Lee Hsien Loong
Is he a closet liberal?
ST columnist indicates the real person has yet to emerge; so far few signs of it. By Seah Chiang Nee
Feb 3, 2005

In today's Straits Times, writer Chua Mui Hoong asks if Mr. Lee Hsien Loong is a closet liberal in an article headlined: "A liberal? The label seems to fit PM Lee."

I must say I was surprised by it, and dare say many other informed Singaporeans, as well.

The term 'closet liberal' implies that the real Hsien Loong has not yet emerged and will - judging by his current actions - do so one day. It refers to the future, which no one can predict.

However hard I tried, I have failed to detect any significant signs of that happening soon.

As the columnist observed that at the time of his swearing in, the Prime Minister was perceived by the nation as a 'tough-minded hardliner'. (That it is proven wrong is already a big relief.)

So how has he changed from a 'tough-minded hardliner' to a 'closet liberal' in just seven months?

The mystery probably lies in the writer's textbook interpretation of the word "liberal' as someone who favours progress and reform, 'tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition'".

That definition would even make China's leaders 'liberals', since they, too, work for progress and reform. And none wants to be associated with authoritarianism or orthodoxy.

(Actually Mr. Lee Hsien Loong and almost every other Asian leader would dislike to be known as non-traditionalists).

From Day One, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew had worked for 'progress and reform' (a wide-covering word that includes social, economic and political matters) but he has made it known he's no liberal.

So what is a liberal and under what circumstances could Lee Hsien Loong be defined as a liberal?

In America, he would be a staunch member of the Democratic Party as distinct from the Republicans; in Britain, he would have joined the Labour Party, not the Tories.

In Western Europe, of course, he would have been called leftwing or left-of-centre, probably joining a socialist party.

The People's Action Party is, of course, none of the above. It follows the Western capitalist model and loves Western technology but shuns its politics - Democrat or Republican.

With the rising Western influence, I am sure that Singapore will continue to loosen up at a controlled pace.

Whether it will have a liberal leadership will depend on how fast Mr. Lee Hsien Loong lifts controls on Singapore's politics and the press. That looks a long way off.
By Seah Chiang Nee