Former premier Goh Chok Tong will focus on developing Singapore's international links, said the junior Lee, who disclosed that he was already looking around for a potential successor just days after taking over.

The 52-year-old Lee replaced Goh, 63, last Thursday as part of the ruling party tradition under which political infighting is discouraged and leadership changes are planned many years in advance.

"It will take me some time to build up my own links, especially in the next few years when I want to focus on domestic issues," said Lee, a former brigadier-general who formerly handled financial policy under Goh.

Goh "knows many foreign leaders, gets on well with them, and is well-respected by them" and it would be a waste for him not to maintain such links, Lee said in remarks carried by local newspapers.

Goh is now senior minister, second in protocol to the prime minister, while the elder Lee, 81 next month, was given the unique title "minister mentor" and listed third in the political hierarchy, above the two deputy prime ministers.

Lee, speaking late Sunday at a community function, said his father was "no longer in charge of the day-to-day running of government, or even of setting directions for Singapore."

His role will be that of a "wise and trusted guide, who gives advice and counsel," said Lee, who called his father a "unique national resource" who possesses a "databank" which younger ministers can tap into.

The People's Action Party has been in power since 1959, when Lee Kuan Yew became prime minister as Singapore gained self-rule from Britain. After a stormy two-year union with Malaysia, Singapore became independent in 1965.

He stepped down in 1990 to give way to Goh and took the title senior minister, while his son became Goh's deputy and heir apparent.

The new leader said he was already starting to look at the next phase of political succession.

"Grooming successors early, timely renewal, smooth transition is a unique feature of our system," Lee said.

Attention is now focusing on new ministers in their 40s or 50s. Both deputy prime ministers, Tony Tan and Shunmugam Jayakumar, are in their mid-60s and seen as holdovers until the new leader decides on potential successors.

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