• Covid-19 pandemic is topmost on the minds of party cadres and activists during the PAP party conference on Sunday
• Issue of PM Lee Hsien Loong’s handover is secondary to the pandemic and is something for another day, said several party members
• Election of Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Desmond Lee into the party’s top leadership body a sign of confidence and recognition of their achievements
• Mix of senior and younger ministers in the CEC, and without any backbencher, could indicate that the party has already drilled down on the team it needs

SINGAPORE — The People's Action Party (PAP) conference on Sunday (Nov 8) was a sign that the Covid-19 pandemic, not the topic of succession, remains the foremost issue for the ruling party.

And for Mr Lawrence Wong and Mr Desmond Lee who were elected into the party's top leadership body for the first time, it was a vote of confidence and recognition on how they have contributed to tackling the pandemic as well as their performance in the recent GE, several party insiders told TODAY.

Twelve members of the PAP’s central executive committee (CEC) were elected during Sunday’s socially-distanced meeting, which was held at NTUC Centre for a select number of party members and cadres. Mr Wong and Mr Lee were notably elected directly into the committee, whereas previously they had to be co-opted.

Two others — Ms Indranee Rajah and Mrs Josephine Teo — were co-opted into the CEC in the same session.

The proceedings were livestreamed to more than 80 party branches around Singapore, where party activists privately gathered to participate virtually. Party secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong’s speech was also cast to the public on the PAP’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Cadre members, who are long-time activists with voting rights, cast their ballots remotely for the people they would like to see in the PAP’s innermost circle.

The arrangement, as well as the results of the CEC in featuring a mix of third-generation and fourth-generation PAP leaders, underscore how Covid-19 is the biggest challenge facing the party right now.

The issue of PM Lee’s handover timeline is something for another day, several cadres and activists said.

Senior party cadre Wan Hussin Zoohri, 83, a former PAP Member of Parliament (MP) from 1980 to 1991, said: “Now, Covid-19 is the main challenge, and it could take another election term to recover from the pandemic and return Singapore’s economy back to the way it was before, if we are lucky.”

That could mean that the 4G leaders — such as first assistant secretary-general Heng Swee Keat and second assistant secretary-general Chan Chun Sing — would also become older when they take over the reins, he conceded.

“It is tricky, but what to do? The situation with Covid-19 demands it, and the cadres and members support the idea that PM Lee wants to see the country back to normal first before handing over,” said Mr Wan Hussin.

One activist, who declined to be named, added: “There is only one thing on everyone’s mind, and that is to get the Covid-19 situation right. We shall see what comes next once this crisis is over.

“Of course we would like to hear what Mr Lee has to say about succession, but the reality is that he cannot address it because no one can predict when the pandemic will be over.”

The sentiment echoed that of former Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar in his book that was launched on Friday, Governing: A Singapore Perspective. The veteran statesman had also posed a question on whether Mr Lee was prepared to lead the PAP at the next GE if the crisis had not abated by then.

Party member Robson Lee, a partner in a law firm, said: “Prime Minister Lee has stated that he would lead Singapore out of the Covid-19 crisis, and we are still not out of the woods yet. From the conference, (we know that) it is important this is not a timeline that is cast in stone.”

LAWRENCE WONG AND DESMOND LEE

As for the implications of Mr Wong and Mr Desmond Lee’s election into the CEC, several party members hailed the recent achievements of both leaders.

Dr Hong Hai, a former PAP MP for Bedok GRC from 1988 to 1991, noted that the fact they were elected, not co-opted, shows that there is greater confidence in their ability to be a part of the PAP leadership.

Many viewed Mr Desmond Lee, the National Development Minister who leads an economic task force to help Singapore businesses emerge stronger from the crisis, as the person who helped secure the PAP’s win in West Coast GRC against the Progress Singapore Party’s Dr Tan Cheng Bock.

Said Mr Robson Lee: “The fact that that he won a very difficult election and has done very well to stave off a strong rival underscores his ability to take the heat and soldier on.”

As to Mr Wong, the Education Minister who co-fronts Singapore’s pandemic response with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, activists noted that he has also gained much recognition and accolades both from within and outside the party recently.

Said Dr Hong: “Lawrence Wong has done well as a co-leader of the Covid-19 team. So I think it is a good development that he has progressed along well, to become part of the CEC and to take on bigger responsibilities.”

One party member noted how Mr Wong had previously been in contention for more senior party roles, and is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to his heavy responsibility leading the Covid-19 task force.

But that is not to say that Mr Wong is being primed for a PM role at this point, one party member said.

“Yes, there are some cadres who feel he could be in the running, but I think the party as a whole has already locked in to the notion that it will be DPM Heng Swee Keat to lead the team,” said the member.

PARTY RENEWAL

Party cadres vote for a new CEC once every two years, with pundits keeping a lookout for new CEC members who are MP backbenchers as this could indicate that they are meant for greater roles.

This time, however, TODAY understands that no backbenchers are on the ballot, a sign that the ruling party has already drilled down on the team that it needs and that it is all hands on deck to tackle the pandemic.

Activists said this explains why Mr Ng Chee Meng, who contested and lost in Sengkang GRC, was not on the ticket. Mr Ng was elected into the previous CEC in 2018.

Typically, individuals are nominated by the outgoing CEC, as well as branch chairmen and secretaries.

Nevertheless, Dr Hong said that it is a positive sign that this round of CEC elections placed the 4G ministers into leadership positions, though it remains to be seen who else will be co-opted into the team.

The CEC can bring in another four more people, making up a total of six co-opted members including Mrs Teo and Ms Indranee.

“The CEC reflects the core and the leadership of the party. For younger ministers to be in the CEC, it means that party renewal is underway and that is a positive development,” said Dr Hong.

Mr Robson Lee added that CEC elections are about putting together a whole orchestra, rather than being about a few individual musicians.

“PAP’s principle of renewal means that people do not hold on to power selfishly, and it is not about people in their 80s and 90s still clinging on to power. When PAP leaders have served adequately and served well, they will make room for newer blood,” he said.