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| Singapore's prime minister-designate Lee Hsien
Loong, who is to be sworn in in a garden ceremony with some 1,400
guests witnessing Singapore's first leadership change in 14
years(AFP) |
New Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is to be sworn in in a garden ceremony at the
Istana state complex with some 1,400 guests witnessing Singapore's first
leadership change in 14 years.
The 52-year-old son of Singapore's founding leader Lee Kuan Yew, who
will stay in the cabinet as an adviser, invited ordinary Singaporeans
along with local and foreign dignitaries to the ceremony, the Straits
Times reported.
Outgoing Prime Minister Goh
Chok Tong, 63, chaired his last cabinet meeting on Wednesday as workers
rushed preparations for the oath-taking ceremony on an outdoor stage with
the British colonial-era Istana main building as backdrop.
The leafy walled complex located along Orchard Road, Singapore's
smartest avenue, was the residence of British governors and now houses the
offices of the president and prime minister.
The televised ceremony is to start at 8 pm with the singing of the
national anthem, after which President S. R. Nathan will deliver a speech,
according to an aide of the new prime minister.
Chief Justice Yong Pung How will then swear in the new prime minister,
followed by Goh, who will now be senior minister.
Next is Lee Kuan Yew, who will turn 81 next month and take the special
title of minister mentor, signifying his role as counsellor to the new
generation of leaders, part of Singapore's unique process of political
continuity.
Lee Kuan Yew himself took the title senior minister when he stepped
down in 1990 in favor of Goh.
After the senior Lee, deputy prime ministers Tony Tan, 64, who will
retain his post until retiring in June next year, and S. Jayakumar, 65,
the outgoing foreign minister, will take their oaths, followed by the rest
of the cabinet.
Lee Kuan Yew paid tribute to his former protege Goh in a statement carried
by local media on Thursday.
"He has done well for all of us. I am proud and happy that I was a
member of his team. We worked well together," said Lee, who had openly
said before that Goh, an economist and former shipping executive, was not
his first choice to succeed him.
"Although he is not a natural politician, by determination and
sustained effort, he learned to become an effective public speaker," Lee
said.
"He has added to what my generation built and created more
opportunities for our people in so many fields," he added.
Lee Kuan Yew led the first generation of leaders who struggled for
independence from Britain and brought Singapore into the Malaysian
federation in 1963.
Predominantly ethnic Chinese Singapore was ejected from the federation
amid differences over racial policies with Kuala Lumpur and became an
independent republic on August 9, 1965.
Goh was the leader of the second generation which steered Singapore
into the 21st century, and Lee Hsien Loong will now lead the third
generation of ministers made up of businessmen, technocrats, former
military officers and seasoned politicians.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-08-12 15:11