Therefore, it is no surprise that on August 10, when Prime Minister Goh tendered his resignation letter to President S.R. Nathan, Lee Hsien Loong took over (although he was formally sworn in on August 12). It seems that the smooth transfer of power is a highly choreographed matter, not lost to people both within and outside Singapore. Interestingly, when the list of Cabinet Ministers was disclosed by the new Prime Minister, Lee Sr. and Goh were included, the first one as "Mentor Minister" and the other as "Senior Minister."

Goh Chok Tong's tenure
Goh has done a wonderful job as Prime Minister for 14 years. Goh was given a warm farewell by the 60,000 flag wavers who packed Singapore's main stadium. It was also the 39th national day celebrations that went off with smiles all around culminating in a firework display that night.

Goh reportedly insisted he would wait for the economy to turn around before handing over to his long-anointed deputy, Lee Hsien Loong. On national day last year Goh said that his "immediate priority is to get Singapore out of the economic gloom." By that measure, observers believe that he has accomplished his mission. The economy is again booming. The government has raised its economic forecast tipping annual growth of between 8 per cent and 9 per cent that will be Singapore's best performance in several years and the highest growth in Asia this year outside China.

Dynastic succession
Dynastic succession is not uncommon in Asia. It took place in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, the Philippines, and now in Singapore (in Europe Greece has the unique distinction). It may occur in Egypt and Libya as well.

The very fact that the former Prime Minister Goh has insisted that the transfer does not represent a dynastic succession reflects the growing concern among some people that dynasty is more important than meritocracy. Lee Jr. has good credentials, having been a product of Cambridge and Harvard universities, with brilliant record, (no wonder his first name means illustrious dragon). He had also a stint in military service and became the youngest Brigadier-General. However, many believe that it is the perception among people that counts and is important in politics.

It is reported in a poll in the government-controlled Strait Times that 47 per cent of Singaporeans believe that being Lee Kuan Yew's son helped Lee Hsien Loong become Prime Minister. The poll also shows that 83 per cent think that he is the best man for the job. Another media report suggests that a local taxi driver, who did not want to be named, put his sentiment in this way: "The father Lee suffered, but the son Lee was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He would not have the job if he was not the son."

New Cabinet
The new Prime Minister will retain the portfolio of Finance with himself as he did as the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that economic prosperity remains robust in the island-state. It is not clear what Lee Sr. will be in charge of as "Mentor Minister," although political observers believe that he will have a large advisory role. Lee Sr. reportedly said that he would play the role of an "old political warrior" in his new capacity. Lee Sr. will give up the tile "Senior Minister" to former Prime Minister Goh who, as "Senior Minister," will be the head of the Central Bank of Singapore.

Challenges for the new Prime Minister
Observers believe that the biggest challenge for the new Prime Minister will be to continue to attract more investment in financial services, pharmaceuticals, tertiary education and the arts -- areas Singapore has reportedly identified as future drivers of growth. It is also believed that he must entice Singapore's younger, creative citizens to remain living in a highly regulated state rather than seek jobs overseas. It is reported that unemployment hovers around 4.5 per cent and Singaporeans struggle with the high cost of housing and increasing job uncertainty. He has to ensure plans to ease the situation for Singaporeans.

Another unanswered question is whether he plans to steer the government further away from its traditionally "heavy-handed" role in the economy. Rating agency Moody's recently questioned whether it was time for Singapore to start loosening up its grip over the protected companies to meet the challenges of the globalised economy. It reportedly stated that: "There is the question of whether continued ownership and management of a large portion of the domestic economy by the government is compatible with the achievement of a more flexible, entrepreneurial economy." He is known to be pro-business and a firm believer in responding to the forces of economic globalisation

Lee Jr. is known to be a no-nonsense character, much like his father. His father got away with it with the older generation and many think that his no-nonsense character needs to be tempered for the young generation who do not wish to be over-regulated by the government. The new Prime Minister, in an opening address, called for "an open and inclusive Singapore." Ho Khai Leong, a political analyst at the Institute of South-East Asian Studies said: "The ceremony is over and the rhetoric has already been said. It is back to work." Citizens will have the opportunity to gauge the depth of Lee Jr.'s commitment to change when he delivers the National Day Rally speech on August 22, Singapore's version of the US President's annual State of the Union address.

Conclusion
Singapore, covering a total of 620 square kilometers, with a population of about 4.5 million (Chinese almost 77 per cent), gained self-governing status in 1959 and later became a part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. Finally it separated from Malaysia in 1965. Since 1959, the People's Action Party has ruled the country. As Goh said, the party "practices politics of consensus and convergence."

Lee Sr. ruled for 25 years, Goh for 14 years, and how long Lee Jr. will run the nation is largely in his own hands. In Singapore, the three leaders are often irreverently referred to as the Trinity: the father, the son, and the Holy Goh.

Barrister Harun ur Rashid is a former Bangladesh Ambassador to the UN, Geneva.