In his National Day Rally Speech, PM GCT spoke about his
proposed retirement, and gave a supposedly glowing critique of his
successor DPM
The manner it was delivered was similar to the personal
embarrassment caused, when LKY had publicly compared the 'wooden
personality' of GCT with the preferred afiable TT and other
potential personalities to succeed LKY in the PM post.
Here is an analytical article to be considered:
Parting advice
Premier Goh makes the succession official and adds some style hints
for his heir-designate
Far Easterm Economic Review
September 11, 2003
By Richard Borsuk and Trish Saywell/SINGAPORE
THE FINAL STRETCH of Goh Chok Tong's tenure as Singapore's prime
minister opened with a policy consistent with his style: administer
some painful medicine, but in smaller doses than feared. It's a
comforting style that some Singaporeans think may fade when his
premiership ends.
Citizens were braced to have employers' contributions to their
pension plans slashed to 10% of salaries from the current 16%.
Instead Goh announced on August 28 a smaller cut to 13%.
In Singapore, where debates between leaders are virtually never
aired, it's impossible to know how the decision to limit the
pension cut was made. But it fits with the premier's style, says
political scientist Ho Khai Leong. Goh "doesn't want to radically
implement a policy he knows is extremely unpopular," he
explains.
Leadership style and succession were key topics in Goh's National
Day rally speech on August 17, when he confirmed that Deputy Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong would succeed him before a general
election due by 2007. "I have tried to make ours a kinder society .
. . I have also put in place a more consultative style of
government," he said in what sounded like a farewell address.
The speech has caused a rare buzz in Singapore. While "no one
doubts" that 51-year-old Lee Hsien Loong--the eldest son of the
island republic's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew--has the ability
and credentials to lead, some Singaporeans are "uncomfortable" with
his leadership style, Goh noted. "Loong's public persona is that of
a no-nonsense, uncompromising and tough minister," the prime
minister said. "Singaporeans would like Loong to be more
approachable . . . I have told Loong that he has to let his softer
side show."
Goh also made cryptic comments about
an alleged incident in 1990 when, according to a new book by an
Australian academic, Lee Hsien Loong slapped a fellow cabinet
minister in a fit of anger. One week after the speech Goh
explicitly denied that there was a slap. Lee's press secretary says
the incident "was a piece of fiction."
The 62-year-old premier's
remarks still spawn speculation about friction between the two men.
Some analysts say the popular Goh was just doing to the son what
Lee Kuan Yew did to Goh before he became prime minister: publicly
noting his shortcomings. To some, Goh wants to show that he has
been much more than a mere seat-warmer for the Lee family--and
that's what was behind his critical comments.
Goh and Lee Hsien Loong do not always see eye-to-eye on policy. In
2002, Lee--who is also finance minister--spearheaded moves to raise
Singapore's goods-and-services tax from 3% to 5% beginning this
year. Responding to complaints about economic woes, Goh suggested
the tax could be raised in stages. It rose to 4% this year, and
will rise to 5% from January.
The premier says he won't step down until there are signs of
economic recovery. Some analysts believe that might come as early
as mid-2004 while others predict he'll stay on until early 2005.
Regardless of when he goes, questions are arising about the power
equation in a post-Goh government. What future role, if any, will
Goh play? Will Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew resign that post and be
succeeded by Goh? Will Lee Hsien Loong's wife, Ho Ching, leave her
position as executive director of Temasek Holdings, the
government's powerful investment arm, when her husband becomes
premier?
Political scientist Ho, referring to the position of Lee's wife,
says the government must "seriously consider this arrangement" to
avoid talk that political control is heavily concentrated.
Meanwhile, another political scientist, Suzaina Kadir, says that if
Lee Kuan Yew remains senior minister with his son as premier, "the
image that would create is that you would have a political dynasty
in power."
Goh has only said of his future that he wants to remain in
parliament. For him to follow Lee as senior minister could "be
unsettling," notes Garry Rodan, a professor of politics at
Australia's Murdoch University. "Lee Kuan Yew's importance to
modern Singapore has been such that many people would regard the
position of [senior minister] as an exception that they can
tolerate. But whether you can say every [prime minister] has an
entitlement to this position is another matter."
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/030911fe.htm
