Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
SINGAPORE : Political watchers and MPs said the decision by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong to step down from the Cabinet, marks the passing of an era, a time for a new generation to take charge.
They said the Prime Minister’s key task is to assemble a new team and show a new generation of Singaporeans that the government is listening to them.
As MPs, both MM Lee and SM Goh will continue to wield some influence, but their retirement from the Cabinet is a clear sign that it is PM Lee Hsien Loong who is firmly in charge and a new generation has to lead change.
Zulkifli Baharudin, a political observer and former Nominated MP said:
" If there was any doubt in the past that Prime Minister Lee is not completely independent because of the presence of MM Lee and SM Goh in the Cabinet, I think going forward, there should be no such doubt."
" In terms of executive functions, of seeing through (policies), it’s quite clear that PM and some of the younger ministers will take a (bigger) role and responsibility going forward."
Some have speculated that the timing of the announcement was linked to the ruling party’s performance in the General Election where it secured 60.1 per cent of votes.
But not all agree.
Mdm Halimah Yacob, MP for Jurong GRC said:" The signalling is important. This is not an abrupt movement of our two very senior leaders. It has been over a number of years already. MM himself has said many times that he was not in control.
" But then it shows also a Prime Minister who’s very confident, a Prime Minister who wants to have his own stamp on the way he steers his Cabinet and on the way he steers the direction of Singapore."
MPs said the election revealed the extent to which Singapore society has changed.
Indranee Rajah, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC said: " It’s not a case of, oh, we’ve got 60.1 percent which is lower than before, and therefore we step down. It is not it at all.
" It’s more a question of, what does the 60.1 per cent represent? What does it mean for us as a country, and in order for us to progress as a country, how do we let that happen?
" When you have a population that thinks independently and critically, then the question is, what do you do to be able to hold their trust, to be able to hold their confidence? That is PM’s big challenge."
Mr Zulkifli said it is important for the party to communicate that it is listening to Singaporeans but not become populist.
He said: " The PAP is in a reflective mood. I think this reflection is important at this point in time. A very spontaneous reaction, while it may win popular support of the critics for a short time, may not be the wisest thing to do. I think we must have clear reflection, clear understanding of what’s happening in our society, but it does not mean that you respond to the popular vote."
Political observers are now keenly watching how Prime Minister Lee will form his Cabinet, as it will signal the kind of leadership that will take Singapore into the next five years.
Most expect that there will still be a mix of old and new faces, as this has been a strength of Singapore’s Cabinet, but they said there will be a greater emphasis on qualities such as empathy, as well as an ability to listen and communicate.
Other PAP MPs said it may be easier for new MPs to speak up against government policies they disagree with, which may have been implemented under Mr Lee and Mr Goh’s leadership.
" At times as a rookie, we may not be so sensitive of such things. We do get reminded by senior Members of Parliament (MPs) or ministers to say, well I suggest you don’t pursue this further, because you will get nowhere," said Baey Yam Keng, MP for Tampines GRC.
They acknowledge that Mr Lee and Mr Goh will remain a valuable resource in Parliament for other MPs to tap on for advice.
— CNA /ls
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