4G leadership transition need not be constrained by artificial deadline: Ong Ye Kung

SINGAPORE — The country’s fourth generation leadership team need not be constrained by an “artificial deadline” to select a new leader among themselves, said Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung on Sunday (Jan 28).

“I think it is useful, as our younger generation ministers would have said, we would select somebody to be the leader amongst us in good time,” he said at the sidelines of a community event in Yishun when asked to comment on how Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had said on Friday that the process will need a while longer.

“So I think it is good not to be constrained by six or nine months,” Mr Ong said.

Mr Ong added that the 4G leadership team still needs time to work together and to know each other well.

”I think the PM has made it quite clear. Don’t get constrained by an artificial deadline. We will work amongst ourselves and someone will emerge in good time.”

The minister’s comments came in the wake of a Facebook post by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Dec 31 in which he expressed hope that Mr Lee’s successor could be identified in six to nine months.

The post sparked a new round of discussions on Singapore’s leadership transition. Mr Goh’s comments 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”.

On Friday, Mr Lee, responding to queries from reporters on whether he was prepared to announce a potential successor by the end of this year, said: “If it’s settled, everybody will know, but my assessment is that it will probably take a bit longer”.

He also said that no new Deputy Prime Ministers will be appointed in the upcoming reshuffle which will take place after the annual Budget on Feb 19. Political analysts had earlier speculated that a new DPM could be appointed to signal that he is the frontrunner for the top job, and to give him exposure.

When 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.”

Mr Ong, who is also Second Minister for the Ministry of Defence, is one of the three ministers widely expected to succeed Mr Lee, alongside Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing.