Singapore was once known as a wealthy but austere city-state. Today, it is a glamorous international destination. Taylor Swift concerts and F1 night races have been held here. And on a per capita basis, it's considerably wealthier than the United States.
That transformation occurred under Lee Hsien Loong, the Southeast Asian country's third prime minister. He made Singapore more prosperous by largely following the semi-authoritarian, free-market model pioneered by his father, the country's first leader, Lee Kuan Yew.
On Wednesday, Singapore gained a new leader for the first time in nearly 20 years. Mr Lee, 72, will hand over the job to his deputy, Mr Lawrence Wong, 51. The People's Action Party has ruled Singapore continuously for more than 60 years, with remarkable success. However, there are concerns that more and more people are failing the much-vaunted “Singapore model.”
Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but there is no minimum wage. House prices have soared and many Singaporeans say their social mobility has declined significantly. Some complain that freedom of expression remains heavily regulated, although not as much as before. Tensions are further exacerbated by the need for overseas workers. About 40 percent of Singapore's approximately 6 million people are not citizens.
Compared to his famously strict father, Lee has shown flexibility and responsiveness to the people's demands, but the PAP's popularity suffered a major blow during his tenure. Nevertheless, for now he is firmly entrenched in power.
Mr. Wong has been trying to project an image of a common man. He grew up in public housing, did not attend the same elite schools as his predecessors, and loves playing the guitar. Mr Lee is expected to remain a “deputy minister”, just like his father, who resigned in 1990. Lee said his children have no interest in entering politics.
Earlier this month, Mr Lee delivered his final grand address to the nation at the new Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands Casino Resort.
“When I became Prime Minister, I promised to build a more inclusive Singapore, one where everyone works together to make things better for all of us, not everyone for themselves.” Singapore,” he said.
Hours later, a scene unimaginable decades ago unfolded nearby. Hundreds of people had gathered for a rally at Speaker's Corner, the only place Singaporeans can protest without a permit. They included delivery workers, bus drivers and medical workers, many wearing fluorescent yellow safety vests reminiscent of France's anti-government protests.
Activist Kokila Annamalai told the crowd that the PAP-led government had created a system that “has always protected the rich, not the working class.” She added that Singapore is “a playground for the rich, while the poor are crammed into cramped rental apartments.”
The PAP is one of the most powerful political parties in the world. The party claims that ministers are paid high salaries, which helps prevent corruption. It transformed Singapore from a backwater to a developed country and an important cog in the world's shipping trade. Gross domestic product per capita is about $83,000, compared to about $76,000 in the United States. The city-state, a major financial hub, has deftly managed the coronavirus pandemic and rising tensions between the United States and China.
But dissatisfaction is growing. In the 2020 elections, the PAP's vote share reached a record low of 61%, and the opposition won a record 10 of the 93 seats.
Ju Yi-hoon, 30, has never voted for Lee's party. Two years after graduating from college with a degree in English and linguistics, he's earning about $2,400 a month delivering food and tutoring students. . He still lives with his parents. He wants his own apartment, but it is out of reach. He cannot buy a public housing apartment from the government until he gets married or he turns 35. It's not like he can afford it.
Chu contrasts her plight with that of her grandmother, who raised five children as an uneducated widow in the 1960s. Her descendants now live what she describes as “comfortable middle-class” lifestyles, with some owning apartments and cars.
“A lot of people would probably say, 'Well, you grew up in a more developed country, a wealthier country,'” Chu said. “But I would argue that there are far fewer opportunities for social mobility.”
Mr Lee once said that a two-party system “doesn't work” in Singapore. However, in 2020 he formally established himself as opposition leader in parliament, making concessions that allowed him to control 12 seats, up from the 10 won by the opposition bloc.
“He knew that if he wanted to maintain the PAP's dominance, he had to manage the pace of change – and I think he has largely done that,” said the associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University. Mr Eugene Tan said.
On the social front, perhaps Lee's most radical change was to repeal colonial-era laws that prohibited consensual sex between men.
“At least there's a sense of, 'I can do this now,' and that ultimately, they're not criminals anymore,” said Leo Yanfa, executive director of the LGBTQ rights group Ugachaga.
But Lee also moved to solidify the definition of marriage as a heterosexual concept. Public discussion of race and religion remained tightly controlled, and human rights groups said the government remained combative with its critics. In 2021, the Singapore High Court ordered the blogger to pay Mr Lee approximately $100,000 for defamation. (The New York Times Company apologized and paid fines in 2010 and in the mid-1990s to resolve defamation lawsuits brought by Singapore government officials over opinion pieces.)
Critics say the government is weaponizing a law they say was enacted to combat fake news.
Playwright and podcaster Joel Tan said, “You never know when something you say will conflict with the authorities.”
The Singapore government said in a statement that it has strengthened its engagement with the public. He also promoted ideas regarding freedom of speech.
“Freedom of expression is an important part of Singapore's constitution, but it does not give Singaporeans an unconditional right,” the statement said. “The government can and will intervene in situations that affect the safety and security of Singaporeans and the peace and harmony that Singapore enjoys.”
For some, Wong's appointment is encouraging.
“We don't have Mr Lee anymore, but we also have a non-traditional type of leader,” said Sudhir Thomas Badakes, editor-in-chief of Jom, an independent online magazine about Singapore. “I like that.”
In recent years, Mr Lee has had to contend with public feuds with his brothers and a series of scandals within the PAP that tarnished its squeaky-clean image. However, he leaves his position as a popular leader.
Zoe Tan recalled seeing Mr Lee interacting with residents in Tek Gyi district in northern Singapore. “He walks the market and is a very humble person,” Tan said. “He takes pictures with us.”
Ms Tan said she had sent two emails to the prime minister asking for a moratorium on housing payments. In both cases, his office made quick arrangements to help her.
Mr Tan, who currently works at Singapore's Regional Development Council, said: “I'm very sad to see Mr Lee Hsien Loong retire. I thought he would continue on forever.''
Speaking at Marina Bay Sands, Mr Lee suggested that political change could threaten Singapore's prosperity.
“The system does not need to completely fail for Singapore to run into trouble,” he said. “If our politics were like other countries, we would end up worse off than other countries.”
