Latest news with #SingaporePolitics
CNA
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Commentary: What the Cabinet appointments of Jeffrey Siow and David Neo tell us about Singapore's approach to political leadership
SINGAPORE: The swearing-in of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his new Cabinet on Friday (May 23) marked the start of a new chapter in Singapore's political transition. Among the appointments, the elevation of political newcomers Jeffrey Siow and David Neo to acting minister positions has drawn particular attention. They will helm the transport and culture, community and youth ministries, respectively. Direct appointments to Cabinet, though uncommon, do have precedence. Mr Chan Chun Sing was appointed acting minister for community development, youth and sports after the 2011 General Election, while Mr Ng Chee Meng and Mr Ong Ye Kung were made acting ministers of education following GE2015. Mr Heng Swee Keat and Dr Tan See Leng even became full Cabinet ministers on their entry into politics. The Cabinet appointments this round reflect the considerable trust Mr Wong and the People's Action Party (PAP) leadership place in Mr Siow and Mr Neo. The former was second permanent secretary at the Manpower Ministry and Ministry of Trade and Industry before entering politics, while the latter was chief of army until he stepped down in March. Notably, their previous jobs have direct relevance to their new portfolios: Mr Siow was previously director of land transport at the Transport Ministry, while Mr Neo was formerly a director at the Pioneer Generation Office, which worked closely with community and grassroots organisations. Their experience ought to help the new acting ministers hit the ground running. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Neo (@davidneo) WHY CIVIL SERVANTS AND MILITARY GENERALS The civil service and armed forces have long been a fertile recruitment ground for political leaders. Former permanent secretaries who subsequently joined the Cabinet include Mr Howe Yoon Chong in the late 1970s, and more recently, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Mr Heng and Mr Chee Hong Tat. Among the early cohorts of SAF scholars were Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Mr George Yeo and Mr Teo Chee Hean. Many other military officers have since followed in their footsteps. Of the seven first-time Members of Parliament appointed to political office, six are from the public sector including the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). This raises the question: How useful is prior public sector experience to a political leader? Conversely, could there be disadvantages in drawing political leaders from the public sector? Civil servants, especially those who have held senior positions, would certainly be au fait with policy design and implementation. They would be familiar with policy principles and considerations, and would know how to work the government machinery necessary for successful policy implementation. They would have also proven themselves in running public agencies or departments and managing public funds. By the time they reach the senior echelons of the SAF, military commanders would have acquired considerable experience in leading people and organisations, as well as in planning logistics and operations. These are all valuable skillsets for a political leader. Capability and experience aside, public officers may gain the trust of incumbent political leaders in the course of their work. Political leaders spend much of their time working with public officers, so it is natural for them to turn to trusted officers when identifying fresh talent for politics. In particular, the role of principal private secretary (PPS) – a senior aide to the prime minister, deputy prime minister or minister mentor - has turned out to be a political apprenticeship for several Cabinet ministers. Mr Wong, Mr Ong and Mr Siow previously served as Mr Lee Hsien Loong's PPS, while Mr Chee was PPS to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Honoured to be sworn in as Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance. I am grateful for the... Posted by Jeffrey Siow （萧振祥） on Friday, May 23, 2025 IS THERE RISK OF GROUPTHINK? Critics argue that having a large number of former public officers in Cabinet could breed insular thinking, as they may be boxed in by existing policy paradigms. Those who are sceptical that SAF generals make good civilian leaders have suggested that military-style command and control does not work well in other settings. However, stereotypes seldom do justice to individuals. Much depends on a leader's personal disposition, including independence of mind and adaptability to different organisational contexts. Former military men have made significant contributions both in the private sector as well as in politics: Names that come to mind include former CapitaLand CEO Liew Mun Leong and recently retired Mr Teo. Likewise, former ministers Mr Khaw and Mr Lim Swee Say – known for their policy innovations and enterprising streak – came from public sector backgrounds. Notwithstanding, there is certainly a need for a diversity of experience in the Cabinet. Those from the private sector can bring different perspectives and expertise to complement the skillsets of their colleagues from the public sector. Doctors, lawyers and former corporate leaders have held key ministerial portfolios in recent years. Serving as grassroots volunteers or on the boards of public agencies are some ways in which private sector candidates have come to the attention of the political leadership and gained their trust. WHAT MAKES A LEADER EFFECTIVE The most effective political leaders, in my view, are those who have vision, imagination and conviction. Having strong convictions means they are not easily swayed from the course they have set; yet they are open-minded enough to take in feedback, whether from civil servants or members of the public, and can be persuaded to adjust their approach where needed. These leaders do not merely follow public opinion; they have their ears close to the ground to understand citizens' concerns and seek ways to address them. They have to be good communicators, to rally their colleagues and the public around their vision of change – to inspire, motivate and bring people along. Successful change requires the mobilising of people and the marshalling of resources, and there are often roadblocks to overcome along the way. Newly minted political leaders from the public sector should leverage their prior experience and knowledge, while at the same time have the openness and suppleness of mind to be able to transcend existing policy paradigms. This is possible if they have the humility to take in suggestions, the courage to act on their convictions and the perseverance to push on despite obstacles. If so, they will be deserving of the trust that Singaporeans have placed in them.
