Nope, it's precisely because of LKY. From 1980s onwards he started fixing the opposition, made the media the PAP mouthpiece, invented the GRC system etc.
HK had a much better parliamentary system inherited from the Brits, it evolved naturally during the two decades while LKY perverted it. At least until 1997, when HK returned to China.
Kids of today probably will never learn about this in their history lessons.