February 22, 2010
If you were to ask 10 elderly Singaporeans in the streets
randomly who the Prime Minister of Singapore is, chances are quite
a number will answer “Lau Lee” in reference to Singapore’s
octogenarian leader Lee Kuan Yew.
Lee was the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990
and though he had stepped down officially as the head of the
government, many still believe he is the one who wields the
power.
The lingering public perception that he is the real leader of
Singapore and not his son Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is hardly
surprising given the fact that he has never quite really faded away
from the limelight since officially relinquishing his post in
1990.
Though he is no longer the Prime Minister, Lee remains in the
cabinet first as a Senior Minister and now as the Minister Mentor,
the only position of its kind in the entire world and quite a
costly one too at a staggering $3 million dollars a year.
The state media continues to give extensive publicity to him
every two to three days with his speeches making the headlines most
of the time.
Even an occasional travel overseas in his personal capacity will
be published as in his trip to the United States last year to
receive an award from the U.S-ASEAN Business Council which was not
even mentioned by the international media.
For example, Lee’s speech to his Tanjong Pagar residents last
Thursday was published in three articles in the Straits Times the
very next day with one of them appearing on the front page with his
photo showing him in the pink of his health.
In contrast, only a short article appeared a few days earlier on
Prime Minister Lee celebrating Chinese New Year with Singaporeans
at the River Hongbao.
The usual protocol should be the Prime Minister to make major
announcements regarding policy changes to the people and not his
ministers.
In the United States, it is the President Barack Obama who gives
the State of Union address and not the Vice President. In
Australia, it is the Prime Minister Kevin Ruud’s overseas trips
which are extensively covered by the local media and not his
deputy. And in the United Kingdom, it is the Prime Minister Gordon
Brown who is in charge of the nation and not his subordinates.
In the event that PM Lee is unable to perform his duties due to
ill health or other reasons, it should be his deputy Teo Chee Hean
who fill his shoes and not the Minister Mentor.
By his own admission, the elder Lee told a Japanese audience
last year that he is not doing “much work” except “forecasting”,
but it now appears that he is overshadowing his son with his
frequent exhortations (faux pauses included) to Singaporeans.
Lee’s frequent “flip-flops” are a constant source of
embarrassment for his son. In his National Day Rally last year, PM
Lee assured Singaporeans that they will remain a “priority” for his
administration.
Three months later, his father stunned the entire nation by
making disparaging remarks about Singaporeans in an interview with
the National Geographic magazine.
One day he is telling Singaporeans that the inflow of foreigners
will slow down. Another day, he is asking Singaporeans to “bear”
with the increased competition brought about by foreigners.
In December, he told Singaporeans that it is their “problem” if
they do not have the “spurs” stuck in their “hide” and now he is
promising them that the government will give “priority” to
citizens.
What is going on? Who can we trust? Which Lee is really in
charge of the Singapore government? PM Lee or his father MM
Lee?
There cannot be two suns under the same sky. The Prime Minister
should be leading the country and not being led around the nose by
his father.
Not only are they confusing Singaporeans, foreigners will be
misled as well into thinking that there is no clear leadership
within the Singapore government.
For the sake of the country, the elder Lee should either
completely step back and let his son run the show or cut short the
“wayang” and re-assume his position as Prime Minister again.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/02/22/which-lee-is-the-prime-minister-of-singapore/
