PM Lee Hsien Loong ‘watching’ ESM Goh Chok Tong’s Facebook posts

“Watching” has become a social media buzzword in Singapore.

All because of a light-hearted exchange on Facebook between Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong in recent days.

The exchange began on a serious note, however, on New Year’s Eve when Goh called on the younger ministers to choose the next prime minister among them within six to nine months.

On 26 January, Lee was asked about Goh’s comment on the leadership succession by reporters and replied, “ESM (Goh) is speaking with the privilege of watching things rather than being responsible to make it happen. I think we know it’s a very serious matter.”

This prompted the next two posts by Goh on his MParader Facebook page, in which he made a reference to “watch”.

In a post on Friday (2 February), he commented about his meeting with Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Dr Ali Tayebnia, “I recalled my two visits to Iran fondly, the first as Prime Minister and the second, as Senior Minister. Both of us now ‘watch’ things happen, and coincidentally share a common title. He serves as Senior Advisor to his President while I serve as Senior Advisor to MAS!”

Goh followed up with another Facebook post with two attached photos on Monday morning (5 February), one of which shows him sitting on a bench. He inserted a quote, “I watch as he ruminates in the calmness of Learning Forest, far from the maddening crowd.”

Just hours later, Lee responded on his Facebook page, “Watching” MParader’s posts: Touché! :)”

Goh later updated the caption on his post and wrote, “Wow! PM watched my earlier post and reposted on his”, and added a smiley emoji and a handshake emoji.

Would there be another round of online banter between Singapore’s second and third prime ministers? Watch this space for further developments.