Singapore undergoes an important political transformation: ‘Li’ (72) passes the baton to ‘Wong’ (52)

…which may be at the end of this year. (Before the end of one year’s term) because it was seen as a time when the government party had an advantage.

Wong’s history is interesting. It is different from the current Prime Minister in different ways.

Father is a salesman. Mother is a high school teacher. Living in a house owned by the government housing agency and have to climb up the ranks with their own knowledge and abilities

Received a scholarship to study for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in America. Returned to serve for 14 years in various ministries.

When invited to join the government’s PAP party, he decided to resign.

Although if you stay for another year to complete 15 years of service, you will receive a large pension.

But as a young man who wanted to prove himself, he walked away from the opportunity to earn a large sum of money in order to enter politics fully.

Along with my favorite guitar that my father bought me when I was 8 years old and was able to play it to the level of a professional.

Even though I went to study in America, I still took it with me.

“I am ready for the mission assigned to me,” said Lawrence Wong, as deputy prime minister. Announced with a beaming expression at the People’s Action Party (PAP) meeting last November.

“I will give it my heart and soul,” he said, adding that he has worked hard to prepare for what it will be like. “Biggest responsibility” of his career That is to take over from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore’s next leader.

Wong, 52, will become the island’s fourth prime minister.

Entered politics only 12 years ago.

When he first stood for election in 2011, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the West Coast GRC.

and within two weeks of the election was in charge of the ministries of education and national defence.

In the 2015 general election, it moved to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

After winning again, he was promoted to active duty minister ever since.

From there he clearly became a rising star of the city.

He took care of various ministries. Including the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, where he became acting minister and became full minister two years later.

After the 2015 elections, Wong moved to run the Ministry of National Development. He held the position until July 2020.

This year, with COVID-19 rampant, Wong was tasked with co-chairing the pandemic management task force.

It was a role that made him stand out because he was known for his ability to effectively coordinate and communicate crises to the public.

At that time, he was not yet the political heir to Premier Li Xianlong.

Because Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Kiat is the number one candidate.

But he announced his withdrawal in April 2021, citing the fact that he was 60 years old.

It amounts to “too short a runway” if he becomes prime minister after the pandemic.

The word “runway” or short runway is a metaphor for airplanes that must have a long enough runway. The captain will then be able to take off the plane safely.

Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of Singapore, became Prime Minister at the age of 35.

Goh Choktong, who later became Prime Minister, was 40 when he took over from his father, Lee.

Li Xianlong, the current Prime Minister, was 52 when he took over as Prime Minister. He has been in office for 20 years and is 72 this year.

Wong this year 52

If Heng accepts the position of political heir This year, he will turn 62, which for Singapore is considered “old age” for serving as the country’s chief executive.

Wong, who was then Minister of Education He took over the position of Ministry of Finance from Heng in the next cabinet reshuffle.

It was the first indication of him accepting the leadership baton.

The issue of political succession was finally resolved in April 2022, 2022, when Wong was chosen to lead the PAP’s fourth generation team, 4G.

two months later He was promoted to deputy prime minister in another cabinet reshuffle.

Wong’s most important position before being trusted to work closely with the Prime Minister in Wong was The leader’s “principal personal secretary”

In private Wong grew up in “Ordinary family” in Marine Parade HDB Housing Estate

Father was born on China’s Hainan Island. I’ve been to Malaysia since I was a child. before moving to Singapore to work as a sales representative

Mother is a teacher and is a disciplined person both at school and at home.

Wong often speaks highly of her mother, whether in interviews or in public speeches.

Because mother works hard Both serve as teachers and take care of him and his younger brother.

Wong is an alumnus of Haig Boys’ Primary, where her mother is a teacher.

As a teenager, he attended Tanjong Katong Secondary School because it was close to home.

Later he went to study at Victoria Junior College.

Earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School.

His love for guitar goes back to when his father gave him his first guitar at the age of 8.

He spent the weekend borrowing guitar books from the Marine Parade library.

And when he received a government scholarship to study in the United States I took my guitar with me.

Wong says playing guitar helps him destress and relax.

He has posted several videos playing a six-string guitar. This includes American pop star Taylor Swift singing an acoustic version. To honor educators on Teacher’s Day last year as well.

His personality is completely different from that of Prime Minister Li. The current long master

But it may be better suited to the new generation… which is very important because the PAP party needs to expand its popularity base among the social media generation more and more.