Singapore won't go through dramatic change in post-Lee Kuan Yew era: experts

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew passed away on Monday morning. But even when he stepped down from the Cabinet, behind the stage, his success effectively kept the development of the city state.

There's barely a clear boundary of the post-Lee Kuan Yew era, with many pushing it back to 1990, when he stepped down as prime minister, while others put it in 2011 when he retired from the Cabinet.

However, Eugene Tan Kheng Boon, an associate professor of Law at Singapore Management University, said he would personally put it now because "that's when you'll be difficult to say that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew continues to have strong influence on Singapore's politics and society."

Will Singapore go through a dramatic change in the post-Lee Kuan Yew era? Experts said, no.

"I don't foresee any significant changes in terms of how politics is organised and run in Singapore," Tan said, adding that it is because the present leadership continues to believe many of Lee's policies, such as multi-racialism, meritocracy, a very strong anti-corruption position, are still relevant and needed in Singapore's development.

His words were echoed by Wang Jiangyu, associate professor at the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore. "As long as Lee's successors follow the basic framework Lee has set up, the system can almost spontaneously operate. In this regard, Singapore will continue its prosperity even without Lee Kuan Yew."

The legacies that Lee has left to keep Singapore stay ahead have been many, said Tan, and one is the need for a very strong and dynamic leadership, who is firmly committed to good governance.

"I think Mr Lee emphasizes the need for constant renewal and change, so what we see in Singapore is a very careful attention to political renewal," Tan said.

Lee, himself a lawyer with rich knowledge and experiences, has built Singapore based on the rule of law, with many regulations too harsh if viewed by international community.

"Singapore of course has been criticised for some of its harsh laws. But I think when we review the achievements or effort being made, I think one would point to the legal system," Tan said.

He said Singapore has seen a generation gap, which has been affecting the way politicians deal with local affairs.

"Lee was never afraid to make unpopular policies so long as he believed they were right for Singapore. His very robust style of politics, speaking directly to the people, criticizing them, schooling them even at the times they have suited well in the 50s, 60s, 70s," said Tan.

"Lee Kuan Yew has built his reputation in both Western and Eastern countries, and this is all about his own personality," said Koh Chin Yee, former Asia Directorate from Office of the Vice President at the National University of Singapore. Endi