If you haven't guessed it by now, this is the start of the long drawn succession exercise. The Brothel press was asked to float the 6 candidates and note the commentary for each, void of anything significant in terms of attributes, style or personality. Possibly the worst write-up of potential leaders. The idea is to gauge public response not that the public has any say in the matter. It is also a signal to the candidates to start their own campaign of sorts. The first unofficial kick-off was in Jan when 4 of the 6 were asked to face an IPS panel where they are asked to give their answers to a series of questions. Ong Ye Kung won that round and Ng Chee Meng was rated last. Interestingly Tan Chuan Jin and Lawrence Wong were not on the list then.
Tan Chuan Jin during the 2 yearly CEC elections performed unexpectedly very well in Dec 2014. Lawrence Wong did not make the cut.
Both must have been included after the Heng's health scare. It is common knowledge that Lawrence Wong who was one time PPS to LHL is the PM's favoured candidate if Heng does not make the cut for Health reasons.
GCT was nominated by his peers - the second generation leaders over tea and snacks in the privacy of Tony Tan's House. LHL selection background was never revealed though Khaw as Chairman of PAP recently insisted the selection process has been the same thru-out and it will again be the same when the 4th generation leaders pick one of their own.
What to expect?
1) PAP has 6 to 7 years to test each of these candidates. It unlikely that the successor will be named prior to GE2020. The 2 hot portfolios to have under your belt for succession in terms of importance are Defence and Finance. Heng has one but not Defence. The rest do not have any though it looks like Lawrence may eventually take Finance and Heng moves to Defence.
2) The 2 persons to watch are Lawrence Wong and Ong Ke Yung as back-up for Heng and their next appointments will be telling. Notably both have been given "political" assignments in recently - LW to handle CSJ during GE2015 and OKY to handle minority presidents, both not related to their portfolios.
3) I think we can safely rule out Chan Chun Sing (NTUC is a known dead end job) Ng Chee Meng and Tan Chuan Jin.
4) Then again, Heng will be 60 years old by then and like Teo Chee Hean who was the unofficial designate eventually ruled out because of age Thats leaves LW and OKY.