Singapore’s leadership renewal, delayed by the pandemic, is now “back on track”, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Lee’s original plan to handover the prime ministership by 2022 was held back as he wanted to see through the crisis.
Recent “controversial issues” have “drawn Singaporeans’ attention”, says Lee, without directly referring the corruption probes of Minister S Iswaran, the long-drawn affair between former Speaker Tan Chuan Jin and fellow MP Cheng Li Hui, as well as the controversy surrounding the rental of two government-owned so-called black and white bungalows at Ridout Road by Ministers K Shanmugam and Vivian Balakrishnan.
Lee, speaking at the National Day Rally on Aug 20, says the government has dealt with each of these issues “thoroughly and transparently”.
“Let me assure you: these incidents will not delay my timetable for renewal,” says Lee.
“More and more, my task is to support the 4G team and their agenda. I want to get them off to the best start possible. They are increasingly setting the pace,” says Lee, adding that he has “every confidence” in successor Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his team.
