Chinese social media set abuzz as Singapore PM-designate steps aside, upending leadership transition

Heng Swee Keat’s health and age came under scrutiny, with one analyst praising the outgoing deputy PM’s ‘overriding consideration’ for the city state’s well-being

On Weibo and WeChat, the consensus seems to be that China-Singapore ties will not be affected no matter who succeeds current PM Lee Hsien Loong

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Plans for leadership change derailed in Singapore as designated future prime minister steps aside

Maria Siow

Published: 7:00pm, 9 Apr 2021Updated: 7:37pm, 9 Apr 2021

Thursday’s unexpected announcement that Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has stepped aside as the designated successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has taken mainland Chinese political observers and netizens by surprise.

Chinese social media was set abuzz after Heng, who turns 60 this year, released a letter addressed to Lee that said he would likely be too old to take over by the time the crisis sparked by the pandemic is over.

“We need a leader who will not only rebuild Singapore post-Covid-19, but also lead the next phase of our nation-building effort,” Heng said, adding that he stood ready to support whomever the ruling People’s Action Party chose as the next leader.

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s current prime minister, is 69 years old. Photo: Bernama / DPA

Several users of Chinese microblogging site Weibo and multipurpose messaging platform WeChat wondered aloud how such a shake-up in succession planning could have happened, given Singapore’s penchant for not leaving anything to chance.

Some typical responses included “this type of unpredictability is unheard of in Singapore”, and “everything on the island is carefully planned, right down to the last tree and shrub it plants. This is unbelievable.”

But even as some questioned the impact Heng’s decision might have on a country widely seen as orderly and well-engineered, others said the meritocratic island state would be able to find a suitable replacement, with many expressing confidence that China-Singapore ties were unlikely to be affected no matter who takes over as prime minister.