It was his National Day Rally speech, traditionally an occasion – like the US president’s State of the Union address – to talk about major problems or identify a new vision for the future.

Being the 40th anniversary this year was special. But with general elections likely around the corner, citizens had expected Lee to dish out ‘goodies’ to sweeten the ground.

But it wasn’t that sort of speech. Although he spent much time on the bottom 20% of society and plans to close the widening economic gap, details were generally few, presumably to come later.

As it turned out, it was more crucial. The 53-year-old Lee, who became Prime Minister a year ago, was making one of the most important speeches here in years.

My first impression is that he has restored part of Singaporeans' jaded dream and rallied his people by presenting a future that's dazzling and achievable.

Public confidence had declined during the past eight years because of a fundamental shift of the global economy away from Singapore. Some people were beginning to doubt the government’s ability to pull the country around.

Others were worried that the city may not have a future and are emigrating in rising numbers. Lee’s vision of Singapore within five to 10 years should boost morale of would-be migrants.

With the help of slides and video-clips, the son of Lee Kuan Yew showed the people a glimpse of it, centred around Marina Bay, a large reclaimed land facing Indonesia.

Singapore, already with 300 parks, will be transformed into a vibrant, global city. In 10 years, Marina will have three gardens, a lake, a multi billion-dollar casino-resort and a business and financial centre.

The size of Botanical Gardens, the largest garden will be situated next to the resort at Marina South. The others are a 30ha waterfront garden at Marina East and a 10ha beachfront garden at Marina Centre, all linked by bridges forming a waterfront loop.

Many other ‘fun’ spots will be redeveloped, including Clifford Pier, Orchard Road, Bras Basah and Bugis for young people and tourists and Toa Payoh heartland for residents.

These structural plans are easier to achieve than the proposed software objectives of establishing a creative, entrepreneurial and compassionate society.

Singapore is facing increasing competition from many countries, especially China and India. Countries which are cheaper (than Singapore) are getting better; others, which are better are becoming cheaper, said Lee.

His stirring portrayal of the future by 2015 has, however, dispelled some of the pessimism and fired up many Singaporeans. “The future is not gloomy at all,” exclaimed a small businessman.

Lee’s hat contains other rabbits. Apart from two science parks and its own high-tech Silicon Valley, Singapore has developed a bioscience research centre, Biopolis that has, he said, given the country a 20-year head-start.

Now strait-laced Singapore is picking up the spirit of Las Vegas.

“Out of nothing in a desert, they have built a city. Forty million people visit it every year,” Lee said. “We don’t want to become Las Vegas, but we should learn from their spirit.”

In his speech, Lee also showed his leadership quality. Speaking in Malay, Mandarin and English, Lee laid claim to his “new Singapore” that will take shape within his period of rule.

The assertiveness would put aside doubts on leadership that Singaporeans might have had over the strong presence of two former prime ministers – Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Some people had been wondering whether they, in particularly the Minister Mentor, were sharing some of his responsibilities and influence.

Lee also came across as a ‘focused’ person when he pinpointed, among others, the declining income of the bottom one-fifth, the widening rich-poor gap, and the problem of the elderly citizens as top current problems.

The perks that he was expected to detail, however, did not materialise, possibly out of a desire not to turn the occasion into an electioneering campaign.

But it’s not all praises. Lee is also criticised for avoiding some problems like too many political and social controls. He made no reference, for example, to the tough election environment that has resulted in more one-sided or single-candidate elections here.

In the recent presidential election, S.R. Nathan was re-elected when three other candidates were declared unsuitable.

In the last general election in 2001, out of 84 Parliament seats only 29 were contested and the opposition won two. The story of large-scale walkovers had been a common feature here because the opposition was weak and fragmented and the rules weighed against it.

One involves the government scheme to subsidise refurbishing of old housing blocks that puts opposition wards at the end of the queue, all else being equal. So far only PAP wards have been selected.

In last week’s speech, Lee hinted that this policy would continue, as well as another controversy of paying government leaders some of the highest salaries in the world.

Lee, however, promised gradual changes. In 40 years “it must be a totally different Singapore. Because if it’s the same Singapore as today, we’re dead.”

o Seah Chiang Nee is a veteran journalist and editor of the information website littlespeck.com

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