East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

from theindependent.sg:

Was Heng Swee Keat ousted?

Sense And Nonsense by Tan Bah Bah

For a development which should not have been a surprise, DPM Heng Swee Keat’s decision to step aside as the 4G leader to become the next Prime Minister had many observers working overtime with their analyses. “Why did he do it? What happened? Who will now be the next PM?”. The greater surprise would have been if he had stayed on despite everything. His position had looked untenable.

“GE2020 was a referendum on Heng Swee Keat as the anointed next PM. He did not do well”: This was the headline for a column I wrote on July 12, 2020, just after the results.

Then on Jan 26, 2021, I wrote another piece on the press conference held on the post-election Cabinet reshuffle. Under the following headline, “Cabinet reshuffle: Chan Chun Sing gives cryptic reply about DPM Heng”, I said:

“…Little wonder that Saturday’s press conference did not turn out to be the celebratory coming-of-age event that it was meant to be. One where PM Lee (Hsien Loong) would take a back seat as the 4G leaders hogged centre stage and fielded questions about the future direction of party and country. Instead, the mood was as sombre as at the PAP press conference after the results of GE2020 on July 10 2020.

“The word that PM Lee used was continuity but for observers it would be: perfunctory. He did what he had done with most of his previous Cabinet reshuffles – explain the need to further expose his ministers, moving them around and giving them new portfolios, promote a few and retain a number of older ministers (in this case, the key 3G leaders, including the two Senior Ministers). Same same, as they like to say.

“In other words, the 4G handing over ceremony has been postponed. PM Lee is not stepping down soon. SM Teo Chee Hean and SM Tharman Shanmugaratnam are still around. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Law Minister K Shanmugam are still carrying the burden as the heavyweight ministers.

“And the most significant question posed at the press conference elicited a very telling answer. When asked whether the 4G leaders had reviewed their plans about backing DPM Heng, PM Lee very quickly deflected the question to Chan Chun Sing, who looked a bit surprised.

“The Trade and Industry Minister regained his composure and gave this cryptic reply: ‘We are entirely focused on helping the country in overcoming the economic challenges and saving the jobs at this point of time. We have no plans to do otherwise and we have no plans, no discussions on any change in plan.’

For the time being, perhaps.”

Nine months later, not unexpectedly, Heng said he was making away for another person to be the PM-in-waiting. Reason: The runway was too short for taking off.

There has, indeed, been a change in the succession plan, contrary to what Chan said. Unprecedented?

How did we end up with this rather weird un-PAP-Singapore-like scenario of having an anointed would-be PM saying he does not want to be PM? So many questions are in the public mind. Did Heng willingly move out from Tampines to East Coast at such a short notice? Was losing a GRC more important to prevent than not risking the fortunes of the party’s flag-bearer and future PM? Post-GE2020, did Heng surrender willingly or was he forced to do so? His health could not have been the real reason because he did not regard that a problem when he first accepted the challenge of being the next PM? Was there some kind of a coup d’etat carried out to override the wishes of the 4G cohort and reset the whole PM selection process? We may never know.

What we do know is this: Nothwithstanding Heng Swee Keat’s white flag, the Covid-19 pandemic offers an unprecedented chance for the other 4G leaders to prove their worth and bond themselves with Singaporeans. No prize for guessing who has already displayed his panache under great pressure, especially when the virus was raging through the foreign workers’ dormitories – threatening lives, livelihoods and leaderships.

Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of TheIndependent.Sg, is a former senior leader writer with The Straits Times. He was also managing editor of a local magazine publishing company.Follow us on Social Media

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Youth volunteerism, building social bridges are vital: DPM Heng Swee Keat, Edwin Tong

SINGAPORE - Volunteerism by the youth and building social bridges are vital to Singapore's society, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong on Saturday (April 17).

They were at a dialogue and signing event organised by charitable youth volunteer organisation Heartware Network.

The network inked two agreements to provide more opportunities for young people to volunteer and contribute to the community.

It will work with SG Cares to strengthen youth volunteer management and training, and grow regular and sustained youth volunteers. The partnership also aims to inculcate the values of care, consideration and contribution in the young.

Heartware Network will also partner Temasek Foundation for a programme that aims to propel young people to take action in order to address societal challenges facing Singapore and the region.

Youth leaders will be guided and mentored to become active citizens and effective drivers of change, the network said in a press statement.

Mr Heng, who is also chief patron of the network, said: "We can do more, where everyone puts in a little bit of effort, and we make a difference."

He added that in the past, people focused on the five Cs - cash, credit card, car, condominium and country club membership. But now, young people have three priorities - to create value, care for people and the environment, and chart the future.

Mr Tong agreed: "We are now able to look at things that really matter to us, to the heart of Singapore, and I think volunteerism is at the core of that mission."

