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Economy, security in poll focus

P. S. Suryanarayana

The potential rise of India has figured as a campaign theme in Singapore

SINGAPORE: As Singapore heads for election on May 6, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wants the City-State, a flourishing trading centre, to ride the global tide of economic growth.

Mr. Lee (54) portrays the Opposition parties as being unequal to the serious task of ensuring this. And he prides himself on being a thought-leader way ahead of the Opposition contestants, in planning strategies.

And this future is seen to be linked to the "ascendance" of China and India as economic powers and major political players on the global stage. The potential "rise" of India has figured, even if fleetingly, as a campaign theme.

Policy course

Mr. Lee seeks the mandate, in his first poll as the Premier, to set a policy course for the next 10-15 years. Aiming to emerge as the leader in his own right, he has introduced a team — "Lee's lieutenants" — who were given key positions since his assumption of office in 2004.

The three Opposition parties have managed to field candidates for 47 out of the 84 parliamentary seats. There is no real contender among them for the Prime Minister's post. Those already elected unopposed include elder-statesman Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

For the Opposition camp, modest in its claims, the ability to field the largest contingent since 1988 is a feat.

The political ambience is dominated by the long-reigning People's Action Party (PAP), which has tirelessly kept itself in focus as the architect of Singapore's story of success. The Opposition is not challenging the PAP's status as the arbiter of Singapore's destiny. However, the anti-PAP campaigners have not gone beyond expressing confidence about their ability to emerge as just an Opposition outfit worthy of "First World politics."

As for issues, the PAP has shone the spotlight on economic and anti-terror security concerns. Some in the Opposition plead for the abolition of two established projects of the ruling party - elected presidency and the GRC system, whose protagonists see it as the best bet for promoting the political representation of minorities.

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