Couple of observations ;
1) This has to be first time in PAP's history that heads rolled to send a clear signal. 5 Ministers turfed out of which 3 were actually fired. No surprising that they were in charge of portfolios which were not managed well. - Internal security, Housing and Transport. A clear message to the electorate that they are prepared to listen and clear message to political appointees to perform or be fired. Note that none of the 3 had the opportunity to say anything which is truly unprecedented. Don't be surprised that one of them resigns as MP to show his disdain.
2) Here is the inside on why WKS was sacked. Not directly because of Mas Selamat's escape but because he announced that he was setting up an "Independent" Commission of Inquiry but named a deputy sec in his own ministry in it. This was not taken lightly by members of the Alpha Society and raised to PM. It has been downhill since. It was also the reason that Shanmugam was suddenly brought in with 2 months notice out of the blue when Mas Selamat was captured and his version of the escape did not match the commission's findings suggesting massive cover-up. Poor chap had to find a women on the fly to marry to be politically acceptable. He was allowed to contest Bishan as his removal might have led to internal grassroots sabotage. It is also the same GRC that had an MP who was asked to step down in 2006 because of repeated wife battery and another key person stepping down at the next GE was not a good idea.
3) Emeritus because to accord GCT protocol rights and cover MFA functions as GY loss would have been too big a gap for Shanmugam to cover. No ministerial pay though. Mission stipend.
4) By appointing Heng Swee Kiat to MOE, it signals that he is now PM material and will takeover Mindef eventually.
5) Iswaran now takes over as man in charge of the highly secretive Population Secretariat with PMO as cover. This is the dept that manages the population, talent, FT and bringing back of ex-singaporeans and expat Singaporeans back to the country.
6) Lim Swee Say continues to head NTUC which has always been a Minister's portfolio after the departure of Devan Nair.
7) Tharman tale has to be an extraordinary one based on fate. Not in the any scheme associated with the talent stream, it took a court case and he is now a DPM. More to follow.
The big question is who are other than PM will now have control over PA. The word is grassroots are going to face a massive revamp.
1) This has to be first time in PAP's history that heads rolled to send a clear signal. 5 Ministers turfed out of which 3 were actually fired. No surprising that they were in charge of portfolios which were not managed well. - Internal security, Housing and Transport. A clear message to the electorate that they are prepared to listen and clear message to political appointees to perform or be fired. Note that none of the 3 had the opportunity to say anything which is truly unprecedented. Don't be surprised that one of them resigns as MP to show his disdain.
2) Here is the inside on why WKS was sacked. Not directly because of Mas Selamat's escape but because he announced that he was setting up an "Independent" Commission of Inquiry but named a deputy sec in his own ministry in it. This was not taken lightly by members of the Alpha Society and raised to PM. It has been downhill since. It was also the reason that Shanmugam was suddenly brought in with 2 months notice out of the blue when Mas Selamat was captured and his version of the escape did not match the commission's findings suggesting massive cover-up. Poor chap had to find a women on the fly to marry to be politically acceptable. He was allowed to contest Bishan as his removal might have led to internal grassroots sabotage. It is also the same GRC that had an MP who was asked to step down in 2006 because of repeated wife battery and another key person stepping down at the next GE was not a good idea.
3) Emeritus because to accord GCT protocol rights and cover MFA functions as GY loss would have been too big a gap for Shanmugam to cover. No ministerial pay though. Mission stipend.
4) By appointing Heng Swee Kiat to MOE, it signals that he is now PM material and will takeover Mindef eventually.
5) Iswaran now takes over as man in charge of the highly secretive Population Secretariat with PMO as cover. This is the dept that manages the population, talent, FT and bringing back of ex-singaporeans and expat Singaporeans back to the country.
6) Lim Swee Say continues to head NTUC which has always been a Minister's portfolio after the departure of Devan Nair.
7) Tharman tale has to be an extraordinary one based on fate. Not in the any scheme associated with the talent stream, it took a court case and he is now a DPM. More to follow.
The big question is who are other than PM will now have control over PA. The word is grassroots are going to face a massive revamp.
... dat loon burger himself shud go 4 tis mistake! ... 
