The Cabinet and The Lions: Parallels and the Importance of Self-Renewal

PM Lee announced the Cabinet today. It reminds me uncannily of the decision to disband the national football team earlier this year. Of course, the circumstances in this case are much more jovial, as contrasted to the unceremonious nature of the overhaul of the football team.

The parallels are there, however. The review of the national team came on the back of a disastrous outing in the AFF Championship, whereas the Cabinet reshuffle was after the elections which saw a major drop in vote share and the largest number of opposition MPs in Parliament ever. A strong mandate still in the context of a democratic political system, but a major setback nonetheless given the dominance of the PAP in the post-independence years.

The outcome of the elections further emphasised the need to bring in a new style of governance. Besides that, the grooming of the 4G leadership had also emerged as a pressing issue even before the elections. Same with the football situation. In the aftermath of the AFF Championship disaster, the general sentiment was that, with all due credit to the great work that Avramovic has done, it was time for a breath of fresh air. Avramovic has stayed on, and only time will tell if that was the right decision.

Of course, no transition can be considered smooth if changes are overly radical. Old hands have to be available as guiding lights, and newcomers to be eased into their jobs as much as possible. In the new Cabinet, the overwhelming trend is that many current ministers have swapped portfolios. Such a move is brilliant in marrying a new perspective to a particular portfolio, with considerable experience in governance. At the same time, first-time MPs have been duely appointed to gain experience quickly. Likewise, 14 players from the old guard are expected to be recalled to the national squad in preparation for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, with the remaining 16 slots given to new faces, in what is a good "young-old mix".

It has to be noted that it will be a "baptism of fire" for the new MPs who have been appointed as full Ministers. There has not been such a move for 27 years and PM himself acknowledged before the elections that these potential office-holders will not have the luxury of time that he once enjoyed. Same goes for the young players to be called up to the national squad. They will be thrown into the deep end very soon, in possibly a derby clash with Malaysia, with a very crucial spot in the Third Round up for grabs. It is a progression that the Lions have to secure, though in this particular respect, national governance is starkingly dissimilar in the level of importance. After all, politics is not "masak-masak".