Singaporeans might wish this political fight did not take place. But they cannot wish it away now. Some good might come out of it if, as a result, people understand better how the country is making the transition to a post-LKY world especially in the political sphere and how the Government is being run. Do Singaporeans want to know and to participate in this discussion? Do they have the political maturity to do so and in a way that will ensure the country becomes stronger in the process? It will be a critical test for post-LKY Singapore.

Singapore is at an inflexion point, with the memory of its founding leaders still fresh, but facing a brave new world under very different circumstances that will test its survival skills. It cannot break completely away from the past but neither does it want to be a prisoner of its history.

Demolish or preserve the house? You couldn’t find a better metaphor for the country and Mr Lee’s legacy.

… Han Fook Kwang is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.