Friday 27 January 2012

Singapore PM Lee does not see children joining politics

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, said Thursday that he does not think that his children will enter politics.

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Guanyu said...

Singapore PM Lee does not see children joining politics

AFP
27 January 2012

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the son of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, said Thursday that he does not think that his children will enter politics.

“They will have to decide but if you ask me now I think the odds are not on it,” he told the Davos meeting of business and political elite.

“It’s a different generation, it’s a new world, there are so many opportunities in Singapore,” said Lee.

Lee, who has four children, took office as the island state’s third prime minister in 2004.

His father led Singapore to political independence and economic prosperity during a 31-year run until 1990 as prime minister, and remained in cabinet under his son until last year.

Asked what it was like living under his father’s shadow, Lee said: “Well, I don’t know. I’ve never not had it. It’s tough enough, but you have to live with it.”

Lee said his illustrious father “had expectations, but he left me to do my own thing. He did not push me into this, and neither would it have worked had he done so.”

The elder Lee announced his departure from cabinet shortly after the ruling People’s Action Party polled its worst results in the 2011 elections.

The party lost an unprecedented six seats out of the 87 at stake and its share of the vote fell to an all-time low of 60 percent from nearly 67 percent in the previous election in 2006.