Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made it quite clear that he is committed to ensuring a good future for Singapore by grooming a good team of young men to take over the reins for the next generation. This idea is a good one.

I am glad to see this unique and enlightened approach applied to Singapore. This is rare to see in other democratic countries.

In most democratic countries, there is usually no long-term continuity. There is a tendency for swings away from the incumbent, to the opposite, like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other.

For a small country like Singapore, we do not have the luxury of being able to buffer extreme fluctuations.

We need to evolve smoothly and gradually to minimise setbacks and uncertainties.

Before a new and younger prime minister takes over the reins from Mr Lee, perhaps an experienced hand like Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who enjoys immense popularity among Singaporeans, could be appointed interim PM.

George Wong Seow Choon (Dr)