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Dissidents have guarded hopes for `inclusive' Lee

An opposition politician and social activists yesterday welcomed a promise from Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) of greater freedom of expression but said this may be easier said than done.

Lee, son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀), spelt out his government's agenda in a televised speech late on Sunday. He announced the easing of restrictions on political debate and urged citizens to speak up.

"Certainly we hope that he lives up to his word and makes some real changes," said Alex Au, a social activist and gay rights campaigner, after hearing Lee's first policy address since being sworn into office on Aug. 12.

"Frankly, I wouldn't be so easily misled by what appears to be a very outgoing style and draw from that any conclusion that his policy biases are any different from the past," Au said.

"He has been in government for over 20 years, he's been part and parcel of all the preceding policies, so what makes me think that somehow he's some fresh new wind?" he said.

Lee, 52, has made an "open and inclusive" society his political motto.

His father ruled Singapore with an iron fist for three decades until 1990, when he handed power to economist Goh Chok Tong (吳作棟). Goh governed for 14 years with a gentler style which the young Lee vows to continue and improve upon.

The new premier said on Sunday that indoor political discussions will no longer require licensing as long as they do not touch on the most sensitive topics in multiethnic Singapore: race and religion.

`a big yawn'

Au said this was a "welcome surprise" but added that one problem can stand in the way -- typical Singaporeans who probably reacted with "a big yawn" to the promise of greater freedom.

"I don't think they even grasp what it means to be a liberal society. It's something the great majority has never experienced in their lifetime. They know of no other way to live except to play safe," he said.

Au is the spokesman for People Like Us, a gay-rights group whose application for formal registration as a society has been rejected by authorities. He said the group had not yet decided if it will file a new application to test the political climate under Lee.

Opposition Member of Parliament Steve Chia said the lifting of restrictions on indoor political discussion, which excludes public rallies, came as a "minor surprise" because he did not expect it so soon.

"We really appreciate this step towards greater political openness and hope more Singaporeans will seize this opportunity to become more concerned and involved in civil-society matters," he said.

Chia described Lee as a "charismatic" politician who now has an opportunity to outshine his father and his predecessor, Goh.

The elder Lee, 80, remains in the Cabinet as an adviser while Goh, 63, took the title of senior minister, part of Singapore's unique policy of political continuity.

Sinapan Samydorai, president of the Think Center, a human-rights advocacy group, welcomed Lee's pledge to introduce greater freedom.

He said the new leader may be trying to connect to young people before seeking his own mandate in a general election.

skeptical

But he said people may be skeptical because it is still unclear where the "out of bounds" markers are in the political sphere. Tight controls in place since independence in 1965 would not be easy to shake off.

"For 39 years we have been under a sort of social engineering, which conditions people's mind-sets," Samydorai said. "Social behavior has always been contained -- who to marry, how to go to the toilet."

"People are still afraid of the OB [out-of-bounds] markers and they are also afraid of the security laws," he said.
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