SINGAPORE: Singapore on Wednesday swore in Lawrence Wong as its new prime minister, replacing Lee Hsien Loong following two decades in office, with the new leader warning that the trade-dependent city-state faced a riskier, more conflict-ridden world.

Wong, formerly deputy prime minister, became only the second person outside of the Lee family to helm the affluent nation as he was inaugurated at the Istana government office shortly after 8pm.

“We will lead in our own way. We will continue to think boldly and think far,” the 51-year-old said in his maiden speech, adding that “the best chapters of our Singapore story lie ahead”.

Members of Wong’s cabinet were also sworn in, including his predecessor Lee, 72, who was appointed to the advisory role of senior minister. Wong also said Singaporeans “face a world of conflict and rivalry”, with geopolitical tensions, protectionism and nationalism possibly stretching for years.

“We must brace ourselves to these realities and adapt to a messier, riskier and more violent world,” said Wong. The US-educated economist is widely seen as a social media-savvy stalwart who effectively handled the Covid-19 crisis when he oversaw the government’s pandemic taskforce.

“He brings a style of leadership that’s more attuned to a different generation,” said Mustafa Izzuddin, a political analyst with the Solaris Strategies Singapore consultancy.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2024