PM Goh to remain in Cabinet after he steps down as PM
-
MANAMA, Bahrain: Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has confirmed he will stay on in the Cabinet after he steps down.
However, he said what his exact position would be, must be left entirely to the new Prime Minister to decide.
He said he was doing so to lend his experience and weight to the new team.
Mr Goh was speaking to Singapore journalists at a news conference at the end of his visit to the Middle East.
Just when is he stepping down?
Mr Goh said: "The bookies are taking bets on that! I would not want to help them at this stage!"
With his usual humour, Mr Goh said he was waiting for Singapore's first quarter economic results before he makes his decision.
But what is clear - he is staying on in the Cabinet.
Mr Goh said: "A role which the new Prime Minister will assign me and I would say: "Yes, sir! I will do it".
"Basically, it is to help him and help the whole cabinet. Otherwise, the assets which I have built up over the years on the day of my retirement will disappear. That argument was put to me - that my assets should not disappear overnight, so why don't you use the asset to help the new cabinet and the country? So I said: "Yes, if you think I can play a role, I will play a role.""
As for the coming Budget, one issue will be to encourage Singaporeans to have more babies.
Mr Goh assures that it would not just be about giving money.
Mr Goh said: "As Singaporeans tell us, incentives are not important. Can we have more time, education system, what about childcare? So all those must be looked into. And since money is not important, then we do not need to give incentives!
"I think it is total - money of course, it is helpful to many people. It is a total environment for bringing up children. You have to make it easier for parents to bring up children."
During his visit to the Middle East, Mr Goh also established contact with intelligence agencies, and met leaders like the Grand Sheikh Mohammed Said Tantawi, the leader of Sunni Islam.
Although Mr Goh declined to reveal details of their private conversation, it had been reported earlier by Islamic Online that Sheikh Tantawi agreed with Singapore's stand against the wearing of headscarves or "tudung" by Muslim girls in Singapore schools.
Mr Goh said the Sheikh Tantawi is a wise and practical person, and his views will also be studied by religious leaders in Singapore.
Mr Goh said: "We expect the Muslims to take the guidance from the Mufti and of course, I expect the Mufti in turn to be studying the work of other scholars elsewhere and apply them to the Singapore context. So the significance of the Grand Sheikh Tantawi is that - the Mufti, I believe would also look at his views for guidance."
On the Middle East, Mr Goh said Singapore does not see the region as one filled with Muslim extremists.
"We are fortunate coming from Singapore, we have our Muslim population so we understand what Islam is about and we are not easily misled by the work of a small number of extremists in the region," he added. - CNA
[/quote]
once again, our political leaders have chosen to make impt annoucements while they r overseas.
and now its cast in stone.
getting abit crowded up there... -
sm goh?
-
Is it surprising? Unlike the ex-leader of our neighbour, ours have shown an amazing propensity for not knowing how to leave and retire gracefully. But then, after setting in place a system where they have a very large candy bowl to "legally" dip into, is it surprising that they are unwilling to pull their hand out of the said bowl, even after its time to?Originally posted by wuming78:once again, our political leaders have chosen to make impt annoucements while they r overseas.
and now its cast in stone.
getting abit crowded up there... -
hm....Originally posted by Viper52:But then, after setting in place a system where they have a very large candy bowl to "legally" dip into, is it surprising that they are unwilling to pull their hand out of the said bowl, even after its time to? -
he become SM
then current SM become SSM? -
MSM, VSM, or simply, SM1, SM2, or mabbe SM's SMOriginally posted by FireIce:he become SM
then current SM become SSM?
-
why not jus be RM (by no means related to msia currency)
Retired Minister
he should an xiang wan nian liao............................
the prob with singaporean leaders is.......they shd learn to let go when it's time........... -
mabbe jus NLM (no longer a minister)
-
ahhahahahhahahahahOriginally posted by wuming78:mabbe jus NLM (no longer a minister)
wicked............