He added that volunteering helps youth gain soft skills that are vital in job searching, while also building bridges between social groups.

This is especially vital as one of the biggest pressure points in society today is the growing assertion of individuality, he noted.

"These are all matters which are of course important and I think we have a lot to learn about them. But in Singapore, one of the merits of our society is the coexistence of everyone harmoniously in a multiracial, 'multi-everything' society. And I think it is very important for us to preserve that common space."

This means young people should constantly reach out across divides by interacting with those outside their socioeconomic group, school or race.

"We didn't get here by chance and I think it's very important for young people today to realise that by sitting still, we will not continue in this state. We have worked very hard at it," he said.

"So... think of things that you can do, be they events, community outreach, volunteer-based activities that allow you to reach across different strata of society, different segments of society, and to really understand. We've spoken previously of religious tolerance in Singapore. I think we need to go beyond that, we need to... really embrace (everyone) as fellow Singaporeans."

 

[jw5]

from yahoo.com:

COMMENT: Heng Swee Keat - Chosen as Singapore PM, chose to quit

SINGAPORE — The would-be king is dead. Long live the king - whoever he or she might be.

Heng Swee Keat, once proclaimed by the late Lee Kuan Yew as his most capable aide ever, has now joined the ranks of political could-have-beens like Anwar Ibrahim and Hillary Clinton, leaving Singaporeans to wonder what sort of Prime Minister he might have made. All in, he lasted around two and a half years as the heir apparent to PM Lee Hsien Loong.

In a televised Istana press conference on Thursday (8 April) that was open only to Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Mediacorp outlets, as well as the social news site Mothership, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister abdicated as the chosen one almost nine months after the General Election, amid a plethora of well-rehearsed talking points.

But while PM Lee and Heng's fourth-generation colleagues were all singing from the same hymn sheet, the end result was still puzzlingly, and maddeningly, discordant.

The 59-year-old first cited his age - he had belatedly realised that by the time the next General Election comes around, Heng will be in his mid-60s, and the runway for leadership succession will be too short. "We need someone who is younger with a longer runway, to not think in just one or two election terms, but think about the long term future of Singapore," he said, exhibiting the body language of a man ill at ease in the glare of the media spotlight.

Then there was the startling admission that he had not seen himself as up to the job from day one. Asked when he had started thinking about stepping aside, Heng, who will retain his post as Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, replied, “I started thinking about it when I was appointed. I do not want to take on any job which I cannot deliver...And therefore, I've been thinking about it as to whether am I the right person?”

To further complicate matters, despite singing his praises amid a show of unity, Heng's 4G colleagues have yet to choose a new successor and said in a joint statement that his decision was an "unexpected turn of events". Even more confusingly, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean will be acting PM whenever PM Lee is on leave, despite Heng remaining as DPM for now.

The average Singaporean could be forgiven for thinking: what is going on? For there is no other way to call it but for what it is: a leadership crisis.

Something does not add up

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking at a media conference on 8 April 2021 to announce DPM Heng Swee Keat is stepping aside as leader of Singapore's 4G team. (SCREENSHOT: The Straits Times/YouTube)

Yahoo News Singapore contributor PN Balji, a former editor of The New Paper and Today, covered two prime ministerial successions in his career: from the late Lee to Goh Chok Tong to the current incumbent. Now, he said, Singapore’s well-choreographed leadership succession has gone "topsy turvy", even though Lee, 69, had already pledged to stay on till the end of the pandemic.

"The Singapore system is such that everything is well planned. Now Mr Heng steps aside and we don’t know who is going to take over. He is not going to be Finance Minister, but he’s still going to be DPM for a while. It’s all very intriguing and unsettling for Singapore," Balji said.

Balji was also unconvinced by the 4G leaders citing the pandemic as a reason for the disruption in leadership succession. "COVID-19 has been here for a year. Is it worse than what it was a year ago? And PM Lee has already said he will not hand over until COVID-19 is over. So what is the pressure on Heng Swee Keat?"

All this does not bode well for the People's Action Party, in the wake of last year's election that saw the opposition making historic gains and the PAP's vote share falling by almost nine percentage points. Since then, the ruling party has stumbled from one setback to another, whether it be the TraceTogether debacle or its apparent U-turn on the contentious tudung issue.

Come the next election, what would the PAP say if the Workers' Party, which ran Heng to the wire in his East Coast ward, or any other opposition party were to contest the GRC and tell residents there: you were duped into voting for a man who was supposed to be PM, are you going to be duped yet again?

First among equals?
With the benefit of 20/20 vision - no pun intended - Heng's unease in his role had been apparent for some time. One of the clearest signs that he might not be primus inter pares was his fumbling performance in a November 2019 parliamentary session.

