You're not just voting for your MP, your vote may determine S'pore's next govt: SM Lee to S'poreans

During the PAP conference on Sunday morning (Nov. 24), SM Lee delivered his last speech to the PAP party conference as Secretary-General.

Leadership transition

In his speech, he also shared that he intends to propose to the new CEC to elect Deputy Secretary-General Lawrence Wong to take over him as the next Secretary-General.

As for SM Lee, he intends to continue on in the CEC in a supporting and advisory role.

The leadership transition to PM Wong had started “quite some time ago” and has” gone very smoothly”.

SM Lee reiterated the importance of a smooth leadership transition as one of the most important responsibilities for a party and political leader.

He said other foreign leaders have “expressed astonishment at how uneventful our (leadership) transition was".

“It is amazing to them, because in other countries all sorts of things can happen and do happen,” he said.

Therefore, it is important that parties maintain their ruling mandate and public support, and avoid rivalries within the party.

Disruptive leadership changes bring about discontinuity, upheaval and uncertainty, which will bring about suffering for both the party and the country, he said.

“That is why we must do our best to keep our system stable, and to elect good leaders always, who will selflessly prepare their successors and hand on their responsibility when the time comes,” he said.

The next GE

Speaking about the future of Singapore, SM Lee said that the upcoming elections will be a hard-fought one, as people's expectations are changing.

He expects all seats in the next general election to be contested. And quite a few seats will be contested "fiercely" too.

The government will have to address Singaporeans’ concerns such as housing and cost of living.

“Most difficult for us to tackle, is to reach out to that segment of voters who, on the one hand acknowledge that the PAP has done a good job governing Singapore and would like to see a PAP government, but on the other hand, at the same time, want to see more opposition and alternative voices in parliament,” SM Lee said.

The PAP will have to work hard to ensure that voters understand that they cannot afford to treat the next general election as a by-election.

"You will not just be voting to decide who your constituency MP will be. Your vote may well determine which party will govern Singapore. Therefore, the wisest and most responsible thing Singaporeans can do, is to vote according to your conscience, for the party that you think will best secure your lives, your livelihoods and your futures."

Top photo screenshot from People's Action Party/Facebook