The founding father of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, says he will remain in the cabinet in an advisory role when his son becomes prime minister on August 12 but outgoing premier Goh Chok Tong will take over from him as "number two".
His comments in an interview with Reuters late on Monday signal that a cautious relaxation of strict social controls under way in the city-state, Southeast Asia's wealthiest nation, will come with a clear measure of continuity.
Lee, 80, said he would remain engaged in Singapore's future "as long as I am alive" but would not stand in the way of what he predicted would be even faster change by a younger generation of ministers led by his 52-year-old son Lee Hsien Loong, the outgoing deputy prime minister.
"I am responsible for my children's upbringing and not for my grandchildren's upbringing," Lee said.
The handover will be only the second transfer of power since Lee led Singapore to independence from Malaysia in 1965 and began to transform the territory from a down-at-heel seaport into a thriving financial centre that now boasts a $93 billion economy.
Lee handed over as prime minister to Goh, who is now 63, in 1990 but remained in the cabinet with the title of Senior Minister. He referred to himself in the interview as the "number two" in the outgoing cabinet.
Asked whether he would retain that rank, he said: "Mr Goh Chok Tong will be the number two in the new government." The comment suggests Goh, who remains immensely popular, will become Senior Minister, a powerful cabinet post without portfolio.
Manu Bhaskaran of Washington-based advisory firm Centennial Group said Goh's appointment as Senior Minister would underline Singapore's emphasis on political continuity. "Singapore is establishing a pattern of voluntary handover of power," he said.
Lee said his precise title in the new cabinet would be decided by his son, though what it would be did not matter. He said he saw his role as "a consultant, a counsellor, an advisor".
"My worth does not depend on what I am called but on my standing with Singaporeans and the weight they give to my views. Abroad, my established ties with foreign leaders can be of value," Lee said.
"I am still composmentis (of sound mind) fortunately."
Lee Hsien Loong, a former army brigadier general, has been in government since 1984. A sterner figure than the affable, popular Goh, he became deputy prime minister in 1990 and also serves as finance minister and chairman of the central bank.
Political analysts expect several new, younger ministers to be named to the new cabinet and say it is likely that Lee junior will relinquish at least one of his two financial posts.
Lee Kuan Yew said he knew who would be finance minister but it was for his son to announce in his own time. "In government matters I do not talk as his father. He will soon be P.M., the boss."
Lee took a population of ethnic Chinese, ethnic Malays and Indians and moulded Singapore into an Asian economic success through a tough policy of enforced desegregation and strict social controls that made it a byword for straight-laced life.
"Without the firm hand we would have had endless problems, riots, unrest and commotion over language, religion, and many other issues," Lee said.
"Today's Singapore has reduced differences and conflicts over race, religion, language of government and schools. We've got all races mixed together in high rises that they own. This was not the case when we first took charge."
The younger Lee faces very different challenges posed by a wealthier, better-educated population pressing for greater social freedoms and competition from less conservative cities such as Bangkok for foreign tourists and expatriate business executives.
Singapore has already eased a ban on chewing gum, softened censorship, begun to show more tolerance of gays, relaxed bans on bar-top dancing and given Singaporeans an outlet on talk radio to discuss subjects long deemed too sensitive to be aired in public.
The new leadership also faces painful economic adjustments as jobs disappear to China and India. National savings will also be squeezed in the next two decades as the population rapidly ages and birth rates languish at record lows.
"The substance has been changing for several years now. It will continue to change, probably faster," Lee said. "I believe there will be substantial change. The world is changing and Singapore has to change."
Lee said, for example, that he had been "dead set against" government plans to build Singapore's first resort-style casino, but would not stand in the way of the project.
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