Latest news with #LawrenceWong
CNA
8 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Faishal Ibrahim 'agrees with' ex-Israeli PM that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza
SINGAPORE: Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said on Saturday (May 31) that he agreed with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert's view that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. Mr Olmert was Israel's prime minister between 2006 and 2009, and was succeeded by Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the country's current leader. He had penned an opinion piece for Israeli news outlet Haaretz titled "Enough Is Enough. Israel Is Committing War Crimes". Associate Professor Faishal said: "I have often shared my views about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert himself has said Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza. "It pains me to say this, considering Israel's contributions to Singapore in our early years. But I think we need to be frank. I fear an increasing number of people worldwide will agree with Mr Olmert, including myself." "DEEPLY PAINFUL" SITUATION "In recent years, the focus in the Middle East has been Palestine," Assoc Prof Faishal said, adding: "The situation there, especially in Gaza, is deeply painful. The suffering of the Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories, including children, is unbearable." Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday that Israel may be breaching international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Wong said that Israel's response to the Hamas attack on Oct 7, 2023, had "gone too far" and that its actions had caused a "terrible humanitarian disaster". "In our opinion, it may even be a likely breach of international humanitarian law. So it cannot be justified," he said. Assoc Prof Faishal said: "(Mr Wong) said plainly that Israel has gone too far in its actions. "In particular, the restrictions it has imposed on the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza are completely unacceptable. In the opinion of the Singapore government, Israel's actions are likely to be in breach of international humanitarian law." Assoc Prof Faishal also noted that the government had joined other countries in strongly urging an immediate ceasefire, the protection of civilian lives, the return of hostages and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. He added that he was "thankful that leaders like Madam Halimah Yacob have spoken about the crisis in Gaza and have helped all Singaporeans think of the tragedy with compassion and grace".
Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Anwar arrives in Singapore for Shangri-La Dialogue, to meet US Defence Secretary among other key figures
SINGAPORE, May 31 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Singapore for a one-day working visit to participate in the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), the premier defence and security conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The aircraft carrying Anwar touched down at Singapore Changi Airport at 11.39am today. He will proceed to the Shangri-La Hotel on Orange Grove Road, where he is scheduled to deliver a Special Address at 2.45pm. Prior to that, the Prime Minister is scheduled to receive a courtesy call from United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Anwar will also meet Boeing Global president and Boeing Company senior vice president Dr Brendan Nelson on the sidelines of the dialogue. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has been in Singapore since yesterday to attend the dialogue. The three-day 22nd SLD, which began yesterday, features participation from 47 countries, including 40 ministerial-level delegates, 20 chiefs of defence forces, over 20 senior defence officials, and leading academics from across the region. During his visit, Anwar will also hold a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The two leaders are expected to review the state of Malaysia — Singapore relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual concern. Anwar is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana. — Bernama
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Macron lands EU first with Singapore pact amid ‘third way' push
ISTANBUL, May 31 — France and Singapore on Friday upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership as Paris projected its 'third way' to South-east Asian nations during President Emmanuel Macron's three-nation trip. During his last stop in Singapore, Macron and host Prime Minister Lawrence Wong agreed to expand cooperation in areas including intelligence sharing and defence, Anadolu Ajansi reported. Elevating ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership is Singapore's first such diplomatic arrangement with an EU nation. Since his first stop in Vietnam, Macron has projected France as a 'third way' amid US-China rivalry in the wider Asia-Pacific region. Addressing students in Vietnamese capital Hanoi, Macron said: 'We don't want to be dependent on the great powers.' 'We want to cooperate, but be able to choose. That means in every area of the game: our education, innovation, industry, health, energy, geopolitics, and defence,' Macron told students at Hanoi's University of Science and Technology early this week when he began his trip to South-east Asia. His trip came amid US President Donald Trump's tariff war, which hit Vietnam with at least 47 per cent levies. According to Macron's aides, France's 'Indo-Pacific strategy' proposes a third way to the countries of the region. 'We want to be able to work with the Americans and the Chinese. We want to have the best relations in the world, but not to be dependent on them. We want our sovereignty and stability to be respected everywhere,' Macron said. 'Under the new partnership, we will enhance cooperation in other areas, including deployment of defence technology and critical and emerging technologies,' Wong said during a joint news conference with Macron. The two countries signed 13 agreements covering nuclear energy, defense cooperation, joint research, and mutual protection of classified information, Anadolu reported. Wong said the nations would also 'deepen our cooperation in existing sectors and expand our collaboration in new areas like decarbonisation and digitalisation.' He also announced plans to establish more high-level dialogue between senior officials. Macron arrived Thursday in Singapore for a two-day visit, the final stop of his South-east Asia tour after Vietnam and Indonesia. — Bernama-AA
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Singapore PM: Israel's aid restrictions ‘unacceptable', may be breaching humanitarian law
