With PM Lee's last major speech before handover, election campaigning 'has started': Analysts

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s final major speech as Singapore's leader on Wednesday (May 1) can be seen as an election campaign speech, according to political analysts. 

The May Day address, delivered two weeks before he hands the reins to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 15, was Mr Lee’s final chance to address the nation in his current capacity before the next General Election, which experts predict will be called by year-end.

“Since the new Prime Minister is likely to deliver the National Day Rally (NDR) solely, this is the last platform for Prime Minister (Lee) to deliver his 'election' message,” said former Member of Parliament Inderjit Singh.

He described the annual May Day Rally, which takes place on Labour Day, as equally significant as the NDR, a key political speech delivered after National Day in August.

In his speech on Wednesday which lasted over an hour, Mr Lee touched on the government’s achievements during his 20-year tenure, as well as fundamentals which have helped Singapore overcome past challenges. 

Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University Eugene Tan said Mr Lee’s speech was about rallying the nation before the handover. 

“It is also about reminding Singaporeans that the People's Action Party (PAP) government has kept to its word and to enthuse Singaporeans about the future,” said Assoc Prof Tan.

“The next election is a pivotal one and so we should not be surprised that the campaigning has started in earnest.” 

EMPHASIS ON PAP’S TRACK RECORD 

Analysts said that in sharing his achievements, as well as that of his predecessors Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, Mr Lee was driving home the ruling PAP's good track record - one that Singaporeans can be assured of Mr Wong maintaining as well. 

For Mr Lee, a key factor here "is that the PAP system works and that Singaporeans should trust that the PAP government will also make things work in the future”, said Mr Singh, who was the Prime Minister's fellow MP in the Ang Mo Kio constituency.

He added that given the short runway for Mr Wong’s 4G or fourth-generation leadership team, Mr Lee was also laying out the PAP’s track record as a way to boost confidence in the next government.

Mr Wong was named 4G leader in April 2022, a year after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat took himself out of the running for the top job in April 2021.

FUNDAMENTALS AMID CHALLENGES

The Prime Minister also devoted much of his speech to outlining that the three imperatives of social cohesion, long-term planning, and political stability and trust would remain crucial to Singapore in a future riven with geopolitical rivalries and economic uncertainty.

His intention here was to assure the people that the fundamental principles that have served Singapore would continue to carry it forward, analysts said.

"The PAP's election strategy has from time to time (been) to appeal to voters that in difficult times, they should elect the tested party who have delivered in the past and that they should not rock the boat by voting for the opposition," said Mr Singh.

He added that Mr Lee wanted to deliver the message that voters "should trust the PAP to help us ride through the difficult time expected ahead".

Assoc Prof Tan said it was significant for Mr Lee to emphasise "the virtuous circle that has kept Singapore thriving".

The message was that "in a more precarious future, we must not fall for political fads and political entrepreneurs but instead stay grounded on what truly matters for a small state like Singapore".

Independent political observer Felix Tan said Mr Lee was also telling Singaporeans to not assume things would stay the same.

He was stressing that in the face of crises, people can depend on the PAP "to bring Singapore to the next level", said Dr Tan.

SETTING THE STAGE 

Analysts say that Mr Lee's speech marks the end of his time as Prime Minister, but also the start of Mr Wong's tenure. 

Said Assistant Professor Elvin Ong from the National University of Singapore's Department of Political Science: "I think in general we can see PM Lee’s speech as sort of a 'wrap-up' speech of his political career, summarising his and the PAP’s achievements over the past 20 years, and setting the stage for the next chapter of the PAP and the new Prime Minister." 

Agreeing, Dr Felix Tan added that beyond giving Mr Wong and the 4G team a vote of confidence, Mr Lee’s speech served as a reminder of the challenging task that confronts them.

“(It) is also to remind the new 4G leaders not to just rest on the achievements of the 3G leaders,” the observer said. 

“Now that they have big shoes to fill; they need to strike out on their own, create their own history, make their own stories," said Dr Tan.

"Whatever becomes of that story, it is them that are answerable to Singaporeans at the end of the day."