The stage has been set for a new generation of leaders in the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), and more importantly, the new prime minister of Singapore. Though many have believed that the seat will go to trade and industry minister Chan Chun Sing, the recent buzz in the media have all pointed to another man: 57-year-old Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat.
Yesterday, local Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported that Heng might very well be appointed as PAP’s first assistant secretary-general today, according to sources familiar with the decision. TODAY relayed similar news as well, with a senior party leader and several members of the party confirming that Heng’s position is pretty much assured.
If so, it would pave the way for Heng to take over Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as the PAP’s secretary-general and the actual role of prime minister after the next General Election, due to be conducted by 2021. 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.
The career civil servant
Heng has been serving the public in some way or the other since his early days in the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The Raffles Institution alumni received an SPF Overseas Scholarship after completing his GCE ‘A’ Levels, earned his economics degree in Cambridge University, and quickly rose to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of the Police while serving the force.
His career trajectory was varied. Heng served some time at the Ministry of Education, then became Principal Private Secretary to then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew before becoming Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In 2005, he became the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, winning the title of Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year by British magazine The Banker.
It was in 2011 that he entered politics as a PAP candidate, winning a seat in Parliament and was directly appointed by PM Lee as the Minister for Education. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Heng drove programmes for a student-centric, values-driven education system, emphasizing the holistic development of students and multiple educational pathways.
He took over the Minister of Finance position in 2015, managing the national budget, overseeing corporate governance regulations and supervises the investment and usage of public funds and government reserves. The following year, he made headlines when he collapsed from a stroke during a Cabinet meeting, and had to undergo neurosurgery to relieve pressure in his brain. His surgery was a success, and he recovered quickly, resuming his duties months after the incident.
Earlier in February, It was Heng who had the difficult task of announcing the government’s unpopular plan to raise Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 7 percent to 9 percent.
Sources who spoke to TODAY noted that the man was chosen as PM Lee’s successor for his “humility” and “brilliance”, as well as his ability to “rally the ground”.
Public reaction
Overall, folks are taking this speculation well. Mostly because they’d rather have Heng over Chan, the minister that people don’t seem to like that much for some reason.
