Give Singapore’s 4G ministers space to pick new leader, says former PM Goh Chok Tong

Former leader urges the next generation to ‘deliberate carefully’ as he launches the second instalment of his biography ‘Standing Tall: The Goh Chok Tong Years’

Guest of honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pays homage to Goh, saying young leaders should consider someone in his mould ‘who can bring the rest together’

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Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong. Photo: Zakaria Zainal

Published: 10:14pm, 7 May 2021Updated: 3:00am, 8 May 2021

Singapore’s former prime minister Goh Chok Tong has urged citizens to give space to the younger ministers of the ruling People’s Action Party as they pick a new leader among themselves following the “hiccup” of the country’s prime-minister-in-waiting stepping aside.

Goh said the process, which will in effect determine who will succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was not just an “internal PAP problem” but a national issue. “This is an important decision for Singapore,” said Goh, who led the country from 1990 to 2004.

“The future of a country depends on its leaders. Good leaders institute good governance. Good governance delivers a safe, secure, stable and conducive environment for its people to grow, compete, succeed and flourish,” he said.

Goh was speaking at the book launch of Standing Tall: The Goh Chok Tong Years (Volume 2), the second instalment of his biography. The book was written by Peh Shing Huei, who also wrote the first volume, Tall Order, published by World Scientific.

The new volume covers Goh’s years as prime minister, shedding light on his relationship with founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. It also includes titbits such as how he got former US President Bill Clinton to play a game of golf with him at midnight and sealed the US-Singapore free-trade agreement.

Tall Order is the first volume Goh Chok Tong’s biography.