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Monday, Aug 16, 2004

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TRANSITION IN SINGAPORE

AFTER 14 YEARS, there has been another smooth transition of power in Singapore. The city-state's second Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, has handed over the baton to the chosen successor, Lee Hsien Loong. There is absolutely no surprise in this change of leadership. It is a play out of a clear policy of renewal that the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has followed. It is no coincidence that the new Premier happens to be the son of Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. After studying abroad and going through military training, which is compulsory for Singaporeans, Brig. Gen. Lee joined the PAP in 1984 and was named one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers when Mr. Goh took over the mantle in 1990 from Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. The founding father had presided over the building of modern Singapore for 25 years before he decided it was time to step down. But in his vision for the city-state, the elder statesman had reasoned that the experience and expertise of retiring leaders and officials should not be lost to the nation. He became a Senior Minister in Mr. Goh's Cabinet, a position that has now gone to Mr. Goh. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew will continue to guide Singapore and his son, as `Minister Mentor'.

Just as it was a huge struggle for the elder Lee to build a new city-state from scratch after Malaysia abruptly granted it independence in 1965, Mr. Goh also played a stellar role in the development of this efficient entrepot. Taking over from Mr. Lee was by itself a challenge. But Mr. Goh not only steered the country through a phase of rapid and high growth in the early 1990s, but also saw it through one of the worst economic and fiscal crises that South-East Asia has witnessed. Though Singapore went through a rough patch during this meltdown, it emerged unscathed when compared with its neighbours. Much of the credit should go to Mr. Goh and his team. From an Indian perspective, he was among the earliest to identify and recognise the potential of India and the need for Singapore to build a strong bilateral relationship with New Delhi. He was the prime mover to get India fully engaged with the Association of South East-Asian Nations (ASEAN). The challenge for his successor is to strengthen those close ties and make the economic partnership even more rewarding.

It is not going to be an easy task for Mr. Lee Hsien Loong to drive the city-state further ahead in its path to achieve `developed nation' status. Over the next decade, Singapore will go through a demographic transition with fewer babies and swelling ranks of senior citizens. It is with such a depleting workforce that he has to build a vibrant, dynamic Singapore that can remain competitive. He will also have to contend with a new generation that has seen more of the world and has its own aspirations. There are bound to be louder voices for more political space and a liberal dispensation. Mr. Goh has already initiated that process and his successor must take it forward. There can be no going back on political liberalisation, because any clampdown on human and social rights will only be counter productive. For now, the new Prime Minister has chosen to stick with the old Cabinet. Perhaps he will recast his team after the next general elections. The challenge before Mr. Lee Hsien Loong is to build a liberal and outward-looking Singapore, without compromising on its security concerns as a city-state.

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