The central business district’s skyline from the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, on Tuesday 3 November 2020.
Lauryn Ishak | Bloomberg | Getty Images
SINGAPORE – Singapore’s deputy prime minister announced on Thursday that he would step down so that a ‘younger leader with a longer career could take over.’
Heng Swee Keat, who is expected to take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, is also Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economic Policy.
Heng is stepping down as finance minister at the next cabinet reshuffle, but remains in his other roles.
Lee had earlier said he would remain prime minister until the end of the Covid-19 crisis. Heng is expected to take over, but will now step down as the leader of the so-called ‘4G team’ – or Singapore’s fourth generation leadership.
We need a leader who will not only rebuild Singapore after COVID-19, but will also lead the next phase of our nation-building efforts.
Heng Swee Keat
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister
In a letter to the prime minister, Heng noted that he would turn 60 this year.
“If I also look at the ages at which our first three ministers accepted the job, I would have had too short a run – in if I had then become the next prime minister,” he said. “We need a leader who will not only rebuild Singapore after COVID-19, but also lead the next phase of our nation-building efforts.”
“After careful deliberation and discussions with my family, I have decided to act as leader of the 4G (fourth generation) team so that a younger leader with a longer career can take over,” he said in the letter. “It will be for the 4G team to choose this person, and I stand ready to support the next leader.”
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat waves during a campaign for the July 8, 2020 general election in Singapore.
Suhaimi Abdullah | Getty Images
Lee said he understands and respects Heng’s decision, calling it ‘selfless’. He added that Heng will help him mentor younger ministers as they choose another leader to ensure a “smooth and timely leadership transition”.
The ‘4G leaders’ of Singapore said in a statement that they were pleased that Heng would remain a member of their team while continuing in his other portfolios.
“We appreciate what a difficult decision it must have been … We know he took the decision with Singapore’s long – term interests at heart,” they said.
Yet they acknowledged that the “unexpected revolution is a setback” for their succession planning, and said they were grateful the prime minister had agreed to stay on until a new successor was ready to take over.