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Desmond Lee: The Dark Horse in the Cabinet
Photo: Facebook screengrab / desmondtslee Featured News Singapore Politics Beyond the headlines, news reports and commentaries, the picture that emerges of Singapore's newest Cabinet shows a 4G leadership with a few rough edges yet to be straightened. PM Lawrence Wong seems to be a man in a hurry to shore up his power base with the appointment of those who passed the electoral test. There are 15 full ministers, two acting ministers and 22 ministers of state and political secretaries with the PM saying that the appointments, including nine new office holders from the backbench as well as from the new group of MPs 'is one of the highest in recent history. Statistics are one thing. More important is what the changes mean to some individuals. Both Ong Ye Kung and Chan Chun Sing, both 4G ministers who came into politics with much promise, have not been made DPMs with Gan Kim Yong retaining his No 2 post. Of course, the two have been made co-ordinating ministers as a way to satisfy their ambitions. Gan is thus a compromise candidate. Then comes Masagos Zulkifli, who had to give up his second job as Minister in Charge of Muslim Affairs to Fishal Ibrahim (in an Acting capacity). Masagos was under attack in his Tampines GRC headed by Workers Party veteran Faisal Manap in a constituency with the highest margin (30 per cent) of Malay/Muslim voters. His team nearly lost (52 per cent) because Masagos was seen as a lame duck in fighting for the Malay cause. Israel's atrocity against Hamas i n Gaza and his lackluster response angered not only many Muslims but also some other Singaporeans. Then there is Janil Puthucheary, a rising political star. His rise has been halted because he was not prompt in tackling the complaints of residents of Northshore in his Punggol ward. Gan had to step in to mollify them with assurances that their unhappiness will be looked into. Puthucheary remains Senior Minister of State. A notable Cabinet absentee is Ng Chee Meng, who scraped through with just below 52 per cent of the votes against a WP newbie in the single seat of Jalan Kayu. Ng came onto the campaign trail with a dark cloud hanging over his head; many had felt that he, as head of NTUC, was not against the sale of a 51 per cent stake in one co-operative, Income, to a German company. After his election victory, he made an unusual public announcement: That he doesn't want a Cabinet post. That must have put the PM in a spot. In announcing his new Cabinet, Wong was non-committal about whether Ng would get a place in the next reshuffle. What many did not pay attention to was the dark horse in the Cabinet. Desmond Lee is now the Education Minister and could go on to bigger things. Wong said: 'He brings a quiet but effective style of leadership. He listens actively and persistently and engages widely with stakeholders and takes decisive actions when needed.' That is high praise indeed for a man who was moved to West Coast GRC from Jurong GRC to do battle with Tan Cheng Bock and team in 2020. The top leadership in the Cabinet is still in transition and a mid-term reshuffle will make things clearer who is likely to be the next DPM.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Watch: Swearing-in ceremony for PM Lawrence Wong and Cabinet
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his new Cabinet were sworn into office at a ceremony at the Istana on Friday (May 23). Mr Wong had announced his Cabinet on Wednesday, with Mr Gan Kim Yong as his sole deputy prime minister. There are also three new coordinating ministers. Mr K Shanmugam will serve as coordinating minister for national security and continue as home affairs minister. Mr Chan Chun Sing will be coordinating minister for public services and take on a new portfolio as defence minister. And Mr Ong Ye Kung will take on the role of coordinating minister for social policies on top of being health minister.
Independent Singapore
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
‘Where were the local fact-checkers?' — WP leaders call out FB page that spread falsehood during GE
SINGAPORE: Earlier this week, Workers' Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh took issue with a particular Facebook post from a page linked to another that had been fact-checked in the lead-up to the May 3 polls. Mr Singh wrote on May 18 (Sunday) that he had done a double-take upon seeing a post that day from the SG Matters Facebook page that dealt with national interest and foreign policy. The WP chief explained how Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, and S Rajaratnam, widely considered to be among the 'brightest foreign policy minds in Singapore,' did not have the same opinion concerning Israel. He ended his post by writing, 'For some positions are worth standing up for, while an overly ritualistic resort to pragmatism may operate to dilute the resilience, commitment and unity of those who stand up for what is (morally) right.' Mr Singh noted that the post from SG Matters did not contain falsehoods, a previous one from its sister site, Singapore Matters, did. He wrote that it had been the only local site 'singled out by the international media for peddling falsehoods' during the last GE and asked, 'Where were the local fact-checkers?' See also Asia cracks down on virus 'fake news' This was in reference to AFP fact-checking Singapore Matters for mischaracterising statements from WP candidate Alia Mattar. 'At no point does she say the conflict is 'more important' than local Singapore issues. AFP could find no other evidence of such a statement from Siti Alia,' AFP wrote on May 5. Singapore Matters has long held unapologetically pro-government views. The question is whether it, as well as other social media pages, are being legitimised when high-profile or influential individuals share posts from these pages . On Wednesday (May 21), Jackson Au, who had also been part of the WP slate at Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC), called out the Singapore Matters Facebook page, which had issued 'A Note of Clarification and Accountability' the day before, 15 days after the AFP published its fact check. Mr Au wrote, 'I want to focus on a related issue: the (so far) conspicuous lack of scrutiny from our so-called mainstream media and regulators.' He summarised Singapore Matters' note as 'sorry, not sorry,' adding, 'This response stands in stark contrast to the swift and decisive correction orders we've seen meted out to other online platforms or opposition politicians for their transgressions.' He also pointed out that the falsehoods about Ms Mattar's remarks had been posted right before Cooling-Off Day, which means that the candidate had no chance to respond or defend herself. Mr Au added, 'In my view, this instance of disinformation may have fallen afoul of the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill, or ELIONA, first passed in October 2024. If indeed it is, then it should be a major news story in its own right, and warrant further investigation by our media and electoral authorities.' He expressed disappointment that in spite of the AFP fact-check and the post having been flagged by Facebook's parent company Meta, 'not a single voice from the mainstream media or any government regulators has publicly addressed this digitally manipulated content, nor used this episode to raise awareness about the dangers of targeted disinformation under ELIONA. No one has sought to speak truth to power and call this out for what it is: fake news,' added Mr Au. /TISG Read also: Ho Ching shares post defending Chan Chun Sing
CNA
22-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Commentary: Will 4G Cabinet appointees' experience in stable times pay off in an unpredictable world?
