Speaking during his annual May Day rally at D’Marquee, Downtown East; Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the leadership renewal of Singapore and Lawrence Wong taking up the leadership of the 4G team.
Here is what he said
Tripartism is the result of our long history of collaborative trade unionism, and the deep bonds of trust that we have forged through successive crises. Tripartism must always be a stabilising and anchoring force for Singapore. We must continually reaffirm the bonds, and sustain them from one generation to the next.
Leadership renewal is crucial to this. At the national level, in the political leadership, our succession preparations recently took a major step forward. This issue has been on my mind ever since my timeline for succession was disrupted by the virus.
Last year, after DPM Heng Swee Keat decided to step aside, the 4G team asked me for more time to reach a consensus on the matter. I said, “don’t take too long”. Once the COVID-19 situation started coming under control, I resumed the process.
I asked Mr Khaw Boon Wan to help facilitate it, and I am very happy and relieved that the process has been successful. As you know, Brother Lawrence Wong emerged as the overwhelming consensus choice, and has been unanimously endorsed by all his Cabinet colleagues and then by all the PAP MPs as the leader of the 4G team.
I congratulated Brother Lawrence, I told him you will be in the hot seat. He is taking on a very heavy responsibility. He will have to lead Singapore in a very different and uncertain world.
He will need the full support of his Cabinet colleagues, and also must be able to rely on all our brothers and sisters to work with him and his team, and to continue partnering them to take Singapore forward.
Brothers and Sisters, this is your team, I ask you to give Brother Lawrence Wong and his team your fullest support.