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Background :
Issue 3 : Process of Leadership Renewal
Author : Saravanan Rathakrishnan
• Leadership renewal is imperative for the continuity of any organisation . However , more often than not , it causes more problems than benefits to the organisations .
• This is because leadership transitions premise on sensitive human interactions and must be done carefully , in a measured , tailored manner .
• The best example of smooth leadership transitions can be found within our own local political situations . Since Singapore ’ s independence , there have been two successful government leadership transitions with the 3rd transition underway at the moment .
• Thus , using Singapore ’ s example , we can try to draw some lessons that can be applied to Tamil community organisations , so as to ensure that the objectives of these organisations can be fulfilled in the long run with their continuity being ensured as well .
Topic of Interest : How can we , as youths , further improve the succession planning of key Tamil community organisations ?
Taking a leaf out of our political leadership
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30
25
20
15
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5
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Number of years served as Prime Minister before transition
PM Lee Kuan Yew
PM Goh Chok Tong
PM Lee Hsien Leong
Fig 1 : Duration before each leadership transition . Note : PM Lee Hsien Loong has not done a leadership transition yet
Source : http :// eresources . nlb . gov . sg / infopedia / articles / SIP _ 139 _ 2 005-01-19 . html
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Leadership transition from the 3 rd to 4 th generation
Source : http :// www . straitsti mes . com / politics / 4t h-generationleaders-get-keyposts-in-cabinetreshuffle
Common trends
1 . DPMs did not head specific ministries but act as coordinating ministers
2 . Mr Khaw Boon Wan acts as 3 rd coordinating minister
3 . Placed younger ones into key positions
1 . 20 full ministers in the Cabinet
2 . Half of whom are below 55 years old
Historically , speed of success has been correlative of how high a particular politician will rise . All those who rose to the top were identified early on and were given key roles .
Since the 1970s , out of the 40 cabinet ministers , those who rose to the top mostly became full ministers typically within 3 years and were also given further responsibilities .
At each leadership transition , there was a clear leader and that person was chosen to become the PM .
Source : http :// www . straitstimes . com / politics / singapolitics / pap-top-task-is-leadership-renewal
Lessons
Leadership Succession • Avoids vertical integration and fields the best candidates resisting the temptation of rewarding only party loyalty . ( Petir 30 th Anniversary issue . Singapore : Central Executive Committee , PAP , 1984 ) � prevents succession through non-meritocratic means
Mechanism • PAP talent spots people and adopts Civil Service recruitment process of tea sessions , interviews and psychology tests to select its candidates .
• Integrates the talents horizontally i . e . succession through meritocratic means
Leadership transition • Retired senior leaders like PMs do not leave the Cabinet completely , they remain to lend expertise as well as mitigate power struggles during leadership transition .
Source : ( http :// www . theonlinecitizen . com / 2009 / 09 / lee-kuan-yews-legacy-on-leadership-succession /)
Issue 3 : Process of Leadership Renewal
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