Singapore has just received its third Prime Minister, a sign that the region, Southeast Asia is moving into a new period. Roughly a year ago, Malaysia installed its fifth Prime Minister and Indonesia, from the look of it, should have a new President no later than this year’s end. I perceived this development as something positive as the region moves into the right direction.

Despite the change, a few things trouble me. In Malaysia, the currently Deputy Prime Minister is a son of a former Malaysian Prime Minister. In Indonesia, the current President is the daughter of Indonesia’s first President; in Singapore, the new Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong is the son of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. Of course, in the United States, the current President is a son of a former President but the US obviously is not even an Asian country.

Nevertheless, Singapore’s new man has promised for a more open society. The tiny city state is one of the most developed areas in the world but politically-wise, it is almost a dictatorship, a beneficial one unlike in some places. Democracy is limited and its Parliament is very much comprised of just one party, which sadly, very much resembles the current composition of Malaysia’s lower house, the Dewan Rakyat. With this, the fight for a liberal society will certainly go through a long and winding road.

For the moment at least, Singapore is not a role model for Malaysian struggle for greater rights and freedom. Malaysian media probably has greater freedom than its Singaporean counterpart. Malaysia is ranked 104th in a 2003 report by Reporters Without Borders in term of press freedom. Singapore is placed at 144th. When it concerns gay rights, Singapore is probably ranked way higher than Malaysia given the fact that recently, a gay parade was held there.

However, if the liberalization of Singaporean society is successful (note the word is liberalization, not liberation though I do not doubt some people in Malaysia would love to see the liberation of Singapore from the Singaporeans), I believe it would have a wonderful effect on Malaysia. What better than having a model right at your doorstep?

Then again, with Lee Kuan Yew still in power, believing in an open Singaporean society is a little bit far fetched.

p/s - two hurricanes will hit Florida within this week and the next. And for August and the summer in general, it feels like November. It is climate change I tell you! (I'm kidding though I do feel the weather is a little bit crazy for the past few years.)

pp/s - Zinedine Zidane has retired from the footballing world. There go one more star. I will miss his flair. Hail to the football great.

ppp/s - It is $45 per barrel and going up still.

p^4/s - Damn! I love the sunflower in my new icon!