.<\/p>\n
\"With that comes a political transition because a new
\ngeneration of people means a new generation of leaders. We need
\nleaders of that generation who can identify with them, speak
\ntheir language and represent them.\"<\/p>\n
After the last general election in November, new younger faces
\nwere ushered in. Some 27 new MPs came in. The average age was 41.<\/p>\n
Lee, who himself is 49, maintains this is still \"too old...We
\nwould have been happier if the average age was about 37, 38\".<\/p>\n
\"Because we're planning a transition and Prime Minister Goh
\nsaid he would step down by the next election in 2007, we want to
\nhave the strongest possible team by 2007.\"<\/p>\n
With this in mind, Lee claims the government also \"took a
\nrisk\" by introducing six of the new candidates as State
\nMinisters.<\/p>\n
But, in a state where the opposition has been obliterated and
\npolitical activism tightly monitored, is political pluralism
\nstill an issue PAP has to contend with?<\/p>\n
Lee suggests that while Singaporeans may not follow policy
\ndetails, neither are they fools.<\/p>\n
\"If we did not pursue the right policies, the opposition would
\nvery quickly win many seats,\" he argues.<\/p>\n
\"They voted for us (PAP) because they thought we were able to
\nhelp take Singapore out of recession and provide jobs.\"<\/p>\n
Lee was also careful to point out that Singapore has and will
\ncontinue to be a government for the people.<\/p>\n
Government can facilitate and guide, Lee said, but ultimately
\n\"Singaporeans will have to create the Singapore that they want to
\nlive in\".<\/p>\n
In the heyday of Indonesia's New Order era economic comfort
\nbred political apathy, especially in a regimented society where
\npolitical deviation was frowned upon.<\/p>\n
Lee, in his remarks, suggests many Singaporeans feel a similar
\nindifference to active politics as an upshot of economic
\nstability and contentment.<\/p>\n
\"If it is a time of revolution, they may be inspired to join
\nthe revolution. But this is not a time of revolution, so life
\ncarries on as normal.\"<\/p>\n
\"So we have to go out and work very hard to meet people and
\nidentify the ones who are promising, and encourage them to come
\nin.\"<\/p>\n
Few political storm clouds loom if Lee, who first served as an
\nMP in 1984, with his proven track record, once again leads
\nSingapore out of its economic downturn.<\/p>\n
With no sign of arrogance, the retired Brigadier-General, even
\nseems to relish the impending challenge.<\/p>\n
\"Being a minister is different from being Prime Minister...You
\ncan prepare for it but you only know whether you can succeed when
\nyou are on the job,\" he says modestly.<\/p>\n
He is clear on what he has to be as a leader: Not necessarily
\nthe most intelligent person, but one who can inspire confidence
\nand trust.<\/p>\n
While economics remain the highest priority, the significance
\nof the political environment was not lost on Lee as his biggest
\nchallenge ahead.<\/p>\n
\"You need the right political preconditions in order to
\nimplement economic policies,\" said Lee, who also holds the
\nportfolio of finance minister.<\/p>\n
\"It's not hard to identify what economic policies are
\nrequired...But to implement the right policy, you need the
\npolitical support.\"<\/p>\n
And what of the two most prominent figures in Singapore
\npolitics today?<\/p>\n
\"Mr Goh has said that he would like to continue to be in
\npublic life after 2007. From my point of view, it would be a
\ngreat pity if he did not remain in public life,\" Lee said.<\/p>\n
Lee also insisted that his father was no longer an active
\nplayer, downplaying the Senior Minister's role as \"a mascot, a
\ncoach\".<\/p>\n
\"I don't see anyone giving instructions from behind,\" Lee said
\nin reply to a suggestion that SM, as the senior Lee is popularly
\nknown, remains a backseat driver.<\/p>\n
\"If we were still depending on the SM to do it at 78 years
\nold, we would have a serious problem.\"<\/p>\n
Meeting him, one cannot help but admire Lee's panache and
\naptitude. There is little doubt the Cambridge University graduate
\nwill serve well as CEO of Singapore Inc. envisioning a Singapore
\nreplete with the pragmatic vocabulary of \"enterprise\", \"growth\"
\nand \"jobs\".<\/p>\n
But a nation is not a corporation, and its people not simply
\nprofessional citizens.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, tucked away behind the businesslike approach is
\nalso the soulful cry of a commoner concerned with social and
\npolitical rights.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/renovating-the-house-that-lee-built-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}