Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke to reporters on Friday (Jan. 26) about Singapore’s 4G leadership transition while in India to participate in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.

He made clear three things:

1. There will be no new deputy prime ministers (DPMs) in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, and
2. his successor will only be known after the next General Election.
3. 4G leadership as a team will become even more important than just choosing a 4G leader.

What's still unclear, though, is what this clear signal of a longer timeline for the next PM means for the political leaders involved.

One thing we can initially conclude, though, is that a longer timeline will suit everyone — everyone's a winner! — as they have more time to be mentored by PM Lee, as well as DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

But without further ado, we bring you:

The winners

1. Chan Chun Sing

Chan, 48, is likely to be given the opportunity to helm a heavyweight portfolio after the Cabinet reshuffle, which PM Lee says will be happening after this year's Budget in February.

Currently, Chan is the Labour Chief and does not oversee any Ministry.

In the event that does occur, Chan will emerge looking pretty good from this — he'll have the experience of running two different ministries (his first was Community Development, Youth and Sports, which was later restructured as Ministry of Social and Family Development) as well as the very valuable time he's already been spending rallying support and understanding the labour movement and the People's Association.

2. Ong Ye Kung

Among the three front-runners, Ong has the shortest "runway" in terms of Ministerial experience, having only entered politics in Sep. 2015.

Ong, who is the same age as Chan, is likely to be given the opportunity to helm a heavyweight portfolio in the course of the Cabinet reshuffle.

Therefore, Ong will gain the experience of managing two different ministries too.

3. The Workers' Party

At his doorstop interview with the media, PM Lee made the following observation in response to Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong's 6-9 month timeline:

"My assessment is, it probably will take a little bit longer."

This means that there is a high likelihood that the Workers' Party (WP) will have a new Secretary-General before the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

Looking at when the last two CEC elections (May 2016, July 2014) were conducted previously, the WP could have a new leader as soon as within the next five to seven months.

Political observer and law don Eugene Tan also said in a Channel NewsAsia interview that Low's “impeccable timing” of steeping down this year is likely to push the ordinary Singaporean to ask why the ruling party is taking so long with its leadership renewal — even though to be fair, it really isn't about who announces first.

“And it doesn’t help with the PAP saying ‘we take party renewal very seriously. Every election, we are already planning for the next renewal’. And so the question then is, come 2018, we are still none the wiser as to who is going to be our potential Prime Minister from the PAP.” Tan, CNA, Nov. 4, 2017

And now, for:

The non-winners

1. ESM Goh Chok Tong

As we've mentioned before, ESM Goh is one of the best people to consult on leadership succession in Singapore.

PM Lee, however, hinted politely to Goh that his assessment of a 6-9 timeline is off the mark:

"Well, ESM is speaking with the privilege of watching things rather than being responsible to make it happen. I think we know it is a very serious matter, it’s a pressing issue, as the younger ministers have already said in their statement. They know my timetable. After the next election, earlier rather than later, I would like to hand over to a successor."

Looks to us like PM Lee is chiding telling Goh not to rush the 4G leaders, to let them get on with things on their own and settle on a clear leader only when they are ready.

2. Heng Swee Keat

Finance Minister Heng will celebrate his 57th birthday on April 15. His birthday celebration may be before or after the Cabinet reshuffle.

Among the three front-runners, Heng is the oldest and the most experienced, having helmed important portfolios like Education (2011 to 2015) and Finance (2015-current).

Heng also chaired many important government committees and initiatives, including the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE), the Singapore 50 (SG50) Steering Committee, and Our Singapore Conversation.

He would have delivered three budgets before this round's Cabinet reshuffle, making him, objectively, the most ready 4G leader and DPM?

But unfortunately, it looks clear that Heng, alongside all of us Singaporeans, will have to wait even longer to know who the first 4G DPM will be, in the possible next cabinet shuffle nearer the end of this year.

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Top photo from Getty Images.