Singapore's big papa pass away, what now?

[hellheaven1987]

Lee Kuan Yew, the statesman who transformed Singapore from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91.

The city-state's prime minister for 31 years, he was widely respected as the architect of Singapore's prosperity.

But he was criticised for his iron grip on power. Under him freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.

A state funeral will be held on 29 March, after a week of mourning.

In a televised address, his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid tribute to him.

"He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won't see another man like him."

Mr Lee oversaw Singapore's independence from Britain and separation from Malaysia. His death was announced early on Monday. He had been in hospital for several weeks with pneumonia.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply saddened" by Mr Lee's death. US President Barack Obama described him as a "giant of history".

Source

Although expect, unfortunately he passed away when the ruling party, PAP, is in one of its critical moments - meaning the selection of next generation of leadership. Without Lee Kuan Yew's support and without cleared successor after Lee Hsien Loong (who is probably going to retire in next few years), Lee Hsien Loong probably would find it difficult to pick his favored next generation leadership. Furthermore the opportunists within PAP would certainly try to increase their own influence within the party. I feel next ten years would be crucial time whether Singapore can become a stable state with true democratic system...

So how would the internal instability of Singapore affect the world? Generally I think the only issue would be the reemerge of pro-China party and inevitably this issue would be polarized. In other words, Singapore would be a crucial pawn for China to increase its influence in SEA and the protection of its sea lanes.

[Stavroforos]

So, was he like, a dictator?

[removeduser_487563287433]

So, was he like, a dictator?

No... But here's the problem. Lee was legitimately popular. He turned Singapore from a country where most people lived in self-built slums to... Well, Singapore. He increased GDP per capita by 15 times in his first twenty years. I don't judge old Singaporeans for seeing him as their natural leader - swap in the jungle for an air conditioned flat? Yeah, you'd probably vote for that.

But he also destroyed the freedom of the press - Singapore ranks below Zimbabwe or Myanmar or Russia. He sued media outlets, openly, who dared criticised him. Opposition politicians were dragged through the courts. Even last year a blogger in his early twenties was effectively driven from Singapore into permanent exile. Just a blogger. Lee wasn't just popular for the Singaporean economic miracle, but because those who openly criticised him found themselves on the business end of a rattan.

So they teach Malay and Tamil.

That's what they use at home. They teach English and mandarin in the schools for business reasons.

[Stavroforos]

No... But here's the problem. Lee was legitimately popular. He turned Singapore from a country where most people lived in self-built slums to... Well, Singapore. He increased GDP per capita by 15 times in his first twenty years. I don't judge old Singaporeans for seeing him as their natural leader - swap in the jungle for an air conditioned flat? Yeah, you'd probably vote for that.

But he also destroyed the freedom of the press - Singapore ranks below Zimbabwe or Myanmar or Russia. He sued media outlets, openly, who dared criticised him. Opposition politicians were dragged through the courts. Even last year a blogger in his early twenties was effectively driven from Singapore into permanent exile. Just a blogger. Lee wasn't just popular for the Singaporean economic miracle, but because those who openly criticised him found themselves on the business end of a rattan.

Makes sense that he'd be popular, then. What's in store for Singapore now, do you think?

[removeduser_487563287433]

Makes sense that he'd be popular, then. What's in store for Singapore now, do you think?

His son is the current PM, and he himself is not exactly robust, having undergone cancer surgery last month, his second scare. But he's not about to keel over immediately, either.

But that's not the issue. The issue is the younger generation... The few that there are of them... Are more educated, more aware, better travelled, and already beginning to vote against PAP. With Lee gone more will vote for the opposition.

On the other hand, the opposition is genuinely awful (they're pretty much outright communists) and the young Singaporeans are not young Hong Kongers. Nothing will change quickly.

[Denny Crane!]

His son is the current PM, and he himself is not exactly robust, having undergone cancer surgery last month, his second scare. But he's not about to keel over immediately, either.

But that's not the issue. The issue is the younger generation... The few that there are of them... Are more educated, more aware, better travelled, and already beginning to vote against PAP. With Lee gone more will vote for the opposition.

On the other hand, the opposition is genuinely awful (they're pretty much outright communists) and the young Singaporeans are not young Hong Kongers. Nothing will change quickly.

Why would anything change at all until a viable alternative appears? The weakness of the current power is not an issue when there is nothing viable to replace it. Regardless of the appetite of the younger to change no momentum will build up until there is something to get behind.

