Singapore’s Minister K Shanmugam rebuts ‘sneering’ article from UK’s Economist on Lawrence Wong’s political succession

Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Friday criticised a commentary by British publication The Economist, which he said could not “resist sneering” at Singapore’s political leadership handover.

“He was not the 4G’s [fourth generation leaders’] first choice,” said the publication, noting that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had withdrawn himself from contention for the premiership in 2021.

Despite this, the piece argued, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will win at the coming General Election due to its “formidable organisation, unrelenting attacks on the opposition, a docile press”, among other factors.

In economic terms, Singapore’s per capita gross domestic product stands at over S$109,000 (US$80,000) and is the fifth highest by purchasing power parity terms, “well ahead of the UK”, Shanmugam added.

Regarding the media, he retorted: “[The Economist] obviously prefers a situation like in the UK, where one person can control major media outlets, and have politicians pay court to him, and where media owners can influence who gets elected, and who becomes PM.”

Shanmugam said that Singapore provides “far better healthcare, housing and education” to its people, regardless of classes and races.

The Republic also fares better in terms of public safety and in social cohesion, he added.

Shanmugam highlighted how, for example, 85 per cent of all crime cases reported across England and Wales were closed without any suspect caught while in over 100 neighbourhoods “0 per cent” of reported car thefts were solved. England and Wales are part of Britain.

This is a situation that would be “unthinkable and unacceptable” in Singapore, said the minister.

Shanmugam also cited how a political donor in Britain recently made a racist