SINGAPORE, May 31 — The restrictions imposed by Israel on the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza are completely unacceptable and cannot be justified, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Friday. 'In our opinion, it may even be a likely breach of international humanitarian law,' he said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on his first state visit to Singapore since Thursday. Wong said that while Singapore recognised Israel's security concerns, its response however has gone too far and resulted in a terrible humanitarian disaster. He said Singapore has joined countries around the world in calling for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, the protection of civilians, and the return of hostages. Wong added that beyond the current crisis, Singapore supports the right of the Palestinian people to their own homeland. 'This must be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution, as it remains the only path to a comprehensive, just, and durable solution to the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict,' he said. Wong said Singapore would participate in international efforts towards a lasting solution to the conflict, including the international conference led by France and Saudi Arabia scheduled for next month. — Bernama
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Desmond Lee: The son also rises, a younger 4G leader emerging in a Gen X nation
The Independent Singapore may have spotted a rising star. When Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled his new Cabinet on May 25, one remark stood out to seasoned observers: Wong singled out Desmond Lee for praise. Veteran journalist PN Balji quickly picked up on the cue, writing that Lee 'could go on to bigger things.' Wong's words were measured but significant: 'Desmond brings a quiet but effective style of leadership. He listens actively and persistently, engages widely with stakeholders, and takes decisive actions when needed.' For Singapore, a country known for pragmatism over pageantry, such praise carries weight. Unlike some of Singapore's past political giants — the fiery Lee Kuan Yew or the eloquent David Marshall — Lee speaks with understated clarity. His manner is conversational and grounded, in tune with the present generation, which favours simplicity over grand rhetoric. Steady rise Lee's rise has been steady. His appointment as Education Minister was already a signal of trust and importance — education, after all, holds a special place in Singapore's governance. It has historically been the portfolio of many political heavyweights, including Goh Keng Swee, Tony Tan, Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Lee stepped into this charmed circle with the added distinction of family legacy: his father, Lee Yock Suan, was also Education Minister from 1992 to 1997. Only one other father-son pair — Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong — have both served as ministers in Singapore, underscoring how rare such political continuity is in the city-state. Now, Desmond Lee has been appointed chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP), a position that boosts not only his own stature but also affirms the generational transition underway. The move strengthens the grip of the PAP's so-called '4G' — the fourth-generation leadership team — on the party machinery. With Prime Minister Wong as secretary-general and Lee as chairman, the party's helm is now firmly in 4G hands. That generational label, '4G', doesn't necessarily refer to age. It marks the fourth leadership cohort since Singapore's independence: the founding leaders led by Lee Kuan Yew (1G); the Goh Chok Tong generation (2G); the Lee Hsien Loong Cabinet (3G); and now, the current team under Wong. Many of today's 4G ministers, including Wong, Heng Swee Keat, and Lee himself, entered politics around the 2011 general election. Still, age is not irrelevant. The former PAP chairman, Heng Swee Keat, was widely expected to become the next Prime Minister. But in 2021, Heng, then 60, stepped aside, citing concerns about his ability to lead the country over a sufficiently long period. This opened the door for the younger Wong, now 52. Desmond Lee, at 48, is even younger — close to the national median age of 42.8 — and well positioned for a long and meaningful political future. Gen X nation In fact, Singapore today is very much a Generation X nation, led by Gen Xers like Wong and Lee. While a few 3G figures remain in Cabinet — most notably Lee Hsien Loong as Senior Minister, Vivian Balakrishnan at Foreign Affairs, and K. Shanmugam at Home Affairs and National Security — many others, including Teo Chee Hean, Ng Eng Hen and Maliki Osman, have stepped down. The character of the Cabinet has shifted. It is now younger and more technocratic. See also Minister Lim: Please join our created platform to find jobs Netizens have cottoned on to the growing importance of Desmond Lee. As hatboyslim says on the subreddit r/Singapore: 'Technically, in party protocol, the chairman has precedence over the secretary-general, although the secretary-general is the leader of the party. 'This is a big party promotion for the son of Lee Yock Suan. This adds to his promotion to Minister for Education, which is one of the big four portfolios (finance, defence, home affairs, and education).'' Recalling how he and his PAP team beat the Progress Singapore Party at Jurong West GRC in the recent general election, serendeepities notes in the same subreddit: 'The GE showed his pull in West Coast and from those who have worked with him, he is well regarded albeit someone that is more of a quiet technocrat. Though he tends to be understated, his trajectory remains constant and will likely continue to be a presence especially in the 4-5G and the PAP. All the more so given his age.' Like PM Lawrence Wong Desmond Lee's trajectory has notably mirrored Wong's. Wong has been education minister, too, and both have served as national development ministers. Lee, a lawyer by training, does not have Wong's background in economics. Yet both have managed portfolios that touch the core of Singapore's long-term strategy — housing, infrastructure, education, and urban planning. As National Development Minister, Lee took over from Wong in 2020 and remained in the role through the 2025 general election. During his tenure, he oversaw policies to increase housing supply, upgrade public estates, and steer long-term planning initiatives. These are issues that directly affect the lives of everyday Singaporeans. Lee's appointment as PAP chairman is the latest step in a carefully built political path. He isn't being thrust into unfamiliar territory; he has already served as the party's assistant secretary-general and has sat on the PAP's Central Executive Committee. While the chairman's role doesn't usually generate headlines like ministerial portfolios do, it remains an influential post — previously held by political heavyweights such as Toh Chin Chye, Ong Teng Cheong, Tony Tan, and Khaw Boon Wan. There's no doubt that Lee's political résumé is substantial — and growing. From a legacy family to high-profile ministries, from quiet leadership to party command, he has built a career marked by steadiness rather than spectacle. The question now is not whether he will go on to bigger things, but just how far he might go.