[removeduser_487563287433]

PAP is pro-China. So was Lee. They teach Mandarin here, not Hokkein, not Hakka, and not, of course, the filthy vote loving Cantonese.

On Lee, on Singapore, I'll say this: nothing. Take what you will that I'm unwilling to post what I think from a Singaporean IP address.

[hellheaven1987]

They teach Mandarin here

So they teach Malay and Tamil.

[Condottiere 40K]

8613
I've lived in Singapore foir a while, but I only pass through Changi nowadays, beyond a quick visit to the shopping district.

Lee was a brilliant politician, who would have become a major force in Malaysian politics, one of the reasons the Malays kicked Singapore out of the Federation. If the British Empire had retained most of it's possessions, or the United States had a stronger presence, he'd certainly favour them.

He took what seemed like a desperate situation, and squeezed all those lemons dry, establishing Singapore as the commercial hub of South East Asia. In the process, he asserted of stringent form of paternalism upon his island nation, wholly dependant on foreign largess for it's survival, willing to pay lip service to regional Malay dominance. However, Chinese were predominant, and in order to continue this plus any possible economic fruit that could be harvested by closer ties to a rising PRC, why not? Perhaps they'll establish a Special Relationship,or the Singaporeans will continue to balance out PRC influence by maintaining security ties with America.

He did what he thought was best for his country, even if civil liberties were sacrificed on the altar of economic development.

[hellheaven1987]

However, Chinese were predominant, and in order to continue this plus any possible economic fruit that could be harvested by closer ties to a rising PRC, why not? Perhaps they'll establish a Special Relationship,or the Singaporeans will continue to balance out PRC influence by maintaining security ties with America.

Except Singapore's policy towards China is not much different than how other SEA states treat China. On the other hand Singapore does have special military arrangement with West, mainly allow the US (and UK) fleets to use the military base exclusively. Whether this privilege would extend to PLAN in future is unknown, although I do forsee the pro-China lobby would argue China should also enjoy same military privilege as US/UK too.

Why would anything change at all until a viable alternative appears? The weakness of the current power is not an issue when there is nothing viable to replace it. Regardless of the appetite of the younger to change no momentum will build up until there is something to get behind.

The thing is that PAP may be splintered in next decade.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Except Singapore's policy towards China is not much different than how other SEA states treat China. On the other hand Singapore does have special military arrangement with West, mainly allow the US (and UK) fleets to use the military base exclusively. Whether this privilege would extend to PLAN in future is unknown, although I do forsee the pro-China lobby would argue China should also enjoy same military privilege as US/UK too.

Standing out from our general armchair for a moment, China doesn't have this sort of power projection. SG's value is as a trading, financial, business hub.

[hellheaven1987]

China doesn't have this sort of power projection.

You sure?

[removeduser_487563287433]

You sure?

Yes, I'm sure. I literally just said about finances, you were talking about fleet basing. The USA doesn't even base a fleet in Singapore, just four combat ships and logistics operations for the 7th fleet based in Japan. From Singapore to Tokyo there's a string of Governments increasingly concerned about China's aggressive expansion in the South China Sea and your description of Singapore about to become a Chinese puppet state is just fanciful.

More on how silly it is to say SG is about to jump to China rather than the USA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_i7Kq2Wz2w

[removeduser_487563287433]

At the risk of a white wash, it might be worth saying that Lee felt what was best for the country and what was best for Lee were not different.

[Derpy Hooves]

literally who?

[Dr Zoidberg]

literally who?

I echo Ferret's sentiments. Do you take pride in sounding stupid?

[removeduser_487563287433]

Dude... it's front page news. You have access to Wikipedia. There's no pride to be having in not knowing something.

[Roma_Victrix]

"Singapore's big papa pass away, what now?"

Business as usual, that's what. Seriously though, the PAP isn't going to relinquish power to a multiple party liberal democratic system any more than the CCP in mainland China will do the same. That's my cynical prediction, at least. I could be wrong, but I would wager that I'll be proven wrong decades from now, not any time soon.

Besides, if those dirty dissenting hippies in Singapore wanted democracy, they should just all move to Taiwan with the rest of the hippies. JK.

[Treize]

R.I.P.

[alhoon]

I really don't think Singapore that is the modern day Venice, would turn to communists in the future. They are all rich!