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first full Cabinet, announced on Wednesday (May 21) offers perhaps what voters wanted in the 2025 General Election: the comfort of familiarity and experience – with a dash of change. Mr Wong's line-up was noted in part for a record nine new office holders, comprising two acting ministers – Jeffrey Siow and David Neo, who are first-term Members of Parliament (MPs) – and other junior appointments such as ministers of state and senior parliamentary secretaries. But the other way of looking at this is that of Mr Wong's 17 Cabinet picks, 15 previously held political appointments. The fact that familiar faces staff most of the Cabinet suggests a desire for stability and continuity even though some ministers are taking on new portfolios. Of course, the question then becomes whether familiarity and experience of serving in a more stable and predictable environment will deliver results for Singaporeans at a time of significant global flux. A LESS PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT Among the immediate pressures the new government will face is to handle the uncertainties of the tariffs imposed by the United States, the ongoing US-China trade war, and the tensions resulting from heightened US-China competition. Given Singapore's small size, openness, and indeed dependence on the external environment for its prosperity and security, the country is particularly susceptible to broader shifts and shocks in the world. The PAP's 4G leaders are highly competent and experienced in operating within a globalised and perhaps less contentious environment. Most of those at the senior minister of state and minister of state level have served in similar roles in the previous administration, despite the fact they have all taken on new portfolios except Murali Pillai. Even among the newly anointed, Mr Siow and Mr Neo respectively have recent experience in senior roles in the civil service and the Singapore Armed Forces. Three have parliamentary experience, with two backbencher MPs in Desmond Choo and Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and one former Nominated MP Syed Harun Alhabsyi. The remaining four – Dinesh Vasu Dash, Jasmine Lau, Goh Pei Ming and Goh Hanyan – left senior public service positions not long before standing in GE2025. Whether the 4G can perform as well in a more contested, less predictable environment where openness to economic exchange and cooperation are treated more suspiciously remains an open question right now. As the warning to investors goes: past performance is no guarantee of future return. QUESTIONS ABOUT 4G READINESS IN DIFFICULT PORTFOLIOS With 13 out of the 17 Cabinet appointments considered to be from the 4G (and perhaps even 5G), there is a clear push to complete the leadership transition that had been somewhat stalled when former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat took himself out of the succession process in 2021. Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's continuing position as Senior Minister, as well as the role of PAP stalwarts in charge of key portfolios such as deputy prime minister, foreign minister, and minister of trade and industry, raise questions about when the fourth generation will fully take charge. What is the readiness of the 4G PAP leadership to take on the more difficult portfolios for the present time? Global uncertainties mean that leadership at the home affairs and foreign ministries may be especially important. Given the continuation of Edwin Tong as Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs even as he moves to helm the Ministry of Law suggests that he may be in line to take over the home affairs portfolio as well at some point. Sim Ann's retention at the Foreign Affairs Ministry as senior minister of state may similarly be an indication that she is given the preparation to take over from Vivian Balakrishnan. However, it may be reasonable to ask why they are not ready to replace the long-serving third generation leaders in these portfolios as this time. COORDINATING IN A MORE COMPLEX WORLD A final point to note from the Cabinet appointments is the reversion to three coordinating ministers. The current administration will have coordinating ministers for national security, public services, and social policies. While these cross-ministry roles are not new, they reinforce that there are an increasing number of issues that overlap the functional and jurisdictional remits traditionally delegated to specific ministries. A more complex world requires that ministries work together, sometimes in less conventional ways. Coordinating ministers, who are often senior leaders, have the gravitas and political capital to facilitate collaboration among different ministries in ways that force more flexibility into the system and in policy. Such thinking across the stovepipes of established ministerial jurisdictions may be exactly what Singapore needs right now, although delivery on such fronts remain to be seen.
