It seems that the Covid-19 pandemic is ruining just about everything nowadays, whether it’s the economy, your travel interests…
Or PM Lee’s grandiose retirement plans, as former senior minister S. Jayakumar’s new book points out.
Former DPM Said PM Lee Might Continue to be PM for 4 Years if COVID-19 Situation Didn’t Improve
According to The Straits Times, the former senior minister has launched a new book called Governing: A Singapore Perspective, and in it, he posed the all-important question everyone has been itching to ask.
After what has happened in the past few months, would PM Lee consider revisiting his earlier intention to retire by early 2022, and instead remain longer at the helm?
It was a notion that desperately needed an answer.
Lest you’re unaware, Mr Lee had previously stated that he hoped to retire by the time he reached 70 years of age.
That would be in February 2022.
However, recent circumstances, such as the uprise of the pandemic and the General Election 2020, have prompted calls for him to remain longer in his position.
According to Prof Jayakumar, the decision would ultimately depend on how long the pandemic will take to absolve.
“Of course, if ‘normalcy’ has been restored before the next GE, I think the public will support his desire to step down as PM,” he said.
“However, if the crisis persists, I believe many Singaporeans will want him to reconsider that aspect of his timeline as well, and hand over only after Singapore has turned the dangerous corner.”
“Much will depend on the success of measures taken to address both the health and economic fronts.”
Seeing This Through
Earlier in July this year, PM Lee stated that he had not expected such an “an overwhelming crisis” just before his impending retirement.
According to The Straits Times, he then said that he will see things through with his fellow colleagues and the 4G ministers, so that the nation can be handed over to the next team in good working condition.
Lest you’re unaware, the 4G leaders are the next batch to take over governmental practices, following PM Lee’s retirement.
These include the likes of Chan Chun Sing, Grace Fu, One Ye Kung, Lawrence Wong and Heng Swee Keat.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that the 4G leaders have backed Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as their leader.
Up till GE2020, Heng was the clear favourite to succeed Lee’s position: he was designated as first assistant secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP) in 2018.
However, a significant drop in votes for Heng’s GRC has led to talks of other possible candidates. Back in 2015, Heng had won East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) by 60.7 per cent. In the recent GE, however, the percentage dropped to 53.4 per cent.
In the book, Professor Jayakumar has expressed his approval of the 4G leaders.
He paid tribute to their roles during the recent crisis, and stated that they did a “creditable job” despite some criticism.
What’s important, he suggested, is that they pushed on amidst the dissent.
“I was worried as to whether they would be flustered by this criticism, and was very cheered when I saw that they were unfazed,” he said.
“They went about their tasks in a very determined manner.”
You can find Governing: A Singapore Perspective at leading bookstores at $35 (inclusive of GST).
You can also check it out here.
Featured Image: zahimmohd / Shutterstock.com
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