REACH 219 - Views on newly reshuffle Cabinet by PM Lee (SK)
24 Apr 2021 (11am - 7pm)
REACH
[11:05 am, 24/04/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,
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[11:08 am, 24/04/2021]
+REACH: �� Topic ��
Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong on Friday (April 23) announced a reshuffle of his Cabinet, in the first
change to political appointments since the general election last year.
This comes two weeks after
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stepped aside as leader of the People's
Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team and paved the way for a
younger person with a longer runway to lead the country when PM Lee retires.
Although he remains DPM and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, he
will relinquish his role as Finance Minister to Mr Lawrence Wong.
�� What are your views on
the latest Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Lee?
�� PM Lee unveils
Singapore's new Cabinet line-up: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapores-cabinet-reshuffle-5-things-to-know
�� Reshuffle an opportunity
for 4G leaders to work together https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/reshuffle-an-opportunity-for-4g-ministers-to-work-together-in-new-capacities-pm
�� 4G leaders set out
aspirations for new roles https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/4g-leaders-set-out-aspirations-for-new-roles-after-cabinet-reshuffle
�� Race for Prime Minister’s
post remains open, analysts say https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cabinet-reshuffle-prime-minister-post-remains-open-analysts-14680524
-----
[11:16 am, 24/04/2021] +Alvin
Lim: Round of applause for the new appointees and appointments. Feedback from
friends and missus is positive so far. Looking forward for these Ministers to
perform well in their roles. My 2.14 cents.
[11:43 am, 24/04/2021]
+Rama: Let's get cracking! All the best to our new team !
[11:47 am, 24/04/2021] +Ken:
To me it takes a lot of courage to step down... seriously everyone is expecting
you to take over then you say no ��
[11:49 am, 24/04/2021]
+Caleb: Very good. No Heng and Chan
[0:28 pm, 24/04/2021] +Valli:
Good choices
Salute to Mr Heng for his
dedication and decision
All credible selected for
their roles.
To bring Singapore forward
to next era of digitalisation & smart nation but not forgetting the past
generation & elderlies to be taken care of well.
[0:36 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon:
I think the recent period has allowed the public to see the hits, attitude and
misses by some in the line up. This transparency has been beneficial to give
insights to our next gen leaders, since such insights tend to be hidden during
good times - “when even cows could fly”.
[0:36 pm, 24/04/2021] +jimmy
chew: Well thought out and good explanation
[0:39 pm, 24/04/2021]
+Caleb: https://twitter.com/dansiddiqui/status/1385791387233251330?s=08
A push factor to get
vaccinated
[0:48 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon:
However, other than these insights from media, it is difficult to find policies
and tangible achievements to tag to
many of our 4G leaders. It is difficult to articulate what each have stood for, that have made a difference in
our society. E.g. Health costs has steadily increased that people are
increasingly concerned about falling ill, public transport has not improved,
housing prices is inflated, Sg has not build discernible sustainable world
class industries after EDB/Phillip Yeo’s time, and without govt support Sg
workers would have faced higher risks of unemployment despite “world class
education”, etc. Given the relatively short duration that many of the ministers
have put in their previous roles, how would they have time to make a diff; or
show that they can’t? The reshuffle looks more like a job rotation without the
chance for our 4G leaders to develop their achievements to show to Sg and to
the rest of the world.
[0:51 pm, 24/04/2021] +YT:
Too early to reshuffle. Many of the ministers have been in their roles for less
than a year! And Tan See Leng was newly elected but has become minister
straightaway. I wonder whether this is a good idea. It's like hiring someone
and then straightaway appoint him or her CEO even though not proven and no
track record. Tan See Leng has no governing experience.
[0:53 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon:
��
[1:00 pm, 24/04/2021] +Anne:
I think the current vaccines don’t work on the double mutant strain. They need
masks and social distancing more.
[1:03 pm, 24/04/2021] +Anne:
I hope to see great achievements from our 4G leaders. May they lead Singapore
to greater success and resilience.
[1:05 pm, 24/04/2021] +YT:
Why must be there a distinction between 4G and 3G? Is the distinction that
clear? How is it determined? By age? Or by when the person entered politics?
