Thursday, 08 Apr 2021 07:04 PM MYT Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has taken himself out of the running as Singapore’s next prime minister. — TODAY file pic Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on news you need to know. SINGAPORE, April 8 — The news today that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat was taking himself out of the running as Singapore’s next prime minister marked an unexpected turn of events that began in 2018. That year, he was named the first assistant secretary-general of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), a role that analysts said put him in the almost-certain position of becoming Singapore’s next premier.