Chitchat The independent: Is the PAP in a leadership crisis? Heng Swee Keat Watch

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http://theindependent.sg/is-the-pap-...ee-keat-watch/
Is the PAP in a leadership crisis? Heng Swee Keat Watch
By The Independent - May 16, 2016 16 8048
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The editor-at-large of the Straits Times predicted last year that Mr Heng Swee Keat is most likely to succeed Mr Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister. Considering that he was hand-picked by Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and that he was under the tutelage of the elder Lee for 3 years before his career graph took-off dramatically, the editor’s prediction may not be far-fetched.

Mr Heng did not have to serve as Acting Minister like the other fourth-generation (4G) leaders Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan-Jin had to. He was made Minister immediately after the 2011 election. Since then, he has led several high-profile committees which is almost unheard of for new political office holders of the PAP Government.

PM Lee had previously said that he would want to hand over the Prime Ministership to a fourth-generation leader before he turns 70. He is now 64. He has barely another 5 more years, and there seems to be no one else in PAP’s 4G to fill Mr Heng’s shoes.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman said Mr Heng “represents the best in Singapore”, while the ex-Premiere Goh Chok Tong said, “we need him (Heng)”. Religious leaders, welfare organisations and grassroots organisations have all started wishing that Mr Heng makes a full recovery soon.

If Mr Heng is truly the anointed one, then it could be highly possible that the People’s Action Party (PAP) is facing a leadership crisis.

We at TISG are also concerned. We have started this watch for Mr Heng and will keep it appropriately updated as and when further news about Mr Heng breaks.

1 Nov 1961 Born
1983 A Singapore Police Force Overseas Scholar, he joined the Singapore Police Force as a constable after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics from Cambridge University. Was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police when he left
1993 Obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration from Harvard University
1997 Joined Administrative Service and served in the Ministry of Education
Mar 1997 Hand-picked by Mr Lee Kuan Yew for the job of Principal Private Secretary for Senior Minister. Mr Lee said Mr Heng was one “”finest minds among the civil servants I (Lee) have worked with”.
2000 Appointed Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry
2001 Chief Executive Officer, Trade Development Board (concurrent appointment with previous appointment in Ministry of Trade and Industry
Oct 2001 Appointed Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry)
Mr Heng oversaw the negotiations of free trade agreements, and led the negotiation with India as the Chief Negotiator. He coordinated the work of seven economic agencies under MTI.
June 2005 Appointed Managing Director of MAS
Apr 2011 Retired from Administrative Service and joined People’s Action Party (PAP). Ex-premiere Goh Chok Tong tipped Mr Heng to be a potential minister and core member of PAP’s fourth generation leadership team.
May 2011 Contested and won General Election from Tampines Group Representation Constituency
18 May 2011 First to be appointed as Minister (Minister for Education) from PAP’s fourth generation leadership team. (Team includes individuals like Chan Chun Sing, Lawrence Wong and Tan Chuan-Jin). He brought bold changes to Education Ministry, doing away with school ranking system, not naming top-scorers in national exams, created more university spaces, shifted emphasis from grades to talent
Sep 2012 Led the Our Singapore Conversation which reached out to 47,000 Singaporeans for dialogue
Nov 2013 Appointed Chairman of SG50 Celebrations Steering Committee (An initiative to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday
Sep 2015 Contested and won General Election with 72 percent of votes cast going to the GRC team he anchored
Oct 2015 – Appointed as Finance Minister
– Appointed Chairman of Committee for the Future Economy (an effort to lay out the roadmap for future jobs, resources, technology and markets)

Mar 2016 Delivered Budget 2016 which some hailed as going the extra mile for struggling SMEs and other sectors
12 May 2016 -Collapsed at Cabinet Meeting due to stroke
-Doctors in Cabinet attended to him
– Brought to hospital in ambulance
– Hospital confirms that stroke was due to an aneurysm
– Underwent initial neurosurgery to relieve pressure in his brain due to the bleeding. The aneurysm was successfully closed
– Admitted to Intensive Care Unit of National Neuroscience Institute of Tan Tock Seng Hospital
– PM Lee said that he hoped Mr Heng will be alright and described him as a valuable member of PM Lee’s team
– DPM Tharman describes Mr Heng as a leader with much promise
– Ex-PM Goh Chok Tong said “we need him”
13 May 2016 – PM Lee said that Mr Heng is sedated and is still in the Intensive Care Unit and that he will remain there for some time
– Religious leaders from all 10 faiths of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) gathered to pray for Mr Heng’s speedy and full recovery. In attendance were DPM Tharman and Tampines MP Baey Yam Keng. Mr Tharman said Mr Heng “represents the best in Singapore”
14 May – PM Lee commends SCDF Officers who came to Mr Heng’s aid
-Minister Masagos Zulkifli announced that PAP member, Sin Boon Ann, will be standing in for Mr Heng’s duties in his constituency, while he is in hospital
15 May Religious organisations and grassroots organisations hold various events to pray for Mr Heng to wish him a speedy recover


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