The Usual Place Podcast

PM Wong’s Cabinet reshuffle: Are younger politicians ready for bigger responsibilities?

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the implications of blooding younger politicians such as Jasmin Lau into the Cabinet and junior ministerial roles now, and if the PAP’s high moral standards will cost them future talent.

Natasha Ann Zachariah

It has been quite a week in Singapore politics, with adjustments to the Cabinet line-up and the surprise resignation of Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim.

In this episode, I take a deep dive into the implications of blooding younger politicians such as Jasmin Lau into the Cabinet and junior ministerial roles now, and if the PAP’s high moral standards will cost them future talent.

Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan and independent political observer Dr Felix Tan weigh in on the diversity of the new Cabinet and why politics is not priesthood.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:26 Was the new Cabinet line-up surprising?

5:45 Newbie politician Jasmin Lau’s fast rise

9:00 Is the 5G leadership team taking shape?

13:05 Does politics need politicians with private-sector experience?

16:38 Know how to communicate ideas, says Felix

19:16 Is Ng Chee Meng out of the “political wilderness”?

23:39 What’s the public “obsession” over Ng Chee Meng?

28:25 Who will eventually succeed Shanmugam at MHA?

32:30 Does having different generations in the Cabinet matter?

35:26 Should the Government reveal more about Faishal Ibrahim’s exit?

39:37 Why do conduct breaches keep happening despite the code?