‘I am all in, heart and soul’: Lawrence Wong, on taking on PM job
After 25 years in public service, leader-in-waiting says the ‘biggest responsibility of all’ lies ahead
TO FULLY realise its vision for Singapore, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will need a continued mandate from voters that goes beyond a single term. This goal, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Nov 5), depends on whether the party can continue to win the support of Singaporeans and be elected to form the government.
“The people’s support is not a given. The PAP may have won every election since 1959, but we can easily lose the next,” he said in a speech at the PAP’s awards and convention.
“I do not assume that the PAP will win the next GE (general election) convincingly, or even win it outright.”
Wong, who is also finance minister, spoke about the challenges underscoring Singapore’s next phase of growth, and how the PAP can renew, refresh and strengthen itself to remain in power and chart the country forward.
On his part, he said he has been “working hard to get ready to receive the baton” from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and noted that it is “a matter of time” before the leadership transition takes place.
“As (PM Lee) repeatedly reminds us, the runway is short, and getting shorter with each passing day,” he said.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Wong, who has spent 25 years in public service, said “the biggest responsibility of all” lies ahead of him.
“I’ve always known the weight of this duty, and the demands of the job. But you have my promise that I am all in, heart and soul, to give nothing but my very best,” he said.
“I will not be alone in this,” he said, adding that his team of fourth generation leaders is ready to lead. Wong said he also has the support of the third generation leaders, who will “continue to serve”.
Risks ahead
Stressing that there is “much work” to do in the build-up to the GE, there is also much at risk.
He pointed out how investors and other countries are watching closely what unfolds in Singapore.
“When EDB (Economic Development Board) makes a pitch to investors, they want to know: will they still be dealing with the same government down the road? Can they take our word seriously?” he said.
“Other countries will be watching too. They want to know: does the next prime minister and his government have the support of the people? Does Singapore still have a strong government, able to do big things? So the stakes at the next GE are high.”
Domestically, Wong noted that a growing number of Singaporeans want more opposition voices in Parliament to act as a check and balance on the government.
“We must recognise and respect this,” he said, and understand that “the desire for opposition is, at its heart, a desire for those with different perspectives to be heard”.
The PAP should therefore respond to this by redoubling its efforts to connect with Singaporeans and retain their confidence and trust, he said.
In this new climate, the PAP will have to spend more time and energy in between elections on politics, “inevitably at the expense of policies”, said PM Lee in his speech at the convention.
With more opposition Members of Parliament in the House, more time is spent debating issues “big and small”, he said.
And while “constructive and responsible political debate is good and necessary... actual debate in Parliament does not always reach this level”, said PM Lee, adding: “Not infrequently, it becomes a political brawl.”
By spending more time on debates and “manoeuvring for political advantage”, problems will go unsolved, society will be divided and Singapore will suffer, he said. “Therefore, I say, having more opposition MPs doesn’t necessarily make for a better government.”
Leadership approach
As the PAP’s and Singapore’s next leader, Wong said that his approach in leadership is not about “accentuating differences, but finding common ground and the things that bind us as Singaporeans”.
“I don’t start with the assumption I know everything or have the answer to all problems,” he said. “Instead, I prefer to start by listening, hearing a diverse range of perspectives and views, and staying open to different ideas.”
But ultimately, as the leader, he will have to call the shots, he said.
“I will have to judge the balance and do what I assess to be in the best interest of Singaporeans,” he said. This includes making “tough but necessary” decisions from time to time.
“I’ve been in government long enough to know that I cannot please everyone. But I will do my best to explain my decision, while being upfront about the problems and trade-offs, and win the support of the broad majority of Singaporeans,” said Wong.
Singapore may be diverse, but it must always find ways to forge consensus and resist the urge to draw lines, he said.
“If our instinct is to disconnect from and dismiss those who disagree with us or are different from us, then we all stand to lose,” he said.
He noted that finding common ground is how the government has dealt with sensitive issues, such as the repealing of 377A – the law criminalising sex between men – and allowing nurses to wear the tudung at work. This is also how the government is dealing with the implications of the Israel-Hamas conflict on domestic sentiments, he added.
“That is how I intend to take Singapore forward. It means ensuring the benefits of progress are shared by all, not some. It means uplifting all Singaporeans, not just the few,” he said.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
