'That said, some portfolios may remain untouched despite long tenures, particularly in “specialist ministries” such as trade and industry, foreign affairs, law and home affairs, said Mr Malminderjit Singh, managing director of Terra Corporate Affairs.
Among the current batch of Cabinet members, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has been leading foreign affairs for 10 years and Mr K Shanmugam has been overseeing home affairs and law for 10 years and 17 years respectively.'
This position states that many old furniture are indispensable and cannot be touched or removed because there is a lack of talent in the cabinet and no one is good enough to replace the incumbents. They are as good as being there for life. Maybe should bring in some new citizens that are more talented in the next GE.
A second view, below, disagrees.
'Singapore Management University’s law don Eugene Tan said the reshuffle would be major, as Mr Wong would want to show the depth of talent within the ruling party.
“Most of the 4G are not ‘his’ people. They all came in at about the same time," Assoc Prof Tan said. "There will be a focus from PM Wong on appointing people at the junior ministerial levels, where they would get their first POH appointments in his tenure.”'
'Singapore Management University’s law don Eugene Tan said the reshuffle would be major, as Mr Wong would want to show the depth of talent within the ruling party.
“Most of the 4G are not ‘his’ people. They all came in at about the same time," Assoc Prof Tan said. "There will be a focus from PM Wong on appointing people at the junior ministerial levels, where they would get their first POH appointments in his tenure.”'
Lawrence Wong would want his own trusted comrades to work with him, men and women with similar ideas and viewpoints, not prima donnas or those with contrarian views that would make his job difficult. Also, there is a need to rejuvenate and bring in new blood and new ideas. Old furniture may be too stuck with old ways and need to be moved aside.
It is a dangerous thing for anyone to think he is indispensable or to think that no one is good enough to take over his job. If an oncologist is good enough as a defence minister, an eye specialist as a foreign minister, anyone is good enough for any ministry in politics. In politics, a politician is an expert in anything without the need for any special training or life long training. The training is on the job.
What is the right fit for a political appointment is not academic or professional training and qualification. The expertise of a ministry is derived from the professionals and experts in the respective ministry. The minister needs a good and clear thinking head and a lot of wisdom to make decisions from the advice of his staff.
The house is set for many furniture to be moved, removed and replaced with new furniture to give it a breath of fresh and nice smelling air.
6 comments:
No one is born to do the job. They are trained and gather experience for the job.
Low Thia Khiang told us that when he was elected MP for Hougang SMC in 1991, he was just like a new-born baby trying to survive in a political establishment that basically wanted to see him collapse, by placing hurdles in front of him. They did not even see it fit initially to allow him to set up a decent place for him to do his job or meet residents. This is from the mouth of an elderly lady when interviewed recently, and which is why Hougang SMC had such support from residents like her for more than 34 years. Residents of Hougang SMC will not allow Hougang SMC to fall, after all the difficulties faced by Low to be allowed to go to waste. Hougang residents faced much discrimination and deprivation over the decades, but the ruling party failed to break their spirit.
Therefore, talent is a debatable issue. We have heard of the gloating of Prime Minister materials culled from army generals in the past, that were purposefully inducted on the coattails of LKY or other big guns but fell far short of expectations. What those generals may undertake with flying colors in the army does not necessarily translate into becoming good leaders in the political arena.
Enough said.
Parent always think their children is the best. Just like LKY think LHL is the best, the result show otherwise. LHL think all his furniture are the best, yet result is worst then the seat warmer GCT. I believe LW was instructed not to touch some of the furniture & also he think he his new furniture will good. The majority of Singaporean also think the amount of money they spend to will enable LW to bring in the best furniture. Just like those who bought luxury good but didn't realize that all are made in China & cost only a fraction of the selling price. We are living in a world of many dumb people..haha
Some jokers said some furniture are so good, cannot ever be replaced. Really ah, go such furniture meh? Singapore got superman meh? In the land of the blind, the one eyed jack shines.
Even Lee Hsien Loong, Teo Chee Hean and Ng Eng Hen have stepped down. Anyone thinks he is better than these three, that they cannot be replaced? The issue is whether Lawrence Wong is strong enough to replace them. There are definitely many that are better, younger and waiting to replace the old furniture.
If old furniture is not removed, how to bring in new furniture? Self renewal would then be a farce. Having old furniture in the same place for too long would bring about problems of its own, or problems that were hidden and not revealed. Old furniture can also grow roots and become rooted, very difficult to remove when needed.
Whether old or new furniture they all come from that same wood, hence it's unchange melody again...making careless whispers here n there.
Chinese idiom says 换汤不换药 or different broth but the same old medicine ...prepare for a more chicken wings and they take the whole chicken back again n again, it's a lost cause.
Agree with Eugene Tan that the reshuffle would be a major one to appoint people close to him to consolidate his power. If not, his position could easily be undermined. The PM needs people he can trust.
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