Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s calls for a “strong and competent government” ring hollow in light of the 4G leadership’s glaring failures. From mishandling the cost-of-living crisis to scandals involving key ministers, the PAP’s current leadership has shown a lack of vision, accountability, and adaptability, leaving Singaporeans increasingly disillusioned.
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s repeated calls for a “strong and competent government” may once have resonated as a guiding principle, but today, those words sound hollow in the face of the glaring shortcomings of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 4G leadership.
The former Prime Minister’s speech on 8 February, intended to inspire confidence and unity, instead served as a reminder of the growing cracks within his party—cracks that neither rhetoric nor nostalgia can hide.
Singapore’s reputation for exceptional governance was built on meritocracy, foresight, and leaders who met challenges head-on. But today’s 4G leaders, many argue, lack that same calibre.
Their handling of critical issues, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, has been marked by missteps, slow responses, and questionable judgment.
The poorly received design and delays of ERP 2.0, the SimplyGo debacle, and the disastrous ACRA NRIC disclosure lapse highlight more than operational missteps—they expose a leadership out of its depth when it comes to technological change and accountability.
With artificial intelligence and digital innovation reshaping economies worldwide, the 4G leaders’ lack of foresight and inability to adopt forward-looking strategies reflect a failure to understand the demands of a tech-driven future.
What we have witnessed is not strong leadership but a group of leaders running on autopilot, relying on outdated policies while the ground beneath them shifts rapidly.
Take the cost-of-living crisis, a persistent issue for many Singaporeans. Despite widespread public concerns over rising food prices, housing costs, and the controversial GST hikes—opposed by many who called for a deferral—the 4G leadership’s response has been uninspiring and, at times, dismissive.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who led the push for the two-tier GST hike as Finance Minister, has shown little flexibility, insisting on the policy which many believe exacerbated the problem.
Instead of offering innovative solutions to address inflation and wage stagnation, the Government has relied on temporary measures like CDC vouchers (a euphemism for food stamps) and rebates meant to offset the costs their own policies have driven up.
These band-aid solutions provide short-term relief but fail to address the root causes of financial strain for ordinary citizens.
More at https://urlr.me/DXjUv3
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s repeated calls for a “strong and competent government” may once have resonated as a guiding principle, but today, those words sound hollow in the face of the glaring shortcomings of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 4G leadership.
The former Prime Minister’s speech on 8 February, intended to inspire confidence and unity, instead served as a reminder of the growing cracks within his party—cracks that neither rhetoric nor nostalgia can hide.
Singapore’s reputation for exceptional governance was built on meritocracy, foresight, and leaders who met challenges head-on. But today’s 4G leaders, many argue, lack that same calibre.
Their handling of critical issues, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, has been marked by missteps, slow responses, and questionable judgment.
The poorly received design and delays of ERP 2.0, the SimplyGo debacle, and the disastrous ACRA NRIC disclosure lapse highlight more than operational missteps—they expose a leadership out of its depth when it comes to technological change and accountability.
With artificial intelligence and digital innovation reshaping economies worldwide, the 4G leaders’ lack of foresight and inability to adopt forward-looking strategies reflect a failure to understand the demands of a tech-driven future.
What we have witnessed is not strong leadership but a group of leaders running on autopilot, relying on outdated policies while the ground beneath them shifts rapidly.
Take the cost-of-living crisis, a persistent issue for many Singaporeans. Despite widespread public concerns over rising food prices, housing costs, and the controversial GST hikes—opposed by many who called for a deferral—the 4G leadership’s response has been uninspiring and, at times, dismissive.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who led the push for the two-tier GST hike as Finance Minister, has shown little flexibility, insisting on the policy which many believe exacerbated the problem.
Instead of offering innovative solutions to address inflation and wage stagnation, the Government has relied on temporary measures like CDC vouchers (a euphemism for food stamps) and rebates meant to offset the costs their own policies have driven up.
These band-aid solutions provide short-term relief but fail to address the root causes of financial strain for ordinary citizens.
More at https://urlr.me/DXjUv3
