Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will take on the role of Senior Minister in the new Cabinet which will only see major changes after the next General Election (GE), said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“For this moment, though, there should not be any major changes because our system works on the basis of continuity and progressive change,” Mr Wong told reporters on April 16.
Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, was speaking to the media for the first time since the Prime Minister’s Office announced that he will officially be taking over the country’s leadership reins from Mr Lee in a month’s time on May 15.
Mr Wong said a new Cabinet will be sworn in that day along with him and the actual lineup will be unveiled a few days prior with some backbench Members of Parliament (MPs) likely to be promoted.
He added that “it has never been the case” in Singapore where all older ministers step down at the same time whenever there is a leadership transition.
“Instead, they continued to contribute in different ways while making room for the younger ones to step up,” he said.
Mr Wong said he will adopt a similar approach, and he is “glad” that Mr Lee — who has led Singapore for 20 years — has agreed to continue serving in the Cabinet as Senior Minister when asked.
Given that some ministers have been appointed to their current portfolios recently, there is no reason to move them, he added.
The 51-year-old, who entered politics 13 years ago, had been the presumptive next prime minister since April 2022, when he was chosen by his peers as the leader of the PAP’s fourth-generation team.
He said he is still discussing appointments with current Cabinet members and will consider their preferences and what roles they would like in the team.
Mr Wong said that bigger changes can be expected after the next GE — due no later than November 2025 — as he “would not be able to bring in people from outside to join the team” until then.
“In fact, I’m already in the midst of looking for new candidates, especially those with potential to hold political office,” he said.
The last Cabinet reshuffle was in June 2022 when Mr Wong was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister.
DPM Wong: Priority is to form the best possible team for Singapore
When asked about his considerations for the Cabinet lineup, Mr Wong said that his main priority is to form the best possible team for Singapore, with a focus on both change and continuity.
“We should build on what we have today. We should affirm and reinforce what works well for Singapore,” he said. “But I also want change because we should re-examine and refresh our current approaches and be prepared to break new ground in order to adapt more effectively to a rapidly changing environment.”
He added that his aim, in time, is to reach “a good balance” between experienced ministers and new Cabinet members who can add fresh perspectives.
“For now, the broad shape of the team remains intact,” said Mr Wong, adding that Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will also remain in Cabinet after the handover.
On the next general election, which must be held by November 2025, DPM Wong said depending on the outcome of the General Election, there will be an opportunity then to “renew and strengthen the team with new members”.
He said the Cabinet already has a “full agenda” for the rest of this government term. This includes addressing concerns regarding the economy, jobs and cost of living, providing more security to vulnerable groups and taking concrete steps to realise shared aspirations outlined in the Forward Singapore report.
Party must be ready for GE at press of a button
Mr Wong was also asked whether the People’s Action Party (PAP) conference and 70th anniversary this November would impact the GE timing.
“They are two different things altogether,” he said, noting that the biennial party conference involves cadre members meeting to elect the party’s central executive committee.
Preparations for the next GE “starts the day after the last election” and are “always a work in progress”, he added.
“We have to consistently tend the ground, attend to the needs of residents and strive to win over their hearts and minds,” said Mr Wong.
“If all our branches do that, then we really don’t have to anticipate or second guess when the elections are called because whenever the button is pressed, we will be ready for the campaign.”
Mr Wong is the Deputy Secretary-General of the PAP. In a video message posted on social media yesterday, he has asked Singaporeans to work with him and his team to write the next chapter of the Singapore story.
Over the past few years, DPM Wong has proven himself to be a strong and decisive leader. He skilfully guided Singapore through the Covid-19 pandemic as a co-Chair in the Ministerial Task Force, tackling Covid-19 pandemic. Back then, he and Co-Chair Minister Gan Kim Yong fronted media conferences almost daily; he explained policies clearly and calmly and laid out the needs and trade-offs to Singaporeans.
After being appointed as DPM, he launched the Forward Singapore exercise in June 2022 to chart a pathway for Singapore’s future. He will be sworn in on May 15 at 8pm at the Istana.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants”: DPM pays tribute to PM Lee DPM Wong paid tribute to PM Lee and also thanked cabinet members and MPs for placing their confidence in him and choosing him as their next leader. “I stand on the shoulders of giants and one in particular stands out and that’s Mr Lee Hsien Loong,” said Mr Wong. He noted that Singapore’s economy has grown tremendously during PM Lee’s tenure, with Singaporeans enjoying steady improvements in their income and standard of living. The nation has also weathered many crises and emerged stronger each time, with its international standing and the “Singapore brand” is admired and respected worldwide. The nation has also weathered many crises and emerged stronger each time, with its international standing and the “Singapore brand” is admired and respected worldwide. He added that he had asked PM Lee, who has served as prime minister since 2004, to continue serving in the Cabinet as a senior minister after the handover, which PM Lee has agreed to. |