Lee Kuan Yew to stay in Singapore cabinet

Lee Kuan Yew to stay in Singapore cabinet

Paul Holmes
Reuters/Singapore

The founding father of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, says he
will remain in the cabinet in an advisory role when his son
becomes prime minister on Aug. 12 but outgoing premier Goh Chok
Tong will take over from him as "number two".

His comments in an interview with Reuters late on Monday
signal that a cautious relaxation of strict social controls under
way in the city-state, Southeast Asia's wealthiest nation, will
come with a clear measure of continuity.

Lee, 80, said he would remain engaged in Singapore's future
"as long as I am alive" but would not stand in the way of what he
predicted would be even faster change by a younger generation of
ministers led by his 52-year-old son Lee Hsien Loong, the
outgoing deputy prime minister.

"I am responsible for my children's upbringing and not for my
grandchildren's upbringing," Lee said.

The handover will be only the second transfer of power since
Lee led Singapore to independence from Malaysia in 1965 and began
to transform the territory from a down-at-heel seaport into a
thriving financial center that now boasts a US$93 billion
economy.

Lee handed over as prime minister to Goh, who is now 63, in
1990 but remained in the cabinet with the title of Senior
Minister. He referred to himself in the interview as the "number
two" in the outgoing cabinet.

Asked whether he would retain that rank, he said: "Mr Goh Chok
Tong will be the number two in the new government." The comment
suggests Goh, who remains immensely popular, will become Senior
Minister, a powerful cabinet post without portfolio.

Manu Bhaskaran of Washington-based advisory firm Centennial
Group said Goh's appointment as Senior Minister would underline
Singapore's emphasis on political continuity. "Singapore is
establishing a pattern of voluntary handover of power," he said.

Lee said his precise title in the new cabinet would be decided
by his son, though what it would be did not matter. He said he
saw his role as "a consultant, a counselor, an advisor".

"My worth does not depend on what I am called but on my
standing with Singaporeans and the weight they give to my views.
Abroad, my established ties with foreign leaders can be of
value," Lee said.

"I am still compos mentis (of sound mind) fortunately."

Lee Hsien Loong, a former army brigadier general, has been in
government since 1984. A sterner figure than the affable, popular
Goh, he became deputy prime minister in 1990 and also serves as
finance minister and chairman of the central bank.

Political analysts expect several new, younger ministers to be
named to the new cabinet and say it is likely that Lee junior
will relinquish at least one of his two financial posts.

Lee Kuan Yew said he knew who would be finance minister but it
was for his son to announce in his own time. "In government
matters I do not talk as his father. He will soon be P.M., the
boss."

Lee took a population of ethnic Chinese, ethnic Malays and
Indians and moulded Singapore into an Asian economic success
through a tough policy of enforced desegregation and strict
social controls that made it a byword for straight-laced life.

"Without the firm hand we would have had endless problems,
riots, unrest and commotion over language, religion, and many
other issues," Lee said.

"Today's Singapore has reduced differences and conflicts over
race, religion, language of government and schools. We've got all
races mixed together in high rises that they own. This was not
the case when we first took charge."

The younger Lee faces very different challenges posed by a
wealthier, better-educated population pressing for greater social
freedoms and competition from less conservative cities such as
Bangkok for foreign tourists and expatriate business executives.