PM says successor most likely to come from current line-up

SINGAPORE — The Republic’s next Prime Minister is, in all probability, in the Cabinet announced today (Sept 28), said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“I think it’s most likely the future successor is in this Cabinet because there’s no time and, if somebody has to come from outside this Cabinet, it will mean something has gone very, very unexpectedly,” he said during a press conference today to announce his new Cabinet line-up.

The new team comprises experienced members such as newly-appointed coordinating ministers Mr Teo Chee Hean, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam — both are Deputy Prime Ministers — and Mr Khaw Boon Wan, as well as several cited as the fourth generation of leaders. They include Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Mr Lawrence Wong — brought in after General Election 2011 — and new inductees Mr Ong Ye Kung and Mr Ng Chee Meng.

Leadership renewal had been flagged as a major theme for the polls earlier this month. Mr Lee, 63, had said previously that he would like to step down by 2020 and that he would like to hand over the reins to the next Prime Minister before he turns 70.

Today, Mr Lee stressed the urgency of leadership renewal several times. “We have no time to lose. You have reposed your trust in me. I will structure an effective Government and aggressively prepare a new team to take Singapore forward,” he said.

The next generation of ministers have been given “heavy responsibilities” and they will be “stretched and tested”, said Mr Lee. “They have to prove themselves and must gel together as a team. Soon after the end of this term, we must have a new team ready to take over from me.”

He added: “I want people tested, I want people developed, I want people exposed and known to the public, and confidence built up and the team shaken down, so that within the team, they know who can do what, how they can work together, who can emerge as the leader of the team.”