South China Morning Post: Lee Kuan Yew's death could have won support for PAP

Ex-Straits Times editor calls it with this piece.

Belmont Lay| March 31, 04:41 AM

Now that the seven-day national mourning period has officially ended, more clear-eyed analyses of last week's eulogising and last rites proceedings following Lee Kuan Yew's death on March 23, 2015, are finally taking place.

In one such article published in South China Morning Post, titled "Focus on Lee Kuan Yew's achievements may give boost to Singapore's People's Action Party", by ex-Straits Times editor, Zuraidah Ibrahim, she postulates that Singapore's founding prime minister's death is a timely reminder of the need for strong leadership and good governance, which is a boon for the People's Action Party.

Click photo to go to article:

scmp-lky-death

 

So what does the piece say? With the next General Election to be called by January 2017, Lee's death could give the ruling party the boost it needs that even Singapore's jubilee year celebrations and policy shifts cannot provide.

Here's how:

 

1. It is clear that Lee Kuan Yew is the PAP:

Indeed, Lee has been such a constant that when he fell seriously ill last month and died last Monday at age 91, the most common question was whether the People's Action Party (PAP) would decline without the man who had been its centre of gravity for 60 years. Even PAP leaders have readily admitted that nobody is likely to fill Lee's shoes.

[...]

... the PAP owed its longevity to Lee, and that it could fall apart without him. After a week of nationwide mourning, however, an intriguing new possibility has emerged: that the intense focus on his achievements and qualities could actually solidify support for his PAP.

 

2. But it is Lee's death that is a shocking reminder of what will be missed:

However, Lee's sorrowful send-off may have an even greater impact on voters than the multimillion-dollar SG50 bash. The eulogies, including superlative tributes from abroad, appear to have focused people's minds on some of the strong fundamentals of PAP governance.

[...]

"His passing has reminded me all the more why we need good, capable leaders to get things done, not just those who can talk," she said.

 

3. And this has brought out the silent majority:

Before the last election, social media was dominated by government critics. The PAP has been encouraging its base to speak up. Last week, finally, the silent majority showed up in force and made plain their loyalties, say many commentators.

They emerged in the long, 24-hour queues to file past Lee's coffin, in the thousands of notes and mementoes at community halls all over the island, and in the hundreds of thousands who lined the streets bid their final farewell to Lee's cortege yesterday.

 

4. And this past week of mourning has been almost like organising political rallies for the PAP to reach the masses:

Observers like Tan also note that the unusual nature of the events of the past week became rallies for the ruling party to reinforce its record. There were memorial services by various groups, from unions to big corporations, from grass-roots groups to the civil service. The events "have had the effect of a large, continuous political rally that are not accessible to opposition parties", says Tan.

"Perhaps, the events, recollections and emotions of the past week could be understood as LKY's farewell gift to the PAP and Singapore."

 

Therefore, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that the next General Election will be held in late March or early April in 2016 during the period to mark the first anniversary of Lee's passing.

 

Related articles:

Nicole Seah: What lies ahead for S’pore?

10 things we learn about the Lee family from Lee Hsien Yang’s eulogy

Dr Lee Wei Ling’s eulogy was something Singaporeans would’ve appreciated to hear

5 heart-wrenching quotes from PM Lee’s eulogy at Lee Kuan Yew’s state funeral service

 

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