"Next-generation leaders? Half of them already in place: PM Lee Hsien Loong - The Straits Times 20 May 2015
HALF of Singapore's next generation of political leaders are already in place, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hopes that another batch will enter office in the next general election (GE).
"In the last GE, we ushered in many new faces, including some ministers... In the next GE, we hope to bring in another batch of new people, including candidates who can be office-holders."
But he played coy when asked about the date of the next polls. "I think it won't be long now," he answered, before adding with a laugh, "at least within the next two years"."
That 'When is the GE?' question again. A clever answer from the PM that it will be soon within the next 2 years since it must be called by January 2017.
I am not sure about the next PM candidates from the current batch or the next batch that PM Lee talked about BUT I definitely CAN think of one READY MADE candidate as PM, the DPM Tharman!
Just read in the hardcopy ST his interview with BBC Hardtalk and found DPM Tharman had responded VERY VERY WELL in the interview despite the well known 'slightly aggressive and confrontational' approach BBC Hardtalk takes.
There was NO defensive statements from DPM Tharman. Just elaborating why Singapore needs to do what is 'not totally acceptable by the Western liberals' for a safe, harmonious and prosperous Singapore.
Turning to PM Lee's comments that the talk of 'since PAP will be the government, let's give the oppositions some chance' is dangerous.
The opposition parties are not capable nor want to form the next government. This is quite clear for all to see.
The questions are:
1. would the PAP government had heeded the cries for some of the changes that need to be done WITHOUT the last GE loss of the Aljunied GRC and the 2 by-election defeats? e.g. public transportation woe, overwhelming influx of foreigner workers (including PMEs) that strained the relationship between the new comers and the locals, the replacing of certain cabinet ministers who made some policies mistakes, etc.
It was UNFORTUNATE as the PAP government MIGHT have already had those changes in MIND BUT the fact is: the changes came ONLY after GE2011.
2. the sudden focus and intense 'soul searching and re-working' of the CPF return after a blogger challenged it. While the blogger is in trouble with the laws, there is NO DENYING his piece on CPF galvanized the government and the many ministers into actions and commented on it; with CHANGES been proposed on how CPF can be used and what is 'reasonable' return.
I just raised 2 issues and there are more examples that show there is a need to have different voices and views besides relying on the majority government.
Whatever it is, GE is coming soon for sure. Maybe within the next 2 years as mentioned by PM Lee. :-)
HALF of Singapore's next generation of political leaders are already in place, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hopes that another batch will enter office in the next general election (GE).
"In the last GE, we ushered in many new faces, including some ministers... In the next GE, we hope to bring in another batch of new people, including candidates who can be office-holders."
But he played coy when asked about the date of the next polls. "I think it won't be long now," he answered, before adding with a laugh, "at least within the next two years"."
That 'When is the GE?' question again. A clever answer from the PM that it will be soon within the next 2 years since it must be called by January 2017.
I am not sure about the next PM candidates from the current batch or the next batch that PM Lee talked about BUT I definitely CAN think of one READY MADE candidate as PM, the DPM Tharman!
Just read in the hardcopy ST his interview with BBC Hardtalk and found DPM Tharman had responded VERY VERY WELL in the interview despite the well known 'slightly aggressive and confrontational' approach BBC Hardtalk takes.
There was NO defensive statements from DPM Tharman. Just elaborating why Singapore needs to do what is 'not totally acceptable by the Western liberals' for a safe, harmonious and prosperous Singapore.
Turning to PM Lee's comments that the talk of 'since PAP will be the government, let's give the oppositions some chance' is dangerous.
The opposition parties are not capable nor want to form the next government. This is quite clear for all to see.
The questions are:
1. would the PAP government had heeded the cries for some of the changes that need to be done WITHOUT the last GE loss of the Aljunied GRC and the 2 by-election defeats? e.g. public transportation woe, overwhelming influx of foreigner workers (including PMEs) that strained the relationship between the new comers and the locals, the replacing of certain cabinet ministers who made some policies mistakes, etc.
It was UNFORTUNATE as the PAP government MIGHT have already had those changes in MIND BUT the fact is: the changes came ONLY after GE2011.
2. the sudden focus and intense 'soul searching and re-working' of the CPF return after a blogger challenged it. While the blogger is in trouble with the laws, there is NO DENYING his piece on CPF galvanized the government and the many ministers into actions and commented on it; with CHANGES been proposed on how CPF can be used and what is 'reasonable' return.
I just raised 2 issues and there are more examples that show there is a need to have different voices and views besides relying on the majority government.
Whatever it is, GE is coming soon for sure. Maybe within the next 2 years as mentioned by PM Lee. :-)
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