SINGAPORE, April 15 — Lawrence Wong has pledged to give his all to serving the country and its people as he officially assumes the role of Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister on May 15.
The 51-year-old, currently the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, said he seeks Singaporeans' trust and support.
He emphasised his vision to forge ahead with the next phase of Singapore's development, uniting the nation as one regardless of race, religion, or language.
"I accept this responsibility with humility and a deep sense of duty. I ask each of you to join me on this journey. Share your ideas, your passions, and dreams.
"Work with me and my team. Together, we can build a future that shines brightly for all Singaporeans," Wong said in a video message today following the announcement of the island republic's leadership handover date.
Wong will succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore's prime minister on May 15. The inauguration ceremony will take place at 8pm at the Istana.
The People’s Action Party (PAP) deputy secretary-general said that he never anticipated assuming the role of the country's prime minister when he initially accepted the invitation to enter politics in 2011.
"I agreed because I wanted to contribute to the Singapore story," he added.
Wong was a civil servant prior to entering politics, and previously served as the Energy Market Authority chief executive and the Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP was first elected to the seat in May 2011.
Wong has held positions in various ministries, including the Defence Ministry, the Communications and Information Ministry, the Culture, Community, and Youth Ministry, the National Development Ministry, and the Education Ministry.
He also co-chaired the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on Covid-19 from 2020 to 2023, which oversaw the Singapore government’s response to the pandemic.
Wong holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, respectively. He also obtained a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
— Bernama
