Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced his new Cabinet on Saturday (July 25), 15 days after the People's Action Party (PAP) scored 61.24 per cent of the votes in the 2020 General Election.

At the press conference, PM Lee made quite a few interesting observations and remarks on his cabinet line-up, and replied to a number of probing questions from the media.

But it is a long one-hour press conference, and one may not have the patience to sit through it like a Netflix show.

So what does the new cabinet line-up mean for Singaporeans?

Here, we make some observations on the pace of the leadership succession, why it looks like it is still on track, and whether things have changed after GE 2020.

1. Pace of leadership succession has slowed, because of Covid-19

Due to Covid-19, PM Lee has made two decisions that has slowed down the pace of leadership succession.

First, PM Lee sought continuity by making fewer cabinet changes and keeping his 3G ministers.

During the press conference, PM Lee explained his decision, saying that he and his senior colleagues "sought to balance three things: continuity, exposure and renewal"

PM Lee's cabinet reshuffle therefore indicated more "continuity" than "renewal", if one was to compare his cabinet changes made after GE 2011 and 2015.

This year, six out of the 15 ministries are getting a new minister, whereas in 2011 there were top leadership changes made to 11 out of the 14 ministries.

After GE 2015, nine out of the 15 ministries saw new ministers.

In response to a question from the media, PM Lee said that 2011 was "a different situation".

"And the big difference this time, as I explained, is because we're in the middle of Covid-19, and therefore I have had to maintain a greater degree of continuity than I would otherwise have done," he said.

Second, PM Lee made a personal commitment to Singaporeans during GE 2020 to see through Covid 19 with his Senior Ministers (SMs), so that he could hand over the government in good shape to his successors.

Hence, there is a likelihood that PM may stay past 70 if the Covid-19 pandemic persists, delaying the leadership succession plans.

On whether he will continue as PM beyond 70, PM Lee told the media,

"I had expressed the hope that I would be able to handover by the time I celebrate my 70th birthday. But I do not determine the path of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a lot will depend on how events unfold. And all I can say is, I will see this through. And I'll hand over in good shape as soon as possible to the next team, and into good hands".

2. Leadership succession, from 3G to 4G, becomes more of a 'continuum'

On the consideration of continuity in the cabinet line-up, PM Lee said he needed experienced ministers "to provide steady hands," and hence, the older Ministers are staying on.

They include PM Lee himself, SMs Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.

But there are a few hints that PM Lee dropped about 4G leaders taking over the portfolios from 3G leaders sooner than later.

First, PM Lee mentioned about the need to keep 3G ministers handling Covid-19 matters for now.

PM Lee said that he had kept the Ministers who are directly handling Covid-19 in place, but he hoped that "not too long a time, as the situation stabilises, and we get on top of it, it would be possible for me to make further changes".

PM Lee also said this regarding Minister Gan: "I have asked Gan Kim Yong to stay on at MOH for now, because we are still in the critical phase of our fight".

A second hint is the appointments of second ministers.

The Straits Times' news editor Zakir Hussain observed that there is "greater continuity" with the cabinet changes this time.

His view was that it is "a good thing".

This is because as issues are becoming more complex, familiarity with the issues can "help ministers better shape, refine and calibrate policy changes and explain them to Singaporeans".

Zakir pointed out that Minister Desmond Lee has been at National Development since 2013, first as a minister of state, then senior minister of state, and second minister from 2017.

He also noted that Minister Grace Fu was at Environment and Water Resources from 2011 to 2012 as senior minister of state, and then second minister from 2012 to 2015.

If this is one consideration that PM has in assigning 4G Ministers to a new ministry, the new cabinet line-up sees two second ministers already learning the ropes from their 3G Ministers.

They are Second Law Minister Edwin Tong with Law Minister K Shanmugam, and Second Health Minister Masagos Zulkifli with Minister Gan.

3. Leadership succession still on track, with DPM Heng increasing his responsibilities with a coordinating minister appointment

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat continues to be the most senior 4G leader in the new cabinet line-up.

He is also the most senior 4G leader in the PAP, after he was named as the first assistant secretary-general in November 2018.

One of the more revealing remarks PM Lee made was that his decision on the current cabinet was taken together with DPM Heng.

PM Lee said that he has "consulted DPM Heng Swee Keat and my senior colleagues" in assembling this team.

This was acknowledged by DPM Heng in his Facebook post, who said that he and PM Lee "discussed the Cabinet line-up, and consulted our senior colleagues."

The current cabinet continues to have one DPM supporting PM Lee since April 2019, indicating Heng's "first among equals" status.

This is despite the tradition that PM Lee usually has two DPMs supporting him since he became PM in 2006.

Another move to indicate Heng's seniority is his new Coordinating Minister appointment.

Heng has been appointed the additional role of Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies. 

The Coordinating Minister appointment has been held by three highly experienced Ministers, SMs Tharman and Teo, and retired transport minister Khaw Boon Wan.

4. A review on leadership succession after GE? Two senior 4G leaders have spoken

A day after GE 2020, The Straits Times editor-at-large Han Fook Kwang posed an intriguing thought on 4G leadership succession.

In his commentary, Han called for a re-examining of leadership renewal from the PAP, not just because of GE2020, but because of the governing challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Han made it clear that he was not basing this on Heng's own GE performance, pointing out that Chan Chun Sing had suffered an even steeper decline in the election.

With such talk circulating among political observers and the online space, The Straits Times posed a question on leadership succession during the press conference, asking whether GE 2020 has changed the 4G leaders' views.

ST: "Have the 4G discussed or reviewed their backing of DPM Heng as their chosen leader? And are there any changes to that position? If so, what might that be for an orderly succession that reassures both Singaporeans and potential investors? Thank you."

PM Lee referred the question to the 4G ministers, and prompted Chan Chun Sing, PAP's second assistant secretary-general, to reply on the 4G leaders' behalf.

Chan, who is the second most senior PAP 4G leader after Heng, said,

"We're entirely focused on helping our country overcome the economic challenges and saving jobs at this point in time. We have no plans to do otherwise, and we have no plans, no discussion on any change in plan."

A day later, Vivian Balakrishnan, the most senior 4G leader in terms of age, also replied to a question on leadership succession, giving his full support to Heng's leadership.

“There's one further point which I would make on behalf of the 4G, and that is that we are - all of us, in complete unity. Behind the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, so there's no need for any discussions or questions on that. I mean, we're in absolute unity under his leadership.”

Vivian's remarks were made at a doorstop on the two schemes to facilitate cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes between Singapore and Malaysia. 

In his commentary, Han wrote that if PAP members choose Heng again during the review, the outcome would be good as it is a reconfirmation of their stance.

However if the party decides differently, "it has to move quickly to make the change."

The responses by Chan and Vivian showed that there were no discussions among 4G leaders about any change in plans on leadership after GE, and no plans to do otherwise.

This means that the PAP 4G leaders are not going to make any leadership changes so quickly and drastically.

But more importantly, it revealed that the 4G leaders continued to be united under Heng's leadership.

This unity of purpose among 4G leaders will be crucial if the PAP government is to address the GE2020 vote swing against it and win the trust and support from the new generation of voters.

Top photo from the Ministry of Information and Communications.