PM Wong calls on Singaporeans to support each other, help his government take the country forward
The new leadership will have its own style, but build on foundations laid by previous generations, says the new prime minister
PRIME Minister Lawrence Wong called upon Singaporeans to join him in taking the country forward, after he was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on Wednesday (May 15).
“As prime minister, I will lead and bear responsibility for the decisions I take,” he said. “But I will also engage and maximise the combined energies, imaginations and strengths of all Singaporeans.
“That is how we will take our nation forward in this dangerous and troubled world.”
In a swearing-in ceremony at the Istana, PM Wong began by speaking briefly in Malay and Mandarin and thanking his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong for his mentorship.
New leadership, same foundations
Wednesday’s handover signifies “a passing of the baton, not just between leadership teams, but also across generations”, said the newly minted prime minister.
He noted that he was Singapore’s first PM to be born after independence, with most of his peers in the fourth generation (4G) leadership similarly born after 1965.
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“My generation’s story is the story of independent Singapore,” he said.
The 4G team benefited from the “imaginative policies” of Singapore’s founding fathers and understand the importance of good leadership, political stability and long-term planning, he said.
But he added: “Shaped by these experiences, our leadership style will differ from that of previous generations.”
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Thanking former prime minister Lee for his half-century of public service, PM Wong expressed gratitude that he and more experienced ministers will continue to serve in Cabinet.
“They will provide continuity, as I renew and strengthen the team with new members,” he said, reiterating his goal to get Singaporeans in their 30s and 40s to join the team.
He set out what Singapore’s approach should be in the coming years, abroad and at home.
The Republic must adapt to the new world order of tensions and protectionism – but fortunately, the country’s international standing is high, he noted. Singapore will strengthen partnerships while upholding its own rights and interests, “so as to better shape outcomes for ourselves as well as the world”.
At home, Singapore will continue to strengthen bonds by embracing differences, yet seeking common ground, with mutual respect and trust.
“This is the ethos that will guide me and my team,” he said. “From our diversity, we forge unity.”
This collective approach is also embodied in the Forward Singapore exercise that he launched, he noted: “Forward Singapore represents the ambitions of our generation.
“It expresses our resolve to keep our society strong and united; to share the benefits of progress with all, not just some; to uplift all Singaporeans, and not just a few.”
His team will do more in areas from increasing productivity and innovation to building a more just and equal society, he said.
But he added: “We need your help too – to support our fellow citizens, and to renew our commitment to each other.”
PM Wong promised to serve Singaporeans “with all (his) heart”, never settle for the status quo, and “always seek better ways to make tomorrow better than today”.
“My mission is clear: to continue defying the odds and to sustain this miracle called Singapore,” he said.
Close to 900 guests – including Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), ambassadors and various community leaders and groups – attended the ceremony, held outdoors at the Istana.
Upholding standards amid change
In a speech before the new Cabinet was sworn in, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said he has “full confidence” in PM Wong’s ability to lead Singapore and rally its people.
“He will be his own person, with his own approach to building consensus and finding the best way forward for the country,” he said.
Recalling his own “constructive and harmonious relationship” with PM Lee, the president added that he looked forward to maintaining a close and productive relationship with PM Wong.
While government policies may change, political standards must not, he added.
“Government policies will be reviewed from time to time, improved, and even revised fundamentally as circumstances change,” he said. “But while governments can reverse policies, there is no reversing when standards slide.”
Abroad, PM Wong’s team – comprising experienced ministers and 4G leaders with years of international experience – will be able to secure Singapore’s interests amid global unpredictability; at home, they will have to find “creative ways to deepen our connections” amid more diverse views and interests, he said.
Working with different groups
In messages on Wednesday, opposition party leaders expressed their commitment to providing such diverse perspectives.
They congratulated PM Wong on his new appointment and set out how they hope to work with him, while thanking former prime minister Lee for his decades of public service and leadership.
PM Wong takes over in “an era of greater political contestation, with voters expecting greater transparency, and a greater say in public policies”, said Workers’ Party secretary-general and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh.
Amid external challenges and uncertainty, a greater diversity of voices – in the form of opposition MPs – “can be an important stabiliser for our politics, a source of strength, and an expression of confidence in our people and our nation”, he said.
Progress Singapore Party secretary-general Hazel Poa said her party aims to play “a constructive part” in nation-building and shaping political decisions with other parties.
The business community also offered congratulations and thanks.
Said the Singapore Business Federation: “We look forward to working closely with Mr Wong and his team to strengthen our business compact and to build future-ready businesses for a stronger, forward-looking economy.”
It praised his consultative approach to policymaking and his openness in engaging the business community.
Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Abu Bakar Mohd Nor recalled PM Wong’s support for the Malay business community, as co-chairman of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19. The Temporary Relief Fund, for example, was crucial in supporting home-based-businesses, which “has a significant role in our community’s economic fabric”, he said.
“Your premiership comes amidst significant challenges in our regional and global environment,” he added. “We look forward to your continued advocacy for the interests of businesses in Singapore.”
Noting the challenging economic backdrop, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) president Ang Yuit said that there are great pressures on SMEs to adapt and transform.
“There is greater-than-ever need for us to work together as a country, government, employees, companies and trade associations to forge a direction ahead,” he said.
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