SINGAPORE, April 24 — The much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle will see changes at all but one government ministry, with nearly two-thirds of the ministries helmed by a fourth-generation leader and a third woman full minister being named, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced today.
There will be no changes to the third-generation ministers helming the Defence, Health, Law, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Transport portfolios. Meanwhile, three long-time Cabinet Ministers will retire — the highest number at one go since the 2011 Cabinet reshuffle which saw five ministers stepping down.
The majority of the changes, which take effect on May 1, will be in the ranks of Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries.
Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah will be named a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and Education. With her appointment, the Finance Ministry — which will continue to be helmed by Heng Swee Keat — will have two Second Ministers, the other being Mr Lawrence Wong.
As a transitional arrangement, Indranee will serve as Second Law Minister until June 30. On July 1, lawyer Edwin Tong, an MP for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), will be named Senior Minister of State for Law and Health.
The new line-up will also see other backbenchers take on Cabinet appointments. Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad will be Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, while Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) will be a Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development.
Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng will be Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Industry.
Three veteran government leaders — Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and Trade and Industry (Trade) Minister Lim Hng Kiang — will retire from the Cabinet but remain as MPs. Lim Hng Kiang will also be appointed Special Adviser to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).
Second Manpower Minister Josephine Teo will be promoted to helm the Manpower Ministry, even as she continues as Second Home Affairs Minister. She will leave her position as Minister in the PMO.
Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S Iswaran will take over the Communications and Information portfolio from Dr Yaacob. He will remain in the MTI as the Minister in Charge of Trade Relations.
Labour chