I’m ready to take hard decisions for S’pore'’s good: DPM Wong

Incoming PM says while some decisions may not be popular, they will be in S’poreans’ and nation’s interest

- Linette Lai

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who takes over as the country's fourth prime minister on May 15, said he will make tough decisions if needed, just as the nation's founding fathers did.

"I believe when push comes to shove and the time comes to take hard decisions, I would do so, so long as the decision is in the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans." He said so in an interview with The Economist, when asked if he sees himself as a strong leader with "that iron in him".

The phrase was famously uttered by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who said this quality was essential for anyone who governs Singapore.

Asked further if his answer means that he sees himself in the mould of an abrasive leader who forces people to do what they do not want, DPM Wong replied: "I am who I am.

"I listen carefully to everyone's views. When I go into a meeting, I do not start off assuming that I know all the answers. I want to get people's insights, I want to get people's perspectives, eventually thinking about what makes for the best decisions and outcomes for Singapore." While some decisions may not be popular, they stem from a conviction that they are the right ones to take, he said.