CONFIDENTIAL
3. Singapore felt a rare political shock-wave in November 1992. Deputy Prime Minster Brigadier General (BG) Lee Hsien Loong (the son of Lee Kuan Yew) was diagnosed as having
cancer and was relieved of his duties as Trade Minister to be
replaced by a retired former Minister, S Dhanabalan. BG had been widely seen as the heir apparent to his father, with Goh as only a caretaker Prime Minister. The Stock Market dropped sharply at the news, but has since recovered most of its
losses. The situation was not helped by the news that the
other deputy Prime Minister, Ong Teng Cheong, also has a
malignant lymphoma. His lymphoma is thought to be less
serious, though.
4.
Goh has taken over from Lee Kuan Yew as Secretary-General
of PAP. He has also decided to try to strengthen his
position, by announcing he will stand in a by-election on
19 December. It is unclear whether his tactics will work:
the opposition is better organised than at the last election,
and it will therefore be difficult for him to win as well as
last August.
Foreign Policy
5. Singapore is an active and moderating influence in the
Commonwealth and other international fora including the
non-aligned movement. Staunchly anti-communist, Singapore plays a key, though restrained, role in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore's relations with
her neighbours are generally good. With Malaysia, Australia,
New Zealand and the UK, Singapore is a member of the Five
Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
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CONFIDENTIAL
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