Chitchat The independent: Is the PAP in a leadership crisis? Heng Swee Keat Watch

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http://theindependent.sg/is-the-pap-in-a-leadership-crisis-heng-swee-keat-watch/
Is the PAP in a leadership crisis? Heng Swee Keat Watch
By The Independent - May 16, 2016 16 8048
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The editor-at-large of the Straits Times predicted last year that Mr Heng Swee Keat is most likely to succeed Mr Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister. Considering that he was hand-picked by Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and that he was under the tutelage of the elder Lee for 3 years before his career graph took-off dramatically, the editor’s prediction may not be far-fetched.

Mr Heng did not have to serve as Acting Minister like the other fourth-generation (4G) leaders Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan-Jin had to. He was made Minister immediately after the 2011 election. Since then, he has led several high-profile committees which is almost unheard of for new political office holders of the PAP Government.

PM Lee had previously said that he would want to hand over the Prime Ministership to a fourth-generation leader before he turns 70. He is now 64. He has barely another 5 more years, and there seems to be no one else in PAP’s 4G to fill Mr Heng’s shoes.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman said Mr Heng “represents the best in Singapore”, while the ex-Premiere Goh Chok Tong said, “we need him (Heng)”. Religious leaders, welfare organisations and grassroots organisations have all started wishing that Mr Heng makes a full recovery soon.

If Mr Heng is truly the anointed one, then it could be highly possible that the People’s Action Party (PAP) is facing a leadership crisis.

We at TISG are also concerned. We have started this watch for Mr Heng and will keep it appropriately updated as and when further news about Mr Heng breaks.

1 Nov 1961 Born
1983 A Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholar, he joined the Singapore Police Force as a constable after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics from Cambridge University. Was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police when he left
1993 Obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University
1997 Joined Administrative Service and served in the Ministry of Education
Mar 1997 Hand-picked by Mr Lee Kuan Yew for the job of Principal Private Secretary for Senior Minister. Mr Lee said Mr Heng was one “”finest minds among the civil servants I (Lee) have worked with”.
2000 Appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry
2001 Chief Executive Officer, Trade Development Board (concurrent appointment with previous appointment in Ministry of Trade and Industry
Oct 2001 Appointed Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry)
Mr Heng oversaw the negotiations of free trade agreements, and led the negotiation with India as the Chief Negotiator. He coordinated the work of seven economic agencies under MTI.
June 2005 Appointed Managing Director of MAS
Apr 2011 Retired from Administrative Service and joined People’s Action Party (PAP). Ex-premiere Goh Chok Tong tipped Mr Heng to be a potential minister and core member of PAP’s fourth generation leadership team.
May 2011 Contested and won General Election from Tampines Group Representation Constituency
18 May 2011 First to be appointed as Minister (Minister for Education) from PAP’s fourth generation leadership team. (Team includes individuals like Chan Chun Sing, Lawrence Wong and Tan Chuan-Jin). He brought bold changes to Education Ministry, doing away with school ranking system, not naming top-scorers in national exams, created more university spaces, shifted emphasis from grades to talent
Sep 2012 Led the Our Singapore Conversation which reached out to 47,000 Singaporeans for dialogue
Nov 2013 Appointed Chairman of SG50 Celebrations Steering Committee (An initiative to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday
Sep 2015 Contested and won General Election with 72 percent of votes cast going to the GRC team he anchored
Oct 2015 – Appointed as Finance Minister
– Appointed Chairman of Committee for the Future Economy (an effort to lay out the roadmap for future jobs, resources, technology and markets)

Mar 2016 Delivered Budget 2016 which some hailed as going the extra mile for struggling SMEs and other sectors
12 May 2016 -Collapsed at Cabinet Meeting due to stroke
-Doctors in Cabinet attended to him
– Brought to hospital in ambulance
– Hospital confirms that stroke was due to an aneurysm
– Underwent initial neurosurgery to relieve pressure in his brain due to the bleeding. The aneurysm was successfully closed
– Admitted to Intensive Care Unit of National Neuroscience Institute of Tan Tock Seng Hospital
– PM Lee said that he hoped Mr Heng will be alright and described him as a valuable member of PM Lee’s team
– DPM Tharman describes Mr Heng as a leader with much promise
– Ex-PM Goh Chok Tong said “we need him”
13 May 2016 – PM Lee said that Mr Heng is sedated and is still in the Intensive Care Unit and that he will remain there for some time
– Religious leaders from all 10 faiths of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) gathered to pray for Mr Heng’s speedy and full recovery. In attendance were DPM Tharman and Tampines MP Baey Yam Keng. Mr Tharman said Mr Heng “represents the best in Singapore”
14 May – PM Lee commends SCDF Officers who came to Mr Heng’s aid
-Minister Masagos Zulkifli announced that PAP member, Sin Boon Ann, will be standing in for Mr Heng’s duties in his constituency, while he is in hospital
15 May Religious organisations and grassroots organisations hold various events to pray for Mr Heng to wish him a speedy recover

 

[krafty]

i doubt ah keat can be the one, he not tall enough, you look at pinky, lau goh and old fart, all tall and height is unsung pre-requiste to be PM of S'pore.

