DPM Lawrence Wong, rising star with ‘everyman persona’, named in TIME’s 100 Next list
SINGAPORE — Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Lawrence Wong has been named in the 2022 TIME100 Next list of rising stars.
The selection by the American news magazine comes after Wong, who is also Finance Minister, was named by PM Lee Hsien Loong on 14 April as the leader of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team. Lee’s announcement paves the way for Wong to become Singapore's next PM.
“The impending transition will mark the first time Singapore doesn’t have a Lee either in charge or in a top cabinet post,” TIME's East Asia Correspondent Charlie Campbell wrote in a TIME100 Next profile on Wong.
Noting Wong’s extensive political experience across portfolios including national development, education, and finance, Campbell said Wong is unlikely to introduce any “radical shake-ups”. Wong also has an “everyman persona” and is seen in one video playing “Hotel California”, the classic song by Eagles, on guitar.
In a Facebook post shortly after Lee’s announcement, Wong said that he was “humbled and grateful for the trust and confidence” of his 4G colleagues. “It is my privilege to be called upon to lead this team. I will do my utmost to uphold this responsibility."
The TIME100 Next list, which is an offshoot of the flagship TIME100 list, recognises 100 rising stars from different industries around the world. It lists the stars under the categories of “Artists”, “Phenoms”, “Innovators”, “Leaders”, and “Advocates”.
Among the other stars in the list, which was published on Wednesday (28 September), are South Korean actress Jung Ho-yeon, the star of the hit Netflix series “Squid Game”, British and American actress Lily Collins, evolutionary biologist Professor Toby Kiers, and current world No.1 Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz.
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