Secretary-General (Sec-Gen) Lee Hsien Loong announced at our Party Awards and Convention today (5 Nov) that he will hand over leadership of the People’s Action Party before the next General Election (GE) and before the Party’s 70th anniversary.
Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Lawrence Wong and the 4G team are ready to take over.
“I have full confidence in Lawrence and his team and there is no reason to delay the political transition. …I will be at the new PM’s disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful,” said Sec-Gen Lee of his future.
Sec-Gen Lee is passing the baton of leadership into good hands
It will be a smooth leadership transition. DSG Wong and the 4G team’s readiness to helm the nation comes from having served for years. It also comes from them leading Singaporeans safely through the generational crisis of the pandemic and setting the national agenda alongside Singaporeans with Forward Singapore. They are committed to more hard work and major initiatives going forward.
“Lawrence has told me that he is ready and this morning you heard him tell you that he is ready for his next assignment,” said Sec-Gen Lee, whose decision comes after thorough discussions with DSG Wong as well as the 3G and 4G leaders.
Competent governance will remain a cornerstone
Our Party will continue to keep Singapore running smoothly. Even now, DSG Wong and the 4G team work with the 3G leaders on solving issues. They constantly preserve Singaporean jobs, build affordable housing and fight the rising cost of living. They strengthen Singapore’s social ties internally as well as internationally.
“When the next GE comes, you ask me when, whenever that may be, the PAP can in good conscience tell Singaporeans, report to Singaporeans that we have served them well, and we have done a lot together.” said Sec-Gen Lee.
The Party will keep fighting for a better Singapore
During the national journey forward, we will always seek a strong mandate from Singaporeans. Sec-Gen Lee knows exactly why this needed for our improbable little red dot.
“I have been in government for almost 40 years now. Let me tell you straight: There was no way that the government could have taken the long view, could have planned long-term, and adopted tough but necessary policies, if we had constantly had to worry whether we would still be there after the next elections,” stated Sec-Gen Lee frankly about Singapore’s success.
So, having more Opposition MPs will not mean a better ruling government. Much less a better Singapore.
But the Opposition likes to claim that voters do not need to worry about a weakened PAP government, warned Sec-Gen Lee.
Here, we will keep fighting harder and smarter, clearly articulating our vision for Singapore, delivering policies that benefit Singaporeans and maintaining the trust which Singaporeans place in us.
“We remain dedicated to Singapore, and we still feel the call of duty to serve the people, we still have the duty to future generations to keep this island safe and secure, ” emphasised Sec-Gen Lee.
“These things have not changed under my watch, and they will not change under the 4G team.”
