What will happen to the Singapore one party state when Lee is gone?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Peoples Republic of China, is a one party state by law. The Communist Chinese Constitution does not provide for a multi party system. In that country, every 5 years, the Communist Party sits in deliberation, and decides political appointments; who will be Prime Minster and Law Minister. Without the benefit of any elections, those who have been selected take up their positions, and the country seamlessly moves on, without changes in political systems or the one party state.

Singapore's constitution on the other hand does make it a one party state. It's Constitution provides for multi party elections and for change of government; contemplating even coalition governments and other democratic models of government.

But Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's strongman, behaves as if it is a one party state. He unashamedly assumes Singapore will continue as a one party state with his Peoples Action Party forever forming the government. With the help of his state controlled media, this is the message he puts out clearly every day; with his talk of training future leaders and introducing young blood such as Mr. K Shanmugam as Minister for Law, in the ever optimistic assumption that Mr. K Shanmugam and such like will be there much longer.

It would be wise for K Shanmugam to be perhaps a little less confident. The Singapore model is not the Communist Chinese model. There is no guarantee that Mr. K Shanmugam will be Minister for Law much longer. He may very well end up as the Indian pancake seller along Serangoon Road Little India, as I had mentioned in my last post.

The problem for K Shanmugam and others who profit by the patronage and kindness of one man, Lee Kuan Yew is this. Lee is not going to be around for much longer. He will be dead not too long away. He is 85 years old. No one lives for ever. And when he dies, there is a strong possibility that the entire one party state that he has put into place will unravel. And when that unravels, Mr. K Shanmugam may well be discarded like the others associated with this one party government.

Shanmugam and others may be wise to look at the ground for a reality check. His very profession of law is shrinking. There is great revulsion among Singaporeans to the practice of law. And it is because of government interference in the profession and the judges.

The Civil Service is shrinking. Despite high salaries, government servants prefer not to be associated with this one party government.

The ground is angry. People can hardly survive while this man and his patron and benefactor Lee Kuan Yew pay themselves millions. A deep seated hatred runs throughout Singaporeans against thier government. Were it not for the fear by which the people are kept at bay, by now the masses would have been at the throats of Lee Kuan Yew.

This government is giving jobs to foreigners instead of Singaporeans because they want wages to be kept low to compete with third World countries, despite the fact that cost of living in Singapore has already surpassed third world costs by a mile. Unable to make ends meet, Singaporeans are driven to suicide.

And finally the most important fact of all; this entire one party government is kept in place because of one 85 year old man; Lee Kuan Yew. The moment he dies, only God knows what happens next. Legally to demand the continued rule by the PAP is not supported by the Constitution.

There is a great possibility of disruption and confusion. Lee Kuan Yew's son is not up to it. And with that his entire ministers and politicians who are hated by the vast majority of Singaporeans would also find their positions untenable.

Recently you have seen the police brutality at the "Tak Boleh Tahan anti consumer price hike" protest before Parliament House with an unprecedented 50 people, on March 15, 2008, demanding a moratorium on price hikes. These peaceful protesters have threatened to escalate their lawful protests and Singaporeans will soon see en mass protest throughout Singapore for an end to this dictatorship and one party rule. The writing has long been on the wall.

So this is what I can tell Shanmugam. So far so good. He could pray that Le Kuan Yew lives another hundred years. But alas, Lee cannot. So if Shanmugam tosses about his bed at night, we can understand why.

Gopalan Nair
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Email: nair.gopalan@yahoo.com
Blog: http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/

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