By: Melanie Yip
First published: 11 August 04, Radio Singapore International

Singapore's Prime Minister-designate Lee Hsien Loong and his cabinet is sworn in on Thursday, August 12..

Singapore's outgoing Senior Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, takes on the role of Minister Mentor in the new cabinet.

So what is the significance of the Minister Mentor porfolio?

Melanie Yip put the question to Associate Professor Hussin Mutalib (HM) from the National University of Singapore's Political Science Department.

HM: Many people have been caught off-guard. Firstly, SM Lee is still integral to what was expected to be a rejuvenated, new cabinet line-up, but more importantly, the title of Minister Mentor is unusual, because it is unique, it is peculiar, it has never been done anywhere else and it is new.

What was the thinking behind the creation of the new portfolio of Minister Mentor?

HM: The symbolism of somebody continuing to be a mentor, in a revitalized cabinet somewhat suggests that you have Senior Minister Lee, with all his experience, knowledge and contributions, still be given the significant role of overseeing, of advising, of guiding, of reaching out his hand, of showing the way to the cabinet leaders. It all depends on how one reads the symbolism. It can be positive if you are looking at some assurance of continuity and stability, then I think this is something that is not totally surprising. Mr Lee is indeed a powerful figure in Singapore and will continue to be so, even under Lee Hsien Loong's Prime Ministership.

What does this say about Singapore's unique method of identifying, mentoring, and grooming political talent?

HM: In Singapore, it is more than well-known that things are not left to chance, even in the issue of political renewal, leadership succession, leadership re-generation. Things have been so meticulously deliberate, planned, discussed and the outcome has been one that is done over a long period of reflection. Having the title of mentor for Senior Minister Lee in the cabinet continues to suggest the way things operate in Singapore for many years. You need that certain amount of continuity, you need double assurance that things will be okay, even as you try to experiment new initiatives, bring in new people, younger blood, people with ideas and creativity. You still look over your shoulders and say it is not worth it to take the risks and let the young people run their own show as it was. You need to be around. And other than the position of Minister Mentor, the related aspect applies to the retention of old guards, and more senior members of the cabinet. They continue to be in the cabinet, and they oversee the supervisory roles, like Dr Tony Tan, Professor S Jayakumar, Wong Kan Seng and the others.

What do you think will be the priorities of the Minister Mentor in the immediate future? Would it lie in identifying potential leaders who are in their 30s or early 40s and who can become a future Prime Minister, or Deputy Prime Minister?

HM: This is difficult to know because the details of SM Lee's job specifications have yet to be announced. This will come to the public's attention more clearly in the coming days. But apparently, if one were to guess, the idea of having a Minister Mentor in the form of SM Lee in the cabinet is to try to give a guiding hand, overall, in its holistic perspective, in all and every important aspect of governance in Singapore. This will cover more than leadership renewal, it covers beyond the issue of who is to be recommended, tested for higher echelons of leadership. I think it covers the very survival, and prosperity of this place called Singapore. I think it is a fatherly kind of role, with expertise, and the commitment and passion that SM Lee has given to Singapore, so long if he continues to play that kind of role, although it may not be as public anymore.

But how can the wisdom of the Minister Mentor be tapped by a younger set of leaders who might have a different set of ideas about leadership?

HM: This assumption may not hold well if you are dealing with a personality who is not in the caliber as SM Lee. You have this man, who is the founding father of Singapore. It is a unique or different kind of personality you're talking about and because of that, his interests will be overwhelming, in terms of making strong views known to the others. The younger Ministers may have their own ways. I think the SM may have his own ways to understand and empathize that way they do things, the vision they have, the ideas they want to share but he will lay his wide experiences, the things he went through, and he would wish that the younger cabinet Ministers gave more than just the usual attention whenever he feels strongly about any important issues affecting Singapore domestically, and in Singapore's international relations with the outside world.

What are your views of the latent pool available amongst the young Members of Parliament as potential leaders?

HM: I think this is going to very subjective, especially when we highlight one or two personalities. They have been a lot of people who have been caught by surprise that the Deputy Prime Ministership did not go to the younger and proven talent available in some of out cabinet ministers. It is difficult to buy the common argument that our talent pool is so small, what we have in parliament is really the best brains in Singapore, and so on. There are a lot of people outside the political sphere, whom I believe when opportunities are given to them, will be able to signal and show the kind of ideas, commitment and contribution to the island republic. When you talk about talent pool, it should be widened, to talk about things beyond the existing set-up and content of membership of Singapore's legislature.