Tuesday, May 6, 2025
26.2 C
Singapore

Leadership succession and Deputy Prime Ministers

- Advertisement -

By: Andrew Loh

With the government expressing concerns that we may not have a minority-race Elected President if the current election laws are not tweaked, here is another similar concern – but this time regarding the position of deputy prime minister.

In post-Independence Singapore, we have had 11 DPMs.

And here is the interesting thing, the 11 have been:

- Advertisement -

8 Chinese.
3 Indians.
0 Malay.
0 Eurasian.

Lee Kuan Yew’s Cabinet had one Indian DPM – S Rajaratnam.

Goh Chok Tong’s Cabinet had no minority-race DPM.

Lee Hsien Loong’s Cabinet has had 2 Indian DPMs – S Jayakumar and Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

- Advertisement -

But all have not had any Malay as DPM.

Is it a concern? Should it be a concern?

In this era, it seems race and religion have taken on more prominence, and perhaps also more importance.

While the PAP itself may rationalise its way out of why Singapore is not ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister, how about a Malay DPM?

- Advertisement -

Or has there never been a Malay minister deemed capable enough to be DPM – in all of our 51 years?

Maybe something to think about?


Republished with permission from Andrew Loh’s FB.

- Advertisement -

Hot this week

Long weekend or rising apathy? Some wonder at low voter turnout for GE2025

SINGAPORE: On Sunday (May 4), the Elections Department (ELD)...

Long weekend or rising apathy? Some wonder at low voter turnout for GE2025

SINGAPORE: On Sunday (May 4), the Elections Department (ELD)...

General Motors appoints Alpine Motors as its official distributor in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Alpine Motors has been appointed the official distributor...

Singapore-headquartered Shein ends contracts with Brunswick and FGS, signalling delay in London IPO plans

LONDON: Singapore-headquartered Shein has ended its contracts with Brunswick...

S$701M exits Singapore banks in April as institutions turn to telecommunications and industrial stocks

SINGAPORE: Outflows from Singapore's banking sector reached S$701 million...

Warren Buffett to step down as CEO by year-end, hands Berkshire Hathaway reins to Greg Abel

INTERNATIONAL: Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old investing legend behind Berkshire...

Jamus Lim says Sengkang MPs will work harder than ever

SINGAPORE: In the speech he delivered after it was...

Related Articles

Popular Categories