[1:08 pm, 24/04/2021] +Alvin
Lim: Age from what I can tell. 4G leaders are in their late 40s or early 50s
now
[1:09 pm, 24/04/2021] +Alvin
Lim: Hence 5G likely leaders would be those mid to late 30s and early 40s
[1:13 pm, 24/04/2021] +YT:
Using age is not a good indicator of a person's ability to contribute. There
are those in their 30s who are running multi-billion dollar companies and then
there are those in their 50s who are struggling to make a living. If age is an
indicator of ability and performance, then I fear for the future of the
country.
[1:33 pm, 24/04/2021] +Rama:
Performance in handling the current issues helps determine the outcome. Each
term of government has its own challenges at that time.
[1:36 pm, 24/04/2021] +jimmy
chew: haha. if they can't lead, the PM Lee HL will be there for a long time..
haha
[1:40 pm, 24/04/2021] +Rama:
my sentiments exactly!
[2:21 pm, 24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Should
not have issues with the functional Ministries with the appointment of the
respective Ministers.
2. However,
the next incoming PM is still open according to the various analyst reports -
even though there are some indication with the new appointment.
[2:22 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cabinet-reshuffle-prime-minister-post-remains-open-analysts-14680524
[2:22 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Next PM
still not decided yet.
[2:24 pm,
24/04/2021] +jimmy chew: The 4G team can't decide or don't want to decide until
issues are settled..just my thoughts ��
[2:26 pm, 24/04/2021] +jimmy chew: Or no one wants to be like LKY says the
others ministers, the old guards are smarter than me but they don't want their
lives to be scrutinized and they don't like the attention ��
[2:35 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon: Agreed!
[2:35 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon: There’s no continuity
[2:45 pm, 24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. High
performing teams usually have group dynamics - and team members will not so
easily accept a leadership by appointment.
2. Leader
among the team members usually need to show his/her mettle worth before other
members of the team are willing to accept him/her as their leaders.
[2:47 pm,
24/04/2021] +jimmy chew: I thought the 4G have been working together for a long
time?
[2:47 pm,
24/04/2021] +65 9740 5395: Its a pity that Ng Chee Meng is not in this. He is a
covering alot of groundwork when he was heading MOE.
[2:48 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Unless the
Ministers work in many cross Ministries projects.
Ministers
in silo will have less such opportunities to work across Ministries.
[2:57 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
A PM
quality must have domain knowledge across Ministries, able to see the big
picture - by connecting the dots and
stitch everything together - and present himself/herself as a natural
leader to be able to forward the Nation agenda.
[3:00 pm,
24/04/2021] +jimmy chew: LKY doesn't know everything but he has a good lieutenants
who would work with him. They have the same vision and mission
[3:01 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
A PM will
have the qualities of knowing domestic needs, win over the domestic citizens -
as well as understanding of the geopolitical big pictures unfolding - and how
to secure and safeguard Singapore interest.
The leader
will be pit and put to test 360 degrees - by the whole government machinery -
before the leader is born.
Practically
he/she will have to go through 18 Luohan trial and tribulations before emerging
as the natural leader.
[3:03 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
He don't
need to know every bolt and nut.
But he must
be able to see and connect the dots - and see the whole picture and provide
vision to lead us forward.
[3:04 pm,
24/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Huh? Bro both of them still around and CCS is now
Minister of Education leh
[3:20 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Up and
coming CEO will root out his competition and bring his kaki into his management
team.
2. PM is a
different management philosophy.
PM must be
able to win over his cabinet colleagues, his party members, the civil servants
and the public at large - who are either his kaki, neutral party, and even
adversaries, antagonists or oppositions - to emerge as a natural leader.
[3:20 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Because the
PM will be their leader. Be it his supporters or his antagonists.
[3:29 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
A leader
who knows how to please domestic citizens but fail to understand the
geopolitical big pictures unfolding - will still pose problem to our future.
Eg Trump is
super "America first" - and totally ignore or disregard foreign
affairs.
The whole
world work against him - and it didn't help his re-election or the country
Economy and security.
So the PM
must not only be good in domestic affairs but also foreign affairs.
[4:04 pm,
24/04/2021] +Rama: There never is as the incoming doesn't follow the incumbent.
