Tuesday, July 24, 2007 11:30
Pssst! Have you heard….?
In Uncategorized • 123 views • 10 Comments
Word on the street is that one senior cabinet minister is rumored to be leaving his post.
Some forum participants on the internet describe him as a compassionate person and a man of high morals.
He is also known as a thinker. In the past, he had often delivered in-depth and thought-provoking speeches and analyses of Singapore society and world events, some of which were published in full in the mainstream media. Of late, however, such discourses and publications seem to have ebbed somewhat.
His rumored departure, if true, will probably be one of the moves in the government’s cabinet reshuffle that we can expect with the forthcoming post-National Day cabinet changes.
If you know more and have some confirmation, TOC would love to hear it and carry it.
For now, however, this is just a rumour and TOC has not and is not able to confirm any of it.
No related posts.
10 Comments
I don’t think it’s true. Here’s a little evidence: In TODAY (2 Aug), it was reported that “George Yeo to visit North Korea Next Year”, representing ASEAN. If he is due to step down in an upcoming cabinet reshuffle, I don’t think he would commit to visiting N. Korea. The man loves his job. I would be shocked if he stepped down so soon.
HI Gerald,
A year in politics is a long time, as they say. Much can happen from now till then. In a recent Straits Times interview, George Yeo was described as being “wistful” when asked about what he would like to do next. I think that says something, although it of course does not mean he is leaving.
If he does, however, we will see quite some changes in the Cabinet line-up. The other minister who is expected to step down is Lee Boon Yang, as MICA chief. Vivian Balakrishnan, presently 2nd MICA minister, is expected to take over from LBY. Which means a new minister moving to MCYS then.
Tharman is also rumoured to be moving – to take over George Yeo, in fact, at MFA.
But well, all these are just rumours. :)
Regards,
Andrew
Hmm… Interestingly, Andrew, I read the same interview of George Yeo but I saw it as an interview hinting at the possibility of him being promoted to higher office (i.e. Deputy PM).
And, yup, there have been rumours that being the Second Minister for MICA, Dr. Balakrishnan is being groomed to take over as Minister for MICA from Dr. Lee who is supposedly slated to step down mid-term.
Anyway, if I remember correctly, it was predicted in a book about local politics (written a few years back) that Tharman Shanmugaratnam (then still a Senior Minister of State) will take over as Finance Minister. Well, he’s already the Second Minister for Finance, next step: Finance Minister?
In the end, like you said, all these are just rumours and predictions (i.e. coffeeshop talk)…
amteel
Errr…so is everyone proven wrong now that Lui Tuck Yew is taking over as Ag Minister for MICA? Rumours being rumours. They remain as rumours.
mice is nice
so this is an ego trip? no wonder S’pore system so screw up.
anyway rumours can cause mass panic in stock markets leading to a crash. just rumours?
lol…
patriot
Dear Singaporeans:
What’s the big deal of a senior minister leaving his post?
We have surplus ministers in the PMO.
We have excess Deputy Prime Ministers and we have
Minister Mentor, Senior Minister and a Ornamental President which are
over the hill.
Think there is a split ?
A small crack probably, which will be nicely mended with superglue without
the need of further repair.
patriot
patriot
Even if the Rumour is true, it will have little impact to the Regime.
The impact must come from the Electorates, vote them out, preferably in one or two GRCs and Single Member Wards contested by Senior Cabinet Members.
It will be futile to wait for splits in the Regime.
patriot
patriot
Speculating that there is split within the Regime due to a senior(or even a few) minister leaving the Cabinet and or politic is not unusual, however, not to read too much into the Rumours.
There are many more probable reasons for one to leave a job; going into the Commercial/Private Sector, migrating oversea to live a life of plenty and enjoy the remaining days relaxing. Even avoiding accusations, curses and swears in these days of angry citizenry stands as a good reason and cause to get away from it(politics) all.
Sicgaporeans should know that any senior minister in SIN who has been in office for more than two terms is automatically multi-millionaire(in SIN Dollars of course) which means his/her family and offsprings will be catered for generations. Hence, it is only smart for senior parliamentarians to want to retire in glory rather than get ousted in a downfall of the Regime he/she is a member and the Downfall seems imminent, although it may take another two to three elections. I speculate that some of our Cabinet Members are reading the ground very much like most of us in the Blogosphere and that means the challenges ahead maybe too much for them. So, if anyone is quitting now, i will not read it as conflicting interests that cause it, but ‘to get away from it all’ to enjoy the fortune made and be safe to do so.
Here, i must admit that my reading and speculation are just speculations, however, rumour it is not.
patriot
patriot
Oh! Oh!
My bad, just realized that the Article was written in July 2007.
May i say that i was not keeping up with the time.
Was wondering why no comment. On reflection, the Rumour has not materialized, however, i like to speculate it may soon happen.
patriot
Hmm… Would that senior member of the Cabinet have G.Y. as his initials?