The speculations have been confirmed. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has been appointed as the first assistant secretary-general of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), making him the chief candidate to take the position of the country’s fourth prime minister.
The same thing has happened before, after all. Leadership succession in the PAP typically sees the first assistant secretary-general becoming the prime minister. Current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong held that post before rising to take the seat. Before him, former prime minister Goh Chok Tong had that role too.
Heng, 57, is now expected to take over PM Lee as the PAP’s secretary-general and the big role of prime minister after the next General Election. PM Lee has stated that he intends to hand over the reins very soon to the fourth-generation of leaders in the PAP by the time he turns 70 in 2022.
Other big confirmations made in the meeting of the PAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) today: Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing selected as second assistant secretary-general, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong as party chairman, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli as vice-chairman, while Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam taking the post of treasurer.
Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza, Potong Pasir SMC Member of Parliament Sitoh Yih Pin were co-opted into the CEC today.
“They have reached a consensus that Heng Swee Keat will be their leader,” wrote PM Lee in a post, noting that Heng asked Chan to be his number two.
“I have known and worked with Swee Keat and Chun Sing for some years now, and watched them grow in their different responsibilities. They have complementary strengths, and make a strong pairing.”
The new CEC will be leading PAP into the next General Election, which is due to be conducted by April 2021.
