SINGAPORE — Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has "categorically" ruled himself out as the Republic's next Prime Minister, saying the candidate should be someone from the fourth generation leaders.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the new headquarters of Wong Fong Industries on Wednesday (Sept 28), Mr Tharman said: "I'm not the man (to be) PM. I say that categorically."
He added: "I'm good at policy-making, I'm good at advising my younger colleagues and supporting the Prime Minister, not at being the Prime Minister. That's not my ambition, and that's not me."
Succession is not an urgency in this term of government and it is not an immediate problem for Singapore Mr Tharman said, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is still in "top form".
"(Mr Lee) is healthy, even after that small scare recently. The doctors have given him a clean bill of health. And that's why we're focused on the fourth generation of leaders, building them up and enabling them to take over during the next term of government," he added.
On Monday, Yahoo Singapore published a survey it had commissioned, in which 69 per cent of 897 respondents had indicated Mr Tharman to be their first choice for Singapore’s next prime minister.
On the economy, Mr Tharman said the second half of the year will be a tough period for the republic and will probably see growth at the lower end of the 1-2 per cent range.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the new headquarters of Wong Fong Industries on Wednesday (Sept 28), Mr Tharman said: "I'm not the man (to be) PM. I say that categorically."
He added: "I'm good at policy-making, I'm good at advising my younger colleagues and supporting the Prime Minister, not at being the Prime Minister. That's not my ambition, and that's not me."
Succession is not an urgency in this term of government and it is not an immediate problem for Singapore Mr Tharman said, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is still in "top form".
"(Mr Lee) is healthy, even after that small scare recently. The doctors have given him a clean bill of health. And that's why we're focused on the fourth generation of leaders, building them up and enabling them to take over during the next term of government," he added.
On Monday, Yahoo Singapore published a survey it had commissioned, in which 69 per cent of 897 respondents had indicated Mr Tharman to be their first choice for Singapore’s next prime minister.
On the economy, Mr Tharman said the second half of the year will be a tough period for the republic and will probably see growth at the lower end of the 1-2 per cent range.