Not all PAP leaders congratulated Lawrence Wong for his intermittent premiership

When he is sworn in at 8 pm on 15 May at the Istana, DPM Wong, a 51-year-old politician with 13 years of experience, will assume the role of Singapore’s fourth prime minister.

Mr Wong is expected to guide the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) into the upcoming elections slated for November 2025.

Following the succession announcement, many of DPM Wong’s colleagues in the PAP promptly responded, expressing gratitude for PM Lee’s two decades of leadership and service.

Several PAP Ministers have also pledged their support for DPM Wong’s leadership and his vision for the party and the nation’s future.

Interestingly, while acknowledging the succession, some PAP leaders have omitted congratulatory messages to DPM Wong on social media.

Instead, they have shared lengthy messages of gratitude towards PM Lee’s service to the country, with only a few brief mentions of DPM Wong, expressing eagerness to collaborate with him.

In a Monday statement, the PMO claimed that “DPM Wong has the unanimous support of the PAP MPs.”

Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry, was one of the earliest PAP Ministers to extend congratulations to DPM Wong following the succession announcement.

He expressed his satisfaction with DPM Wong’s appointment and his anticipation of working alongside him and their PAP Cabinet colleagues, “in partnership with Singaporeans, to seize the opportunities ahead and propel Singapore forward.”

Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies congratulated Lawrence Wong and voiced unwavering confidence in Singapore’s ongoing prosperity under his leadership.

He also expressed his heartfelt appreciation towards PM Lee for his exemplary leadership spanning two decades, notably during pivotal moments like the Global Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

On his Facebook page, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing expressed his confidence in Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s ability to lead Singapore forward, stating that DPM Wong has the support of the PAP team to “write yet another chapter in our Singapore Story.”

Chan Chun Sing highlighted Singapore’s history of smooth leadership transitions, which have facilitated continuity in the nation’s development. He also acknowledged the leadership of PM Lee, emphasizing the importance of values such as integrity and selflessness in leadership, which he attributed to PM Lee’s example.

Ong Ye Kung’s reflections on PM Lee’s leadership omits mention of DPM Wong

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung shared reflections on Tuesday, detailing his experiences working closely with PM Lee.

He highlighted the valuable lessons learned from observing PM Lee’s leadership style and receiving personal guidance. In a lengthy Facebook post, he credited PM Lee for implementing various social policies aimed at strengthening social safety nets, supporting ageing populations, and promoting inclusivity in the education system.

However, conspicuously absent from his post was any mention of the upcoming ascension of DPM Wong to the top leadership role.

Certain PAP leaders silent on PM-in-waiting

Notably, certain key figures within the PAP Cabinet have yet to comment on PM-in-waiting Lawrence Wong on their Facebook page publicly.

As of Thursday (18 April) at 4.20 pm, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen’s most recent posts do not address the succession announcement. Instead, he shares updates on a community art project at an overhead bridge and a video highlighting the Singapore Army and Navy’s work plan.

Similarly, there have been no updates on the Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli’s Facebook page, who is also the Second Minister for Health.

His latest post on Tuesday focused on the contributions of three young volunteers to a reading program and book donation initiative, aiming for a lasting impact on the families they serve.

Omission of DPM Wong in Dr Balakrishnan’s latest Facebook update

Meanwhile, upon checking Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan’s Facebook page, on Thursday afternoon he finally addressed the premiership succession, expressing gratitude for PM Lee’s leadership.

He underscored PM Lee’s significant contributions internationally, highlighting his ability to enhance Singapore’s global standing through his wisdom and experience.

“We have been very blessed to have a man like Prime Minister Lee lead us, represent us, and his role not only as a leader domestically, but as a respected statesman on the international stage,” he said.

Notably, his latest post did not mention DPM Wong.

Since Monday, his Facebook page has mainly shared updates about his working visit to the Republic of the Philippines, during which he met with Philippines President Marcos Jr. and other key politicians in the country.

PM Lee to serve as Senior Minister after stepping down in May

Earlier, DPM Wong confirmed that PM Lee will continue to play a pivotal role in the Singapore government as a senior minister after stepping down next month.

Mr Wong emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and continuity within the Cabinet, indicating that there will not be significant changes immediately, as the new Cabinet is sworn in.

“It has never been the case that when there is a leadership transition, all the older ministers stepped down at the same time,” Wong explained.

“Instead, they continued to contribute in different ways, while making room for the younger ones to step up.”

The current Senior Minister, Teo Chee Hean, along with other ministers, will largely continue in their existing roles.

DPM Wong noted that he is in discussions with them regarding their preferences and is also considering promotions and possibly integrating a few backbenchers to bolster the team.

The final Cabinet lineup will be unveiled shortly before the swearing-in ceremony.

Looking ahead, Mr Wong acknowledged that while immediate changes to the Cabinet might be minimal, more significant adjustments could be expected after the next GE.

As speculation about the timing of the next GE grows, sources suggest it might be strategically held in September, potentially aligning with cash handouts from Budget 2024 and before major elections in the United States and the United Kingdom in November.

However, Wong maintained that the PAP is continually preparing, stating, “The work to prepare for the next GE starts the day after the last election. We have to consistently tend the ground, attend to the needs of residents, and strive to win over their hearts and minds.”