 

[Alamakinky]

What you say is true but can be solved in a uniquely Sinkiepore way. We get 2 short guys eg ah keat and ah khaw and make them joint PM. When they represent Sinkies in meeting with other foreign dignitaries they can stand one on top of the other and become as tall as the other ang moh heads of state. It is worth a try isnt it?

i doubt ah keat can be the one, he not tall enough, you look at pinky, lau goh and old fart, all tall and height is unsung pre-requiste to be PM of S'pore.

 

[JHolmesJr]

Why does a leader have to be young? Look at Fidel Castro….Mikhail Gorbachev….Lech Walesa…Leonid Brezhnev...

 

[KuanTi01]

What you say is true but can be solved in a uniquely Sinkiepore way. We get 2 short guys eg ah keat and ah khaw and make them joint PM. When they represent Sinkies in meeting with other foreign dignitaries they can stand one on top of the other and become as tall as the other ang moh heads of state. It is worth a try isnt it?

I had a good laugh! Yes, uniquely Singapore!

 

[virus]

What you say is true but can be solved in a uniquely Sinkiepore way. We get 2 short guys eg ah keat and ah khaw and make them joint PM. When they represent Sinkies in meeting with other foreign dignitaries they can stand one on top of the other and become as tall as the other ang moh heads of state. It is worth a try isnt it?

Too complicated. Not tall can buy high heels if got momey left can do penis enlargement. It will help a lot.

 

[virus]

Why does a leader have to be young? Look at Fidel Castro….Mikhail Gorbachev….Lech Walesa…Leonid Brezhnev...

Mostly dead or1/2 dead. You really wanna avoid crying mass outdoing the old fart requiem at each try eventually pple may think kiat kiat is the founderest father ofsinkieland

 

[Leckmichamarsch]

Firstly NOBODY is indespensable except LHL
Secondly the writing is on the wall that HENG will not fully recover and that dashes his hope of ever becoming PM who shud be Hong Li LEE

 

[shiokalingam]

Anyone here got latest news from Ttsh ?

 

[glockman]

Anyone here got latest news from Ttsh ?

In our local context, no news is bad news. Thats the way the media is, as ordered by the powers that be.

 

[GoldenDragon]

hsk did not start off as a constable in the spf. they got it wrong. it was benny lim who started his spf career as a pc. hsk would hv been appointed Insp before he left for cambridge and made asp upon graduation.

 

[winnipegjets]

Oct 2001 Appointed Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry)
Mr Heng oversaw the negotiations of free trade agreements, and led the negotiation with India as the Chief Negotiator. He coordinated the work of seven economic agencies under MTI.

So, he was the one who sold us out to the Indians? Or was he just acting on directions from the Ah Nehs in cabinet?

The free trade agreement with Indian is one Heng should not be proud of. No country would sign an agreement that allows a foreign country (in this case, India) to send UNLIMITED of their nationals to work in their country. It is a world's first. Only Sinkapore could do it. And what benefits have sinkapore gotten in return? Nothing worth even mentioning.

 

[Charlie99]

hsk did not start off as a constable in the spf. they got it wrong. it was benny lim who started his spf career as a pc. hsk would hv been appointed Insp before he left for cambridge and made asp upon graduation.

SPF Overseas Scholars do not start as a constable, but as a cadet

 

[GoldenDragon]

SPF Overseas Scholars do not start as a constable, but as a cadet

yes, NSPI wearing white name tags.

 

[Charlie99]

yes, NSPI wearing white name tags.

what did you wear as a cadet?
After POP, were you one pip or 2 pips, Inspector? then ASP?

 

[soikee]

Spoke to my neurosurgeon buddy about HSK's condition and his prognosis is that we need a miracle to see him return to his cabinet post.

 

[winnipegjets]

Spoke to my neurosurgeon buddy about HSK's condition and his prognosis is that we need a miracle to see him return to his cabinet post.

Heng has fulfilled his role as a provider to his family. He can passed on in peace. His pension and the compensation he will get will be more than sufficient for his family to live comfortably till they die.

May you rest in peace, Mr. Heng.

 

[frenchbriefs]

After having the clown lee as pm of singapore for the past ten years I can safely tell u anyone can be pm and it wont mean diddly squat.it cant get worse than that.even jeb bush can be pm of singapore.

 

[frenchbriefs]

Omg so this heng cunt was the head of negotiations for the free trade agreements and ceca agreement with india.number one traitor and uragimono of singapore after lky.he should hang for treason.