Singaporeans wonder whether new leader signals new era

Singaporeans wonder whether new leader signals new era

Agencies, Singapore

As Singaporeans prepare for this week's handover of power to a
new prime minister, many are wondering whether their future
leader's rule will echo that of his authoritarian father - the
founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.

On Thursday, Lee Hsien Loong, 52, will take over from Goh Chok
Tong, who has led Singapore since 1990, when the elder Lee
stepped down. His inauguration comes just days after the 39th
anniversary of Singapore's independence on Monday.

Like his father, who led Singapore from 1965 until 1990,
observers expect the younger Lee to focus on improving the
economy.

And he has promised "openness" and a gentler, more
consultative government. Lee has even suggested he'll be more
flexible on topics that are currently considered taboo.

Authorities have been known to arrest those who publicly
address divisive issues such as race and religion.

But critics say Lee is not ready to stomach more substantive
change.

"We are not making any progress forward ... this (handover) is
not going to promote greater democracy," said veteran opposition
politician Joshua "J.B." Jeyaretnam.

"Nothing is going to change, there is going to be a
triumvirate with Lee Kuan Yew as the adviser, Lee Hsien Loong as
prime minister and Goh as No. 2," he added.

Goh acknowledged last year that handing power to the younger
Lee may appear to be a dynastic succession, but he insisted it
wasn't.

Being the son of Singapore's founding father is one reason why
Lee will become the next prime minister according to 47 percent
of Singaporeans, a Straits Times survey showed on Saturday.

Those who cited Lee's father Lee Kuan Yew as a factor did not
think any less of the incoming leader ahead of the city-state's
second transition of power on Thursday, the poll found.

Fifty-three percent disagreed with those considering Lee's
parentage as a factor and 6 percent "strongly" disagreed.

Jeyaretnam is not alone in his reservations about Singapore's
new leader.

"There has been some kind of concern among Singaporeans that
(the younger Lee) will revert back to the iron grip of Lee
senior," said Ho Khai Leong, a political scientist at the
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Singapore.

The elder Lee is credited with transforming Singapore from a
colonial backwater into an efficient, modern country, but critics
called his rule authoritarian.

"It will not offer much comfort to those seeking more
openness," Ho said. "His speeches very much resemble his
father's."

The outgoing prime minister, however, contends that Lee will
make his own mark on the country of four million people.

Goh's populist style of leadership helped the affluent country
cushion economic downturns and became synonymous with a gradual
opening up.

From bar-top dancing, bungee jumping, broadcasts of the racy
U.S. television series Sex and the City and a partial end to the
chewing gum ban, the affable Goh presided over an era of gradual
easing of some of the strict controls.

Criticism of Singapore's conservative leadership has come from
abroad as well.

The U.S. State Department and human rights group Amnesty
International have slammed the PAP's practice of suing opposition
politicians in costly libel lawsuits, saying the practice is
designed to cripple the opposition by bankrupting them. Singapore
law bars bankrupt people from being lawmakers.

Lee, Goh and other party stalwarts say they sue to defend
their reputations.

Jeyaretnam, 78, became bankrupt after repeated lawsuits by
ruling party politicians.

He told The AP he had doled out around S$1.6 million Singapore
(US$930,000) in legal costs, fees and fines over the years.

"Singaporeans want to see regime change but they are too
afraid to stick their head above the parapet. I was prepared
to ... but look at me," said Jeyaretnam, who has resorted to
hawking books on street corners to settle his debts.