While Singapore’s next Prime Minister will come to the fore from time to time, it has to be “even more important” for him to “bring together and give voice” to the collective wisdom of the fourth generation leadership, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Jan 26).

In response to a journalist’s question on whether he has a successor in mind, Mr Lee said the team ethos present in Singapore’s leadership over the years will be more pronounced. “We have a strong team in place… The team works together and they have one, (as what Singapore’s founding Prime Minister) Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, striker,” he said.

“You have to strike from time to time, but you’re really also, sometimes, (the) spokesman on behalf of the team… And I think in the next team, that aspect of it will have to be even more important.”

PM Lee was speaking to the Singapore media as he wrapped up his two-day visit to New Delhi, India, where he co-chaired the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Commemorative Summit.

He reiterated that each member of the fourth generation team brings something to the table. “They have different strengths, they have different experiences and different personal styles and characters,” said PM Lee, as he sought to correct the public perception that “everything is done” by the country’s top leader.

The issue of political succession has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, ahead of a major Cabinet reshuffle early this year. So far, political observers have narrowed down the shortlist to three potential successors: Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing and Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung.

PM Lee recalled that Mr Lee used to air publicly his views of what he thought were the strengths of the younger Cabinet members. On whether he would take the same tack, he said: “The then younger members of (Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s) team, I think found it always a little bit awkward to be put under the spotlight, and I don’t think I need to do that to my younger ministers.”

Nevertheless, he said he would “try my best to be helpful” if he was asked by the ministers for his views.

PM Lee had previously said that his successor must be ready to take over soon after the next General Election (GE), which is due to be held by 2021.

Responding on a question of what the role of his successor will be during the polls, PM Lee said the person will have to “pull his weight and he’ll have to show that he deserves to be what his peers and his colleagues in Cabinet think he can do”.

“This is necessary. If you’re unable to win elections, you cannot be the leader. You can be a great thinker, you can be a great planner, but you have to be in politics,” said PM Lee, who played down suggestions that his successor will be given more public exposure in the lead up to the next GE.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by FARIS MOKHTAR

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