back then, these band of monkeys elect HSK and CCS as the their new leader. HSK as chief and CCS deputy. When HSK announced his stepping aside, it would be a formality to name CCS as the next head and appoint one of LW or OYK as deputy, its natural and its obvious. But it did not happen. Meaning those who voted for HSK do not agree CCS as the leader or have sufficient quali. Which means, he is ruled out of the PM race.
LHL then reshuffle the cabinet, the plump job of Finance Minister go to LW, which place him ahead in the PMship. CCS used to helm an important ministry of trade but get shoehorned to Education as he needs to more 'close to ground'. This to me, is a demotion. If we look at the cabinet lineup - the key external facing ones are all helmed by old dogs - defence & foreign affairs. Only trade is helmed by CCS. Internal key ones will be finance as key. Next health (the reshuffle at peak of COVID, hence health, otherwise its transport). Other less significant - education, manpower, enviro, social devt... Moving CCS from a high key portfolio to a relatively lesser significant portfolio is telling. Even more telling, an old dog replaces him in GKY. OYK used to helm this before LW took over. Both OYK and LW moved on to greater portfolios, both of them set many projects in place, the greatest ones - P1 school registration, PSLE revamp. CCS took over a vehicle set in motion with things and directions already preset. Good and bad - good thing is, if things go wrong, not his problem, Bad thing is, he has nothing to show. Then we noticed he try to tell the world he is down to earth namely his Casio watch. But it only reinforce his image of a typical army man, rigid & old school. Hence, i think he is gone from PM ship race.
OYK now head health ministry -a high key portfolio especially COVID. However, his nemesis LW is helming finance. Begs the question, why OYK is not given finance minister over LW? Maybe LW has experience from second minister of finance? But that shouldn't be an obstacle if someone wants him to be the lead. Some bro in this forum pointed out by LHL announcing freeing up of COVID measures during the time when OYK is a sign that he is sidelined in the PMship race, perhaps. However, LHL is forced to bring forward this announcement as Mudland PM has earlier announced full relaxation of COVID restrictions for Mudland come 1 Apr. Singapore cannot be seen to have their leadership role in COVID management in APAC taken away by Mudland. Which is why LHL rush the announcement.
If you watch the MMTF press conference after LHL speech, you can see that LW is visibly irritated. I believe its on 2 fronts. 1) OYK still cannot bring the overcrowding at hospital under control. OYK pass it off as normal course of business or backlog resultant of COVID. This crowd, he said, is the 'normal' crowd that is there if COVID is not present. What nonsense is this? Second, Halimah rubberstamped another 6billion of reserve to combat COVID, a hit in the coffers of LW. Proceduraly, LW as finance minister have to approve any funds even to Health minister. And another telling thing, if you notice during the press conference, LW was the last to speak and his speech is to tie up what the three clowns have shared.
As such, there is indeed truth and my feeling is LW is on the home run. Expect announcement soon.
