IN FOCUS: The implications of a delayed transition to Singapore's next generation of leaders

[Johnrambo]

SINGAPORE: The transition to Singapore’s next leadership had seemed largely settled at the beginning of 2020.

The wheels had been set in motion long before, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong saying as early as 2012 that he aimed to hand over the reins of power by the age of 70 in 2022.

There was some uncertainty about the process when a PM-designate had failed to emerge by the end of 2017, prompting Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to "nudge" the process along with a Facebook post that said: "One urgent challenge I would like to see settled is our fourth generation leadership."

The younger political office holders, dubbed the fourth generation – or 4G – leaders, chose current Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as "first among equals" by early 2018.

Then COVID-19 struck, the economy tanked and the transition, like almost everything else in the midst of this pandemic, was facing potential issues.

The transfer of power to a fourth prime minister, which was expected by 2022, is now contingent on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As it became clear what havoc the COVID-19 pandemic would wreak around the world, Mr Lee pledged at his Fullerton rally during July’s General Election that he and his peers would see Singapore through this crisis.

Last month, former Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong used the same idiom to underline this message: That Singapore should not “change horses in midstream”.

More at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...prime-minister-ge2020-heng-swee-keat-13681156

 

[millim6868]

Change or don change still same, so better change government as present us only care abt thrir own pockets, we need ppl to serve with heart as serving the nation ,not like that CB Jo

 

[Loofydralb]

It is almost clear for those that follow the shenanigans of the Sg political elite, will see that LHL actually prefers the boy scout CCS instead of HSK.

He has made CCS prominent so as to increase his profile years ago. For whatever reasons we may only speculate, among those, is to take care of the skeletons in the closet. Many too has noted CCS's failure to appear leader-like, with his SAF kiasi antics.

So then, it appears that PAP had, and still have, now 2 camps. The other one wanting a more 'forgiving', 'softer' candidate as PM. Thus the feet dragging and reluctance and political maneuvering to get CCS in and HSK out.

But the cadres had their final say. But now with Covid, LHL is making another attempt at replacing HSK with CCS.

 

[tanwahtiu]

Yah. Hard to let go elephant in the room TH.

One CAQ retires the elephant in TH HC will be exposed to scrunity her paychecks and incompetent investments CEO...