As Lawrence Wong prepares to take over as Singapore PM, eyes turn towards possible DPM candidates
Political experts have suggested that Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen could assume the role of Deputy Prime Minister
SINGAPORE — As Singapore gears up for a rare leadership transition, speculation regarding the changes in the country's cabinet line-up is rife. PM-in-waiting Lawrence Wong, addressing reporters on Tuesday (16 April), confirmed current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's continued presence in the Cabinet as Senior Minister, but also set the expectations for a cabinet reshuffle.
Wong said that there would not be many changes to the current line-up for now, adding "Our system works on the basis of continuity and progressive change. It has never been the case that when there is a leadership transition, all the older ministers step down at the same time."
He also hinted at potential promotions and the inclusion of backbenchers to strengthen the team.
Political experts whom Yahoo Southeast Asia spoke to weighed in on the significance of these moves, including who could be the potential faces that may become Deputy Prime Minister.
What to expect from the cabinet line-up changes?
Associate Professor Eugene Tan from the School of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU) suggested that Wong's remarks hint at the possibility of an early GE, given the expected minimal changes in the cabinet line-up.
He said in an interview with Yahoo on Wednesday (17 April) that the decision reflects a strategy to maintain continuity and allow the current team to solidify their policies and achievements before facing voters.
"(They are saying that) we have the same team now in place; get them to consolidate their policies in whatever time remains and get the progress report out. During our term, this is what we have done, these are the changes, there is the progress, and these are the achievements because they have to go to the voters with that report card," Tan explained.
He said that all ministries could see new ministers. However, there will be more closely watched ministries such as Home Affairs and Defence, given the prolonged tenure of incumbents like K Shanmugam and Ng Eng Hen.
"The question arises whether you want to get 4G leaders up to speed on these sensitive and important matters because if you look at all ministries, there have been 4G that have helmed all the ministries except for Defence and Home Affairs. So you have these two heavy-weight ministries which have been helmed by 3G leaders."
Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) pointed out the importance of a diverse cabinet that appeals to voters across different generations.
"There are young voters and senior voters, voters of different generations. For this reason, it is healthy to have Cabinet Ministers, and even MPs and eventually election candidates who can appeal to the broad swathe of Singaporeans. They cannot all be young and new at the job."
Koh stressed the value of experienced leaders in ensuring good governance and maintaining trust among Singaporeans.
She said, "Most Singaporeans will also wish for the assurance that there are enough "old hands" on deck because they identify with them or trust that they have strong and experienced leaders to deliver good government performance or maintain certain values that they associate the PAP with. So, it is good for representation, good for the quality of governance also."
Potential candidates for Deputy Prime Minister position
The political experts also weighed in on potential candidates such as Chan Chun Sing and Desmond Lee for the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) position.
Assoc Prof Tan highlighted the importance of a strong candidate for the DPM position, especially in light of the responsibilities that come with potentially assuming the role of Prime Minister in the event the incumbent is unable to carry out the duties.
Tan pointed out the perceived riskiness of relying solely on DPM Heng Swee Keat, who previously withdrew from the running for PM candidacy.
"If there are to be two DPMs, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and National Development Minister Desmond Lee emerge as top contenders," Tan suggested, noting their potential to fill the role effectively.
Independent political observer Dr Felix Tan echoed similar sentiments. He mentioned the necessity of a balanced approach in selecting DPMs, with one potentially focusing on specific portfolios like Home Affairs or Defence.
Tan pointed out the experience and stability offered by Heng Swee Keat, suggesting his likely retention for the short term. Heng has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore since 2019 and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies since 2020.
Dr Tan also highlighted seasoned individuals like Ng Eng Hen and K Shanmugam as viable candidates, given their decades of experience and influence, both regionally and globally.
While Dr Koh suggested the possibility of promoting younger leaders to key positions within the government, she said Desmond Lee's recent advancement within the party is a potential indicator of his suitability for the DPM role.
"He was promoted within the party to Assistant Secretary-General in 2022. It was a signal that he is on the move upwards.
"At 47 years old, that would also signal how Mr Wong wishes to straddle between the senior and not-so-senior yet heavy-weight leaders. This is to achieve that balance between continuity and change," she explained.
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