SINGAPORE'S missing component is a new generation of leaders tempered the same way as the old ones.
But although the country is still looking for them, the political system in place can groom such leaders.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew made this point on Thursday at a ministerial forum in Nanyang Technological University.

Responding to a question on how Singapore can stay relevant in 20 years' time, he said: "I would like to be able to tell you, and I think with some confidence, that definitely we will stay relevant because we have set ourselves up, taken the hard decisions that will see us through the next 20 to 30 years."

In particular, he listed strong political leadership and the widespread use of English as advantages for Singapore to leverage on to stay relevant.

The problem then, he said, would be helping neighbours such as Indonesia and Malaysia catch up.

On the topic of grooming political leaders, Mr Lee said the Singapore system had an edge over many other democracies.

"In most democratic countries, you win an election and suddenly you are a minister... You've no idea what to do if you don't have outstanding public servants to guide you and get you on to a practical course. The country gets into trouble," he said.

"Here, we have done our very best to get people of integrity and ability, and commit them to come in early, in their 30s.

"So that by the time, after two or three elections, when they are in their 40s or late-50s, or mid-50s, they would have been sufficiently tempered from experience on the job, interacting with ministers, to know exactly what they should do and how to get people to support the policy."

Another edge Singapore had was its English-speaking society.

"Had we chosen any other language," said Mr Lee, "we wouldn't have today's Singapore."

He said it was English that made Singapore "home to the world" and allowed it to grow into the cosmopolitan country it is.

"Supposed we made the foolish choice of choosing one of the indigenous languages, Malay, Chinese or Tamil, we wouldn't have grown into a hub."

The third part of the puzzle for Singapore to stay relevant is to help develop its neighbours in the region.

Said MM Lee: "If your surroundings start doing well, you will do better."

However, he acknowledged that the notion of Singapore wanting to help might be difficult for some to swallow.

"Our problem is to help our neighbours come up to speed. I mean they may not believe me, because they think I want to rob them," he quipped, referring to remarks he made in his speech earlier in the night about Indonesians accusing Singapore of achieving success by robbing them.

He said it all came down to how well the country was doing.

"If you look at Malaysia, they are doing better than Indonesia so there is less friction between them and us...

"When they (Indonesians) were doing well and confident, we had no problems, we were trading with them all over," he said.

But even as he stressed the need for Singapore to help its neighbours, Mr Lee also underlined the need for Singapore to keep its competitive edge.

"There's nothing that we do which given time they cannot do...but of course if they do it just as well then we are finished, because they will be cheaper.

"So we must always move one step ahead," said MM Lee.