Having proposed a motion that called on WP Members of Parliament Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim to recuse themselves from financial matters relating to the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC), he was meant to carry the ball. This reporter wrote at the time, "Instead, just minutes into the debate on the motion, Heng had to call for a time-out. He hummed and hawed, flipping through his folder like a student stumbling through his class presentation."

Tellingly, clips of PM Lee looking exasperated and instructing Heng on what to say in the session had been circulating online. The latter's reputation has always been that of a genial technocrat, and not a political street fighter.

Then came the 2020 election, when Heng made his infamous "East Coast Plan" gaffe and led his East Coast team to a less than convincing victory with just 53.41 per cent of the vote share. And despite delivering five pandemic Budgets, he was not at the front and centre of the government's efforts to combat the coronavirus, raising questions about whether he inspired confidence among his own colleagues.

Who will be next?

PHOTOS: Reuters / Yahoo News Singapore
National broadsheet The Straits Times, without citing any polls or individuals in the know, has already anointed four men as potential successors to Heng.

They are: Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung and Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, both of whom have often been spoken of as potential PMs; Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who has impressed with his handling of the pandemic; and National Development Minister Desmond Lee, the youngest of the quartet at 44.

With a Cabinet reshuffle due in two weeks, matters will hopefully become clearer.

But the damage has been done with Singapore's leadership succession in disarray. The PAP must move quickly and decisively if it is to reassure stakeholders on the domestic and international fronts.

It is uncertain if Heng will even be around to contest at the next GE.

Once upon a time, the late Lee declared "I will now play goalkeeper" as he handed over to Goh Chok Tong. In Heng's case, he has called for his own substitution long before the 90 minutes are up. Who will emerge to see Singapore through the game?

 

[jw5]

from toc.com:

DPM Heng Swee Keat asks for feedback on making Changi Point more “vibrant”; netizens prefer it to be untouched

There is high potential to turn Changi Point “into a vibrant recreational and heritage node” with its “colonial rustic charm”, said Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat.

In a Facebook post on Sunday (18 Apr), Mr Heng noted that he has always enjoyed the area, which is home to several government chalets like Fairy Point where the DPM has stayed in a few times over the years, as well as some modern restaurants and the old Changi Hospital.

Citing the history of the area, he wrote, “The hospital was built by the British and subsequently became Changi Hospital. But the buildings fell into disuse when Changi Hospital merged with Toa Payoh Hospital in 1997 to form Changi General Hospital in Simei.”

Mr Heng went on to encourage the public to share their suggestions for the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)’s ‘Charmingly Changi‘ competition.

The competition, recently launched on 15 April, encourages members of the public to share their ideas as part of a collective vision to repurpose the existing buildings at Changi Point, according to the website.

In his post, Mr Heng also encouraged residents to join in the East Coast Conversation this Friday (23 Apr) on how Singapore can preserve the area’s “heritage and old charm while creating new vibrancy and modernity”.

“This is one example of how we are working with you to build a vibrant East Coast,” he concluded.


Netizens wary of prospect of modernising Changi Point
Several commenters on Mr Heng’s post, however, were hesitant about the prospect of modernising Changi Point.

“We have very little places like that left in SG. It does not need to be another recreational hub,” one commenter said.

One person cautioned that if heritage spaces in Singapore continue to be repurposed and modernised, the country will eventually “be a country with no history” as all the old buildings are being replaced with shopping malls.

 

[jw5]

Deities. Chinks pray to deities when they want good fortune, of course must show sincerity no?

Sincerity can be shown by generosity.

 

[jw5]

Singaporeans can save on travel. PAP bring the world to SG. Just open your door is China. Travel to work is India. Go makan is Malaysia. Go hospital is flipping.

Travel plans may now be curtailed.

 

[jw5]

"The runway is too short."

 

[jw5]

"The runway is not long enough."

 

[jw5]

"My runway would be too short if it doesn't start now."

 

[jw5]

"My runway could be longer.................... if my boss allowed me to start now."

 

[jw5]

Singaporeans can save on travel. PAP bring the world to SG. Just open your door is China. Travel to work is India. Go makan is Malaysia. Go hospital is flipping.

Travel bubbles have been delayed.

 

[jw5]

"If I have to start so much later, my runway would be too short!

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Singapore's Cabinet reshuffle: Field remains open for 4G leadership, say observers

SINGAPORE - The Cabinet reshuffle announced on Friday (April 23) provides the clearest signal yet that fourth-generation (4G) ministers Chan Chun Sing, Ong Ye Kung and Lawrence Wong are firmly in the running for the country's top political job, say observers.

"The most credible options are now visible, and perhaps the Government hopes that this will give Singaporeans slightly more confidence that succession plan 'B' is now initiated and moving along," said Mr Harrison Cheng, associate director of the Control Risks consultancy.

