Now that the dust has settled a bit from the whole siblings feud, I look back at the whole affair and try to assess who is the biggest casualty of it. Although Hongyi cannot lay claims to being the most damaged, his parent’s aspirations for him to be the next Prime Minister certainly has.
We know for sure, from Wei Ling and Hsien Yang, that Loong and Ching were harbouring “dynastic” ambitions for their son, HongYi. Let’s be clear on this point. We are hearing this from the mouths of the Aunt and Uncle of this boy. This is not public speculation nor kopi shop rumour mongering. Ho and Lee were really going to advance the boy to be the next PM.
But the sheer laziness and complacency, and working to put in the minimum amount of work required for this to happen is audacious in its arrogance. I mean, what were they thinking? Were they just going to parachute him into the next election like so many ex SAF scholar general before him and think that it would be a fait accompli for him to be elected? Were they going to run the boy in the strongest GRC and assure his election based on this?
This is a huge insult to the taxpayer and citizens of Singapore. He is a Lee. He is not a Kee Chiu nor a Tan Chuan Jin, etc. all nobodies that no one ever heard of before they became Ministers. Because he is a Lee, he has to be held to a higher standard. His own grandfather would demand this if he was alive. He has to prove himself, he has to work harder then anyone else, he has to show the desire, will and talent. That his own father Loong showed non of these traits, becomes even more important that he redeem the family name and work very hard at becoming a successful future PM.
But he did no such thing. His parents have hidden him away from public view at IDA, and he is variously listed as a consultant at IDA or a deputy director at the Government Digital Services Data Science Division of the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (whatever that is). He has made no public appearances or speeches since his grandfather’s funeral. His future plans and his personal life and even his exact job description and career path are all shrouded in secrecy. Even Loong had more information on himself regarding all these aspects of his life when he was being groomed for the PM role.
Why didn’t his parents have him appear at rallies in the last elections? They control the media, I am sure some reporters at SPH must be drooling to do a puff piece on him. Why did they not have that done? Even doing some basic grassroot work or appearing at various charity and community events will indicate his career choice. Let the people get to know him. Let them see who he is, and let them get used to the idea that he will be the future PM. If he impresses them with his humbleness, brains, or sheer hard work, they may warm up to him and make that transition a little easier. It may be an easier pill to swallow. At least, they should move him around to various Ministries to experience and get a feel for how things work and how govt runs.
But non of this happened. Why? I suspect that the flaw lies in the person himself. He just does not want it bad enough. He wants it handed to him on a silver plate, and wants to do the minimal effort to get it. He already has a reputation for being a spoilt brat during his NS days and for shortcutting the chain of command. I am going to guess that he has not learned that lesson. Shouldn’t he go to his parents and DEMAND to sit in on some MPS with his Papa, or attend some fund raising activities? Better still, how about fundraising using his own family name? His appearance or support at some charity’s fund raising would certainly bring in tens of thousands of $ more. Heck, even if he just showed up unannounced with no fanfare to help prepare food for needy residents, would have been 1000 times better then this backdoor way that his parents are trying to promote his ascension to the throne.
Seems to me that they have lost control over him. Seems to me that he does not want the job at all, and like his father before him, he is being forced into this office. Seems to me like the citizens of Singapore deserved better then this entitled brat, who can’t even be bothered to put in a modicum of work to justify his future role of PM. Perhaps Uncle and Aunty saw through it and were alarmed that Loong and Ho were promoting such an unmotivated and lazy ass individual to the highest office in the land. Putting out a half hearted “I have no real interest in politics” Facebook post on a largely dormant Facebook account convinces no one. I suppose Papa and mama were counting on the supporting cast around him to assure that he will perform half way decently by taking credit for other people’s work, much like his father is doing now. That could be why the PMO’s budget keeps getting bigger every year and more and more Ministers are added to it.
But they have miscalculated. They thought that the sheer PAP domination and the cache of the Lee name will suffice to put this reluctant or lazy Dauphin into office. They should have make him put in some work, put him out in the public, create a positive image around him. That way, when Aunty and Uncle accuse him of being part of a Dynastic conspiracy, Ho and Loong can spin it to say that he is a hard worker, cares for the down trodden, always raising money for worthy causes, etc. So, he can’t be that bad if he becomes PM. But all that did not happen and all that Mama and Papa could muster against the dynastic accusations were just lame denials. Its too late now. Anything he does along the lines I have mentioned above will be viewed with scepticism and cynicism by the public.
My 2 cent's worth.
