Outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is currently thinking hard of a new title to give himself in his coming resignation by 2020. Although the dictator said he is resigning to make way for “4G leadership”, he wanted to retain a position higher than the new Prime Minister so he could control the head of state like a puppet – like as his father did with former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
PM Lee Hsien Loong gave his two predecessors fanciful pompous titles like “Mentor Minister” after his father Lee Kuan Yew, and “Emeritus Senior Minister” for his predecessor Goh Chok Tong. A new equivalent would ensure Lee Hsien Loong get to retain control over the Cabinet Ministers.
As the dictator is worried sick that he and his wife Ho Ching would be charged for corruption when he loses power, Lee Hsien Loong started planting his faithful lieutenants in important ministerial positions. Lee Hsien Loong denied his “4G successor” the right to appoint new “4G Ministers”. Just two months ago in April, Lee Hsien Loong swapped out 10 ministries and brought in 9 new faces – including three army generals who are still at apprenticeship level playing musical chairs in different ministries. (Below photo miss out former SAF general Tan Chuan Jin, who was demoted from a Minister to be the Speaker of Parliament)
Photo of 4G Ministers from Straits Times
Lee Hsien Loong left out several vital profiles in his last round of Cabinet shuffle, as these ministries require absolute yes-men to be in them. The powerful double profiles of Home Affairs and Law ministries currently taken up by K Shanmugam, is particularly dangerous as this is the only position in Singapore to weld similar dictatorial powers.
Aside from picking his choice of ministerial candidates, Lee Hsien Loong also planted his followers in major roles like the President. His former subordinate of 20 years, Halimah Yacob, was given a walkover win to be the Singapore President in 2017. In the same year, he made his personal friend and former private lawyer Lucien Wong the Attorney General. His former subordinate, a former PAP MP, Hri Kumar gets to play Deputy Attorney General. Every department and board is Lee Hsien Loong’s men, and these people are his insurance should Singapore sees a freak election like Malaysia did.
On the scenario that Lee Hsien Loong’s ruling party PAP remain in power for the next two elections, his son Li Hongyi is coming up to take over the premiership from the “4G” puppet PM. According to Lee Hsien Loong’s exiled brother Lee Hsien Yang and sister Lee Wei Ling, Li Hongyi is being groomed to be the next PM. Li Hongyi is currently a director with the propaganda ministry, Ministry of Communications and Information.
Photo of Lee Hsien Loong and son Li Hongyi from Straits Times