Leadership
PAP's election issue
Lee Kuan Yew's public worries about '4th generation' leadership provokes some public interest, not all go the way it was intended. Littlespeck.com
Feb 5, 2008

Some of Singaporeans' shift away from an organised leadership change, or its effectiveness, has surfaced after the aging leaders' concern that the next generation of leaders is not ready.

The main line is of thinking is one or more of the following: -

1. Despite the super-high salaries, the party has not yet attracted enough capable people (or enough people who share Mr. Lee's basic philosophy) to come forward to form the next cabinet, expecially a successor for PM Lee Hsien Loong.

2. It is an early preparation for general elections three years from now by emphasising that only the People's Action Party (PAP) is qualified to lead.

3. It indicates that Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is not happy with the "qualities" of the people they are seeking, or perhaps even those in present 3rd generation leadership.

4. It may be a prelude to internal party differences that are widely expected after Mr. Lee is no longer around' or

5. It is a genuine concern that truly capable people are hesitant in joining politics, or at least the PAP's type of politics.

(Background: What sparked off the discussions is the following CNA report (excerpts):

MM Lee says Singapore must find fourth generation of leaders
cna Feb 2, 2008
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew believes that Singapore needs to find its fourth generation political leadership by the next two elections or it will be in deep trouble.(--)
..The main theme though was on how talent in a globalised world is scarce and for Singapore, this talent pool is scarce.
MM Lee said: "Now we're confined to a Singapore team. It's one thing going to the South China Sea for deep sea fishing. It's another going to Sentosa lagoon. The size of the fish are different.
Even among his grandchildren, only one took up a scholarship and he is concerned the rest may not return after their overseas study.
Mr Lee stressed several times that Singapore is losing its top talents abroad. And he is extremely worried that the country will not have enough people to produce a good team of leaders to come up with the best solutions to see Singapore through into the future.
He said that a core of "A" team Singaporeans, born and bred here, has to be found to lead Singapore in the next two elections...
.. "If in this two elections, you don't see the silhouette of a fourth generation A team, then you have reasons to worry."

The following are some reactions to the leadership issue.

Propaganda Sowing Begins
Samy Boy forum
From TracyTan866
It's three years to General Election 2011 and the propaganda sowing by PAP has begun.
LKY (Lee Kuan Yew) and GCT (Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong) have fired the first salvo of propaganda by instilling fear that the fourth generation of Singapore (SG) leaders is not in place.
Is this to create a seige mentality among singaporeans so that we fear for SG's survival and obediently vote for the pap in 2011?
When the PAP wanted to increase PAP ministers' pay last year, the way they described the PAP ministers capaability sounded like we have 20 Prime Minister's calibre people in the PAP.
But now, LKY and GCT say that the next generation of SG leaders is not ready. That means the younger PAP leaders are not capable of leading SG
Is the PAP speaking with forked tongue? What should we believe?
Shoud we believe that the PAP ministers are the best and highly capable and therefore deserve $2m salary per year? Or shouLd we believe that the PAP politicians are not good enough to form the next generation leaders?
My personal view is that the PAP leaders now are not the best in SG and don’t deserve their salaries. The PAP is not able to attract the best because the best have a mind of their own and will not submit to LKY. Those who submit to LKY, as the PAP leaders do, are definitely not SG's best sons.

cna forum
Gu feng
So the minister pay is not enough or not the reason for losing the talents!

chowahbeng2008
I like him

diveaces
At least he did mention about the mistakes that they (teh cabinet) made on the ERP (road gantry charging scheme). So choose your talents, not from the civil service, from the private sector. Its obvious!

888max
Referring to his 4th generation (his) 2 grandsons.

NewGuy
What 4th generation? I thought only communist countries such as China, often have such thing called "xth generation of leadership". How come singapore also has such thing?
In western countries, never hear such thing as "xth generation of leadership"

gu feng
You know get higher pay no corruption is bullsh-t! Those at the higher level involves in must bigger coruption.
Scholars for future leaders will be another failure.. Do they have qualities of a true leader except passing exam?
He (Lee) is beginning to realise people's anger with the mistakes and the shift in balance. The next election will show his foreseen worries...

checkdis
Lee Hsien Yang seem to be a Minister caliber personality.
A good choice for a PM post. But maybe the age factor may be a minus as a potential PM would need 2 elections to groom and need to hold as many key portfolio before the are ready to helm the government. But if age should not be a main concern, then he should be considered seriously...

Frankiestine
"But now, lky and gct say that the next generation of SG leaders is not ready. That means the younger pap leaders are not capabale of leading SG."
In other words, that means old fart and wooden one will be sticking around for a long long time..so get use to it... (CNA)

SammyBoy
Frankiestine
"But now, LKY and GCT say that the next generation of SG leaders are not ready. That means the younger PAP leaders are not capable of leading SG."
In other words, they will be sticking around for a long long time, so get used to it.

TracyTan866
They may wish to stay. But some things are beyond their control. Such propaganda is to create anxiety in the people. The propaganda machine will work harder in the days and months leading to the General Elections.

methings2say
Quote Power struggle in PAP, very fierce. Go figure. Unquote.
After saying so many times that they have the 'A team' in every GE, now they come tell us - Singapore needs 4G 'leaders'! So they have been lying all these while!
After LKY's death, I believe a disgruntled 'A team' will come out to challenge PM Lee Hsien Loong. Then a fierce power struggle will explode! (Sammy Boy forum)
Feb 5, 2008