Singapore's founding father announces retirement

Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew announced Saturday his retirement from the city-state's cabinet to make way for a younger generation leaders. The surprise statement came a week after the opposition scored a major breakthrough in elections that revealed deep resentment against the People's Action Party (PAP) which has ruled the country for more than 50 years. Goh Chok Tong, Singapore's second premier, is also to retire, according to a joint statement from the men. "We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future... The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation," the statement said. "After a watershed general election, we have decided to leave the cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore." Lee's son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is due to form a new government soon after the PAP was returned to power in the May 7 polls. In the previous cabinet, the 87-year-old Lee held the influential post of minister mentor, while Goh was senior minister. Although the ruling party won 81 out of the 87 elected seats at stake, the opposition managed to break the PAP's stranglehold on power by scoring its best performance ever. The opposition faces tough restrictions on political activity but six small parties took advantage of the election campaign to demand reforms and greater accountability. Foreign Minister George Yeo was the biggest casualty of opposition gains when his five-member People's Action Party (PAP) ticket was toppled by the Workers' Party. In addition the PAP's share of all votes cast the equivalent of an approval rating in a country that does not publish surveys about government performance fell to an all-time low of 60 % from 67 % in 2006 and 75 % in 2001. "The prime minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate," the two former premiers said in their statement, adding that younger generation "wants to be more engaged in the decisions that affect them" "But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after," the statement said.