May 15, 2025

Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong’s announcement of stepping down after a 20-year tenure came with the appointment of Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as his successor in May 2024. This decision followed years of speculation and uncertainty, particularly after then-Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat declared in April 2021 that he intended to step aside as the designated successor to the prime ministership due to age and health concerns. In ‘Beyond technocratic statecraft: contentious politics and Singapore’s third leadership transition’ (The Round Table, 2022), Associate Professor Daniel P.S. Goh (NUS Sociology and Anthropology) suggests that this succession question represents a crisis signalling an irreversible shift from consensual to contentious politics. Goh argues that this transition underscores the emergence of a pluralised educated electorate divided along multiple social lines, indicating a significant transformation in Singapore’s political landscape.

Assoc. Prof Goh draws parallels between the current contentious period and the transition from Singapore’s inaugural PM Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong in the 1980s. During that time, Singapore experienced a rise in contentious politics as the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) parliamentary monopoly was challenged by several opposition politicians. This led to a decline in the PAP’s vote share during the General Elections. The question of succession only stabilised in the early 1990s after the PAP shifted towards consultative policies and emphasised shared national values in contrast to Western liberalism and individualism. Similar instability resurfaced in the 2010s, marked by controversial policies like the Population White Paper and increasingly contentious parliamentary debates. The emergence of an internet-savvy public with diverse viewpoints added pressure on the emerging 4^th Generation (4G) leaders. Heng’s decision to step down followed a series of mixed parliamentary performances, a health scare, and a disappointing outcome in the 2020 General Election. It coincided with the rise of a nascent two-party system, highlighted by the Workers’ Party gaining an unprecedented hold over two Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) in the same election.

In light of the resurgence of contentious and pluralistic politics, Assoc. Prof Goh advocates for a shift away from solely relying on election results and technocratic evaluations by preceding prime ministers as the sole measures of leadership effectiveness. Both Goh and Heng faced challenges during crucial general elections while leading their respective GRCs, while potential successors to Lee have been evaluated based on their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as key ministers. Instead, Assoc. Prof Goh suggests a broader assessment framework, emphasising the importance of testing candidates in parliament through astute political debates with the opposition and enhancing their international standing by engaging with foreign counterparts. This approach aims to transcend mere technocratic statesmanship and win the trust of citizens. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong exemplifies this approach through his down-to-earth presence on social media and grassroots activism, which complement his parliamentary competence as Finance Minister and leader of the Forward Singapore movement. His selection as the PAP’s 4G leader underscores the expectation that the prime minister of Singapore must demonstrate more than just technocratic ability.

Read the article here.