Lee’s barely audible words in a eulogy at his wife’s
funeral has sparked raging debate in Singapore on the way forward,
especially on the political front.
IN A grieving eulogy at his wife’s funeral, Minister Mentor Lee
Kuan Yew said in a tone that was at times hardly audible: “Without
her I would be a different man, with a different life... At this
moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and
grief.”
Kwa Geok Choo, a pillar of his life for 62 years, passed away last
Saturday at age 89 after being bedridden and unable to speak or
move for two years.
Three days before her demise, Lee himself was admitted to hospital
for a chest infection after a fall while on a visit to Moscow.
His words “without her I would be a different man” evidently
referred to the past, but under the circumstances, they may well be
applied to the present.
In fact, last week’s events could signal the end of the Lee Kuan
Yew era now in its 50th year, if he decides to call it a day.
As the will-he or won’t-he question raged, thousands of
Singaporeans filed to pay their last respects to his late wife, an
obviously popular lady.
People were closely watching the ageing leader’s appearance for an
indication of things to come. What they saw was not too
reassuring.
Probably still under the effect of antibiotics to treat his chest
infection, Lee appeared visibly weak. Two bodyguards were closely
behind him, ready to help him if needed.
His words emerged slowly from lips that barely moved as he
evidently struggled to contain his emotions. They brought tears to
some people in the audience.
Lee sounded like a totally different man from the tough-talking,
fearsome politician who led Singapore with an authoritarian rule
that nevertheless made it one of the world’s richest cities.
The government and his doctors have not given any progress report
on his health.
Many Singaporeans, especially those of his generation, felt sorry
to see him in his frail, grieving state.
It evoked numerous appeals, including those from well-meaning
admirers, for him to retire and take a well earned rest.
“Please Mr Lee, no more overseas trips,” a sympathiser pleaded.
“You have done enough for the nation, time to take a rest.”
Some older citizens, who still have an unshakeable faith in Lee,
are concerned that his exit could result in a political division
within the ruling People’s Action Party and the country at
large.
Whatever concerns people felt about a post-Lee Singapore were not
reflected in the stock market, which appears to have accepted the
inevitable.
The index continued to climb by nearly 100 points in the few days
after news of his hospitalisation and his wife’s death.
Many young people and professionals, however, see things
differently. They welcome it as a positive development.
A critical
website reported that of the hundreds of messages received, more
than 60% considered it a good thing if Lee were to leave. Some
berated him in venomous tones.
The general
feeling is that under the current circumstances, it will be
unlikely for him to undergo the rigours of another election
campaign.
“It’s
inconceivable that without his wife by his side, Lee will have the
fire in the belly to carry on as Minister Mentor,” said a varsity
professor, who declined to be named.
And, he added, even if he really forced himself to go on, Lee would
likely be a very different person. “A boat without a sail”, as a
commentator described it.
Lately, he appeared to be more aware of his own ageing, and was
contemplating more and more about issues of life, health and his
love for his wife.
In a dialogue session with Moscow students recently, the
octogenarian Lee said: “I am not in charge any more. My
contribution now is like an over-the-horizon radar – (telling them)
there is opportunity there or there is trouble there…”
When asked last month by an American journalist – “When is the last
leaf falling?” – Lee, who seems no longer in charge of the
day-to-day government, answered:
“I can feel the gradual decline of energy and vitality. And I mean
generally ... every year ... when you know you are not on the same
level as last year. But that’s life.”
On what would come next, Lee replied: “I do not know. Nobody has
ever come back.”
He had also
repeatedly said that he would not completely retire, and advised
Singaporeans to carry on working as long as health
permitted.
“I know if I
rest, I’ll slide downhill fast,” he told
the New York
Times.
One concerned
Singaporean sent an email to MM Lee and his son, Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong, urging Lee to step down:
“I hope you (Lee)
are magnanimous enough to face the reality (and not in denial) that
you no longer are the man you were, and step down gracefully. You
need not be an MP or be in the Cabinet to be able to
contribute.”
A portion of
Internet activists favours exerting greater pressure to persuade
Lee to leave politics to the young.
“Old politicians
will never give up power unless compelled by law or they die ... or
are thrown out by bloody intervention,” said
SgObserver.
Others disagreed. One surfer said the passing of Lee may not be a
blessing for Singapore.
For one thing, he wrote, “the PAP may implode and result in an
internal power struggle”.
“Secondly,” he added, “without doubt Lee is a very experienced
politician, shrewd, cunning and resourceful, (qualities) required
to survive in politics.
“How many existing members of Parliament in Singapore can claim to
be able to come near him?”
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=insightdownsouth&file=/2010/10/9/columnists/insightdownsouth/7184224&sec=Insight%20Down%20South
