George Yeo a member of PM's core team: SM Goh
By Jermyn Chow
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong with the PAP's Mountbatten SMC candidate Lim Biow Chuan (left) on a walkabout at the Old Airport Road food centre yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
FOREIGN Minister George Yeo is part of the core team of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's leadership, said Mr Goh Chok Tong yesterday.
He is 'too important a person for the Cabinet to lose', the Senior Minister told reporters yesterday.
If Mr Yeo lost in the coming polls, it would be a 'big loss', he said, adding: 'It will be of great consequence to Singapore.'
Mr Yeo is seeking to defend his five-member team in Aljunied GRC against a bid by an 'A' team from the Workers' Party led by party chief Low Thia Khiang.
Speaking after a walkabout at Joo Chiat Complex in Marine Parade GRC, Mr Goh said that the core team was critical to helping set directions for Singapore and solving Singaporeans' problems when 'the dust has settled' after the elections.
The problems include the rising cost of living, soaring housing prices and making health care affordable for Singapore's ageing population.
Mr Goh also identified Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and, in time to come, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as among the other members of Mr Lee's core team.
Other ministers might be criticised for particular policies, he said, mentioning transport and housing policies, as well as the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat, as examples.
But 'George Yeo, what has he done to deserve this', he asked.
'He is a core member. I have run the government and I know. You need a core team,' said Mr Goh, who was Prime Minister from 1990 to 2004.
This marked the second time, since his rally speech last Saturday, that he has stressed Mr Yeo's critical role in government.
Mr Goh added that having worked with Mr Yeo and having helped Mr Lee build his team, he felt very strongly about the issue.
Mr Goh also noted that Mr Yeo, who has been Foreign Minister for the past six years, is in the process of negotiating 'delicate agreements' with Singapore's neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia.
When asked whether the People's Action Party has a replacement for Mr Yeo as Foreign Minister should he be voted out, Mr Goh said: not at the moment.
'But of course, you have to find somebody... The question is who will be as good a Foreign Minister as George Yeo.'
On the subject of his former principal private secretary (PPS) Tan Jee Say, however, Mr Goh declined further comment.
He had disclosed last Saturday that Mr Tan had not make the cut to be a Permanent Secretary, and that was why he had resigned from the Civil Service.
Mr Tan, 57, a Singapore Democratic Party candidate contesting in the four-member Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, worked under Mr Goh, then Deputy Prime Minister, from 1985 to 1990.
Describing Mr Tan as 'an able, dedicated and loyal PPS', Mr Goh said: 'If I were to go further, by elaborating, I'll probably hurt him further and damage him further. So I will not want to, unless I'm compelled to.'
By Jermyn Chow
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong with the PAP's Mountbatten SMC candidate Lim Biow Chuan (left) on a walkabout at the Old Airport Road food centre yesterday. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
FOREIGN Minister George Yeo is part of the core team of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's leadership, said Mr Goh Chok Tong yesterday.
He is 'too important a person for the Cabinet to lose', the Senior Minister told reporters yesterday.
If Mr Yeo lost in the coming polls, it would be a 'big loss', he said, adding: 'It will be of great consequence to Singapore.'
Mr Yeo is seeking to defend his five-member team in Aljunied GRC against a bid by an 'A' team from the Workers' Party led by party chief Low Thia Khiang.
Speaking after a walkabout at Joo Chiat Complex in Marine Parade GRC, Mr Goh said that the core team was critical to helping set directions for Singapore and solving Singaporeans' problems when 'the dust has settled' after the elections.
The problems include the rising cost of living, soaring housing prices and making health care affordable for Singapore's ageing population.
Mr Goh also identified Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and, in time to come, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam as among the other members of Mr Lee's core team.
Other ministers might be criticised for particular policies, he said, mentioning transport and housing policies, as well as the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat, as examples.
But 'George Yeo, what has he done to deserve this', he asked.
'He is a core member. I have run the government and I know. You need a core team,' said Mr Goh, who was Prime Minister from 1990 to 2004.
This marked the second time, since his rally speech last Saturday, that he has stressed Mr Yeo's critical role in government.
Mr Goh added that having worked with Mr Yeo and having helped Mr Lee build his team, he felt very strongly about the issue.
Mr Goh also noted that Mr Yeo, who has been Foreign Minister for the past six years, is in the process of negotiating 'delicate agreements' with Singapore's neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia.
When asked whether the People's Action Party has a replacement for Mr Yeo as Foreign Minister should he be voted out, Mr Goh said: not at the moment.
'But of course, you have to find somebody... The question is who will be as good a Foreign Minister as George Yeo.'
On the subject of his former principal private secretary (PPS) Tan Jee Say, however, Mr Goh declined further comment.
He had disclosed last Saturday that Mr Tan had not make the cut to be a Permanent Secretary, and that was why he had resigned from the Civil Service.
Mr Tan, 57, a Singapore Democratic Party candidate contesting in the four-member Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, worked under Mr Goh, then Deputy Prime Minister, from 1985 to 1990.
Describing Mr Tan as 'an able, dedicated and loyal PPS', Mr Goh said: 'If I were to go further, by elaborating, I'll probably hurt him further and damage him further. So I will not want to, unless I'm compelled to.'