The changes were sparked by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's announcement earlier this month that he was stepping aside as the People's Action Party's 4G leader to make way for a younger successor to the premiership. Mr Heng's finance portfolio has now gone to Mr Wong.


Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh said Mr Wong's ascension from second minister for finance was the right move to ensure continuity and to not "rock the boat too much".

Mr Cheng said Mr Wong's move suggested he had earned the trust of PM Lee and senior Cabinet members, by virtue of his performance as co-chair of the Covid-19 task force, not just on policy issues but also his communication and public-facing skills.

National University of Singapore political scientist Elvin Ong cautioned against viewing Mr Wong's new role as a sure sign of him being earmarked as future PM - as DPM Heng once was.


"There is no tradition nor rule for them to automatically become Prime Ministers," said Assistant Professor Ong, noting that Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Dr Richard Hu were among past Finance Ministers who did not become PM.

On Mr Chan's move to education after three years at the trade and industry ministry, the view was that this gives him a new platform to engage Singaporeans.

Mr Singh described MOE as a "major ministry that deals with the future", while Mr Cheng said the ministry has taken on greater significance in recent years, along with growing public appetite for education reforms.

Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah from Nanyang Technological University viewed the move as an opportunity for Mr Chan to burnish his public image, given the greater exposure offered by MOE.


A role of even greater visibility, said Prof Walid, is that of co-chair of the Covid-19 task force - which Mr Ong will now assume having taken over as health minister.

Prof Elvin Ong said helming MOH will give Mr Ong an important domestic role shaping key healthcare priorities.

But Mr Cheng also warned that this would be Mr Ong's sternest test yet, with new challenges of emerging Covid-19 variants and the possible need for repeated vaccinations in coming years.


There is no such thing as a high or low profile ministry internally, said former Nominated MP Calvin Cheng. "It is thus not where the 4G ministers are moved that is important, but who was moved."

Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at consultancy firm Solaris Strategies Singapore, said the changes make clear that Mr Ong and Mr Wong have now risen in prominence, "levelling up" with Mr Chan, who was the first to become a full minister among the three in 2013.

The moves will also test the camaraderie and dynamics of the 4G team. For instance, pairing Mr Ong and Mr Wong as co-chairs of the Covid-19 task force will provide an opportunity for PM Lee and the 4G team to determine how well they can work together, he said.

"This does not automatically signal they will be next DPM and next PM subsequently, but I think the PM is looking at various permutations (among the 4G)," Dr Mustafa added.


Mr Singh said this was also an opportunity to reset the dynamics of the 4G team so they can among themselves identify a leader.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who was previously identified by some analysts as a potential contender for 4G leader, will retain his portfolio. He is also Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration.

While some wondered why he had not been given a new role, Dr Mustafa said Mr Lee remains an important member of the 4G team. "I don't think this signals that he has been overlooked...but rather, that where he is now is sufficient for the time being."

As for the remaining movements among the 4G leaders - such as Manpower Minister Josephine Teo moving to helm the Ministry of Communications and Information and Mr S. Iswaran taking over as Transport Minister - Mr Singh said these were consequential moves that were made as a result of the need to test Mr Chan, Mr Ong and Mr Wong in new ministries.

While older and more experienced ministers remain at the helm of key portfolios such as foreign affairs, security and defence, analysts expect further changes down the road.


Political observer Felix Tan from NTU said the 4G leaders can eventually be moved into these positions after becoming more well-versed with Singapore's regional and international politics.

Prof Ong added that the new changes to the Cabinet also meant new opportunities for Singaporeans to assess for themselves who would be a good Prime Minister.

"Singaporeans should… provide feedback wherever possible to the PAP or to the government on who their preferred candidates are," said Prof Ong. "This feedback is likely to be useful input material for the 4G leaders when they themselves decide who to pick to be the new PM."

 

[jw5]

"He only willing to give me such a short runway."

 

[jw5]

"He keeps delaying my start date, the runway becomes shorter and shorter."

 

[jw5]

"I told him my runway needs to be longer but he bo chup me."

 

[jw5]

Singaporeans can save on travel. PAP bring the world to SG. Just open your door is China. Travel to work is India. Go makan is Malaysia. Go hospital is flipping.

Travel bubble will be postponed indefinitely.

 

[jw5]

Deities. Chinks pray to deities when they want good fortune, of course must show sincerity no?

Sincerity is the foundation of all long lasting relationships.

 

[jw5]

Singaporeans can save on travel. PAP bring the world to SG. Just open your door is China. Travel to work is India. Go makan is Malaysia. Go hospital is flipping.

Countries may be more wary of travel bubbles with SG.

 

[jw5]

Deities. Chinks pray to deities when they want good fortune, of course must show sincerity no?

Being sincere requires courage as well as benevolence.