PM Wong to take over as PAP chief from SM Lee in coming weeks

SM Lee will remain in central executive committee in supporting and advisory role

- Wong Pei Ting

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has confirmed that he will step down as PAP chief, bringing to a close his 20-year tenure in the party's top post.

Announcing this at the biennial PAP conference held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 24, SM Lee said it would be his final speech to the party conference as the People's Action Party's secretary-general.

When the party's central executive committee (CEC) next meets, he would propose that it elect Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to take over from him as the next party chief. The new CEC customarily meets within a few weeks of the party conference.

"This will complete the leadership transition from me to my successor," said SM Lee, who joined politics in 1984 and led the PAP's top decision-making body for 10 successive cycles.

Speaking right after PAP cadres had chosen the 12 members who will form the party's 38th CEC, SM Lee sought to rally party activists to convince Singaporeans to vote according to their conscience in the coming election, and that the PAP is the right choice for Singapore.

He also emphasized the importance of good succession planning and leadership transition, which he said have accorded Singapore a tremendous advantage.

The Republic has carried out orderly transitions for its top political leadership three times in a row now, but this cannot be taken for granted.