[4:06 pm,
24/04/2021] +Rama: understand he is in the party exco, why��♂️
[4:06 pm, 24/04/2021] +Rama: agree
[4:24 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon: ��
[4:25 pm, 24/04/2021] +Caleb:
https://www.todayonline.com/world/us-adds-116-countries-do-not-travel-advisory-list
Israel is in the list ��
[4:33 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon: To me, a PM quality is someone who understands
the world’s dynamics, grassroots needs and can lead different interest groups
towards common goals that are important for today and for the future. It’s not
about populism although populism needs considerations. It’s about a vision, a
passion and love for the country and a belief that we can and must do better. A
computer can connect the dots too.
[4:35 pm, 24/04/2021] +Caleb: We are level 2
[4:47 pm, 24/04/2021] +Boon: That’s why a good team is extremely important
too
[4:57 pm, 24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. Being
populist by adopting populist policies that have a detrimental long term
effects - is not a measure of good PM. (Trump populist policies didn't win him
re-election).
2. Able to
put forward policies that can be unpopular or popular - but for the long term
good of the nation - and able to convince and sell the policies to the citizens
including unpopular ones - are the hallmark of a good PM.
3. Ability
to connect dot, stitch everything together and formulate policies to seize the
opportunities or to pre-empt challenges must be a conscious effort.
[4:59 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
Mr LKY can
project a vision 10 years ahead of him by connecting dots that is not fully
apparent - at that time our land is a marshland into a vibrant advanced city.
[5:13 pm,
24/04/2021] +CQ: Lol! Funny that they should be pointing fingers at others
because US is on my do-not-travel list for so many other reasons, not just
covid. There's also Asian hate, random shootings, and rape culture.
[5:20 pm,
24/04/2021] +REACH: 5 new community Covid-19 cases in Singapore; 18 imported
There were
five new cases of locally transmitted Covid-19 infection confirmed on Saturday
afternoon (April 24).
The
Ministry of Health (MOH) said that based on its investigations, all are in the
community and none are from the dormitories.
MOH said
all five cases had already been placed under quarantine earlier.
More:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/5-cases-of-locally-transmitted-covid-19-infection-18-imported-cases
[5:23 pm,
24/04/2021] +Ben: Thailand just announced a record day for infections, and they
are level 2.
[5:24 pm,
24/04/2021] +Ben: So, the new cases of people infected were vaccinated in
Indonesia. What vaccine was that and can we now trust overseas vaccinations?
[5:24 pm,
24/04/2021] +Ben: How will our gov regulate? Politically very sensitive!
[5:25 pm,
24/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: I was right about single digit for community/dorm cases
[5:26 pm,
24/04/2021] +Alvin Lim: Actually more detected better
[5:44 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. The
challenges ahead of us - virus pandemic mutations will have a significant
impact to the global opening up to travel.
This will
continue to impact our air travel, air hub, mice industry, tourism,
hospitality, f&b, our transport.
2.
Geopolitical tussle that will lead to :-
a.
Technology bifurcation (that will split our tech talent into 2 tech standards)
b.
Financial bifurcation - that will split our financial hub into swift financial
system and dcep.
c. Economic
bifurcation - that will split our Economy focus into China dual circulation
track and US economic circle.
3. US oecd
policy of global minimum corporate taxes - that will impact our tax haven
status and affect how we keep and attract foreign investment in Singapore and
grow jobs for our people.
This is
connecting the dots that will significantly affect us in the medium term and
long term on our economic and financial policies.
[5:57 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
1. This
will also affect how we train our talents and manpower.
a. We need
to train talents in different 5G standard, Android, iOS and harmony etc.
2. We need
to maintain our Swift system and at the same time develop expertise in
blockchain dcep.
3. We need
to focus our trade in the US global supply chain and now into China dual
circulation track.
With lower
population growth and yet need to split our talents into so many tracks is not
an easy feat.
[6:32 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
4. What
happen if US and oecd countries impose global corporate taxes on their MNCs in
Singapore - and these MNC find no incentive to stay here and pull back to their
home where their market is.
Our workers
will lose their jobs.
What will
be our strategy to keep them here?
[6:42 pm,
24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3130874/uk-cyber-spy-chief-warns-chinas-tech-power-could-allow-it-control
Note the tech bifurcation.
[6:47 pm,
24/04/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat.
Goodnight!
Megan
[6:51 pm, 24/04/2021] +Bobby Tan: Good night Megan
[6:55 pm, 24/04/2021] ☸️ Danny 心:
The new PM
will have to come up with solutions to tackle all these challenges.
[6:59 pm,
24/04/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,
We will be
closing the chat for today.
Thank you
very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan
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