Chew, 69, isn't a dynamic public figure either, but he is seen as something of a Lee Kuan Yew man, less likely to display the occasional flashes of independence that marked Ong's six years in office.

CNN: Intelligence

Some say that the man bears a strong resemblance to Lee Kuan Yew.

WSJ: 'Sticker Lady' Sets a Dare for Singapore

He is not a man that one likes, but "a man that one respects, " says Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

CNN: Red star