Lawrence Wong: I am fully aware that the mandate ultimately comes from the people

At a press conference at the Istana on Saturday (Apr 16), Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, said that while he’s grateful that he was chosen by a large majority of his peers to head the People’s Action Party’s fourth-generation or 4G of leaders, he knows that “the mandate ultimately comes from the people.”

Former minister Khaw Boon Wan today, who had been tasked by PM Lee to facilitate the determination of the next 4G leader, said that out of the 19 people he had spoken to on the matter, 15 had chosen Mr Wong to helm the 4G team.

None of the other names that had arisen from Mr Khaw’s canvassing had gotten more than two votes, he said at the press conference.

Among the individuals he spoke to are a number of 4G leaders and Cabinet ministers, as well as Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin and labour leader Ng Chee Meng.

On his part, Mr Wong was asked by a reporter from CNA if he feels any pressure in bringing the 4G team together, given that PM Lee had been chosen unanimously by his peers, whereas four of those canvassed by Mr Khaw had not picked Mr Wong to be the 4G leader.

“And beyond that, for the broader electorate, do you feel that as you start writing the next chapter of the Singapore story, you need to seek a mandate from the people sooner rather than later, perhaps?… Are we looking at the GE (General Election) one year from now?”

The questions elicited a laugh from PM Lee, who interjected, “You surely don’t expect an answer, right?”

And Mr Wong calmly thanked the journalist and replied, “On the first part of the question, while it is an overwhelming majority in the first instance,” for the caucus, “everyone unanimously” supported him as the choice as 4G leader.

“So in that regard, I don’t feel the pressure. I am humbled and grateful for the support that everyone has given to me. 

But I also am fully aware that the mandate ultimately comes from the people, and I do not take that for granted. We all know by when the next GE must be held, so in due course, we will work out our strategy and will work hard for the privilege to serve the people of Singapore in government.”

“But for now,” he added, he and the team will need time to see what next steps need to be taken.

In another part of the press conference, he said that “Collectively, we have a strong team and I will continue to work on strengthening the team. And amidst this diversity, in the end, it is about all of us working together.” /TISG

With Lawrence Wong named as PM-to-be, many other big questions are in the air, including the big one