4G leaders could take more than 9 months to pick a leader among them: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says no new Deputy Prime Ministers will be appointed in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle. TODAY File Photo
SINGAPORE — While there will be a "significant" Cabinet reshuffle after next month's Budget to expose the country's fourth generation leadership to new responsibilities, it is unlikely to signal a frontrunner among them, and picking a leader among themselves could take "a bit longer" than nine months, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Friday (Jan 26).
Noting that a strong team was in place and that the political transition would be done in “good time”, Mr Lee added that the designation of his successor would not be “imminent” as that would depend on the dynamics between the younger leaders.
“They need a bit of time for Singaporeans to get a feel of them, not just as public figures but (also as leaders) responsible for significant policies and taking significant policies through ... making them work, and showing that they deserve to lead,” Mr Lee told the Singapore media at the end of a two-day visit to New Delhi, where he co-chaired the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean)-India Commemorative Summit.
He added: “I think (the transition) would be done in good time, as they say. I would not be able to say for certain that it will be settled in next six to nine months, but it would have to be done in good time. I’m confident it would be.”
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong sparked a new round of discussions on Singapore’s leadership transition in recent weeks after he publicly expressed his hope that Mr Lee’s successor could be identified in the next six to nine months.
Mr Goh’s comments, via a Facebook post in late December, prompted 16 members of the 4G leadership to issue a joint response where they said they were aware of the urgency and would “settle on a leader from amongst us in good time”.
Asked about Mr Goh’s remarks, Mr Lee said the former PM was speaking “with the privilege of watching things, rather than being responsible to make it happen”.
Mr Lee added: “We know it’s a serious matter, a pressing issue, as the younger ministers have already said in their statement and they know my timetable, after next General Election – earlier rather than later – I would like to hand over to a successor.
“And I think the team is taking shape, the dynamics amongst them. They are working adults, they are learning to work together.”
The upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, which will take place after the annual Budget on February 19, will be a “significant step in exposing and building the new team”, Mr Lee pointed out. He did not give a specific date for the announcement of the reshuffle.
Mr Lee added, however, that no new Deputy Prime Ministers will be appointed in the upcoming reshuffle. Political analysts had speculated that a new DPM could be appointed to signal that he is next in line for the top job, and to give him exposure.
The next Cabinet reshuffle would be the fourth since the start of the incumbent Government’s term in January last year.
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing are widely seen as the front runners to succeed Mr Lee.
When asked whether he is prepared to send a public signal about his successor when the transition is settled, Mr Lee said: “If it’s settled, everybody will know.”
