Singapore’s next prime minister Heng Swee Keat: a safe pair of hands, ‘there’s just one pity’ (said Lee Kuan Yew)
- He’s served his country, helmed the finance ministry and is now all set to be the Lion City’s next leader.
- But Singapore’s founding father said Heng Swee Keat came up short in just one regard
He is of slight build, his large eyes are framed by wire rim glasses that make them look larger still, and his thick, black hair is swept to the right. In speeches, he is measured and reassuring; in person, sincere.
After an illustrious career in the police force and civil service, Heng Swee Keat entered politics in 2011 and upon election was immediately made education minister. Since then he has helmed the finance ministry, overseen a nationwide engagement exercise and led a committee studying strategies to secure Singapore’s economic future.
Heng can now add one more achievement to the list. On Friday, the 57-year-old was named by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as its first assistant secretary general, making him the highest-ranked member of the fourth-generation leadership in the central executive committee (CEC).
Traditionally, this person would be seen as the most likely future prime minister.
Singaporeans had been wondering about current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong’s successor ever since Lee, 66, said after the last general election that he would like to retire before he turned 70.
While several names came up as front runners, it had not been clear who was the primus inter pares – a Latin phrase meaning first among equals – until the party announced on Friday its new CEC line-up.
Besides Heng, two other names had been bandied about as possible future prime ministers – Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, 49, and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, 49.