Lawrence Wong wasn't born when Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 and only entered politics in 2011, not long before his 40th birthday.
But his expert handling of Singapore's COVID-19 response, which saw the city state achieve one of the world's lowest rates of death during the pandemic, has earned him right to become his nation's fourth prime minister, with the "full confidence" of his predecessor.
The 51-year-old will be sworn in on May 15, current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Monday.
"Lawrence and the 4G team have worked hard to gain the people's trust, notably during the pandemic," Mr Lee said in a Facebook post.
"Through the Forward Singapore exercise, they have worked with many Singaporeans to refresh our social compact and develop the national agenda for a new generation."
It is a position that carries an annual salary of $S2.2 million ($2.5 million), with Singapore's politicians among the best paid in the world.
Mr Lee, eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, announced last November his intention to step down in 2024, fighting back the tears in an emotional speech after two decades in charge.
In 2017, he had hinted at moving on before his 70th birthday — he turned 72 on February 10 — but has gone on to straddle two decades in power as his nation's second-longest serving leader, behind his father.
Lee Kuan Yew was prime minister from 1959 until 1990, with Singapore becoming an independent nation on 9 August 1965. He died in 2015 at the age of 91.
John Howard was Australia's prime minister when Lee Hsien Loong was sworn in as the nation's third prime minister in August 2004, succeeding Goh Chok Tong, who served almost 14 years.
Over the past 20 years, Mr Lee has seen seven Australian prime ministers come and go. And in 1965 — when his father guided Singapore after the nation separated from Malaysia — Robert Menzies was still in his second stint in The Lodge.
In the 58 and a half years since, Australia — with 14 different prime ministers — dwarfs Singapore's total of just three — and two are from the same family.
Singapore 'taken a hit' after political scandals
Singapore's picture of stability and economic prosperity is in contrast to many of its south-east Asian neighbours.
Former big brother, Malaysia, has had six prime ministers since Mr Lee assumed office in August 2004, and endured the embarrassment of the 1MDB scandal, which implicates disgraced former leader, Najib Razak.
Mr Najib remains behind bars, even if his jail sentence was recently cut in half — from 12 to six years — by the outgoing Malaysian king.
But even with all of Singapore's relative harmony and affluence, the latter part of Mr Lee's prime ministership has turned out to be the most challenging.
He admitted last year the People's Action Party (PAP) had "taken a hit" after a series of scandals, including a corruption probe and a secret affair between colleagues.
Two high-profile politicians — including one once predicted to succeed Mr Lee as prime minister — stepped down after it was revealed they were having an extramarital affair.
Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-jin, 55, and fellow politician Cheng Li Hui, 48, resigned from parliament — and from the PAP — last July over what was described as an "inappropriate relationship". Mr Tan is married with two children.
And, in January, cabinet minister S Iswaran, who oversaw Singapore tourism when the nation's acclaimed night race became part of the Formula 1 calender, quit his government post after being accused of corruption. He has pleaded not guilty to 35 charges, including "obtaining gratification as a public servant".
Mr Lee announced he had accepted Mr Iswaran's resignation and that his government was dealing with this case "rigorously".
"I am determined to uphold the integrity of the party and the government, and our reputation for honesty and incorruptibility. Singaporeans expect no less," Mr Lee said.
Last year, Singapore ranked fifth on the 2023 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, the only Asian country in the top 10. Australia was 14th on the list and New Zealand came in third.
PAP looking to perform better than 2020
As his nation's new prime minister, Mr Wong will need to win back the Singapore public's trust in the PAP after the recent scandals and following the party's underperformance at the 2020 general election.
Although the PAP retained its super majority, it lost some seats and support slipped in one of its worst-ever election showings.
After the 2020 election, then-finance minister Heng Swee Keat, who was earlier tipped to succeed Mr Lee, withdrew his nomination. It opened the way for Mr Wong, who was promoted to deputy prime minister in 2022, having been appointed finance minister the year before.
He has also handled the defence, education, communications and culture, community and youth portfolios.
Having grown up on Singapore's sought-after East Coast, Mr Wong attended Tanjong Katong Primary School in the neighbourhood — his mother was one of the teachers — before studying at the nearby Victoria Junior College.
He would go on to study in the United States, earning a range of degrees at three different universities, including a masters in public administration from Harvard.
Working chiefly as an economist and administrator in government in the early part of his career, he would get his first inkling of what being prime minister would be like when serving as principal private secretary to Mr Lee between 2005 and 2008.
'New generation of leadership'
A member of Gen X who is more than 20 years younger than Mr Lee, Mr Wong will become Singapore's first leader born after the nation's independence and is expected to bring a more modern approach to leadership.
"I do like Lawrence Wong ... he's a good guy, both gentlemanly, smart and most importantly, genuinely compassionate", said Singapore career coach Adrian Choo, 52.
"He represents a new generation of leadership and I have no doubt he will lead Singapore well, despite the challenges he may face as he takes over the PAP."
British-born author and radio host Neil Humphreys, who first moved to Singapore in the 1990s, said he sensed that Mr Wong was being groomed for something bigger when they appeared together on a TV panel show a decade ago.
"His intellect and gregarious personality were obvious at once, on and off camera, and I was struck by the absence of notes — not a common occurrence in Singapore," Mr Humphreys said.
"The panel participants came from varied backgrounds — sports, the arts, media and academia — but he engaged on all subjects, with answers off the cuff, but still thoughtful and insightful. Honestly, it's no surprise that he's going to be Singapore's next prime minister."
'He made mental health a key priority'
Clinical psychologist Dr Annabelle Chow, a mother of two preschool boys, said she had no doubt that Singapore's prosperity would continue under a Wong-led government.
"He helped guide the nation through one of our most difficult periods in recent history during COVID-19, through immense mental health challenges, and emerging stronger together as a people," Dr Annabelle said.
"Under his leadership, he made mental health a key priority for the government, culminating in Singapore's national mental health and well-being strategy. I feel lucky to call Singapore home and am quietly confident we will continue to punch above our weight in the region, and, indeed, across the world."
Nicholas Fang, a former nominated member of parliament and founder of communications consultancy, Black Dot, predicted that Mr Wong would put Singapore's people before geopolitical goals.
"We've had a glimpse of what the potential 4G leadership under him may have in mind for the direction of Singapore in the years ahead through his budget speeches as finance minister and other comments he has made," Mr Fang said.
"He is likely to be a leader who leans towards addressing the most pressing needs and concerns of the people, especially during challenging times or crises, over loftier or more intangible goals, providing tangible immediate help that citizens have been calling for.
"At the same time, he is likely to also continue the PAP government's keen focus on ensuring the long-term survivability and competitiveness of the country as a whole, by remaining attractive to foreign investment and ensuring the Singaporean workforce is world-class, for example."
Singapore's citizens will be watching with interest next month when Mr Wong is sworn at the Istana, the nation's presidential palace, a short walk from the city's renowned shopping strip.
ABC/Wires
