Outspoken Singapore critic Chee Soon Juan says there will be little political change until the city-state's founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies.
But Dr Chee, the secretary-general of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party, says social unrest is a growing threat and the recent uproar over the expulsion from school of four girls for wearing Muslim headscarves was proof of the discontent.
Dr Chee, in Hong Kong for speeches and meetings on human rights, said yesterday Mr Lee's longevity was inextricably linked to Singapore's future development and the governing People's Action Party's stranglehold on power. The party has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965 and it holds 81 of the 83 seats in Parliament.
'It's going to take that [Mr Lee's death] to happen before people begin to feel at least psychologically that something has been lifted from their chest,' he said.
Mr Lee, 76, enjoys good health and is still highly active in politics. He has been Senior Minister since 1990, when he stepped down after 31 years as prime minister.
Dr Chee said the city-state's economy had begun to slow and there was a need for new ideas and innovations so a new phase of development could begin. This was essential if Singapore was to maintain its status and compete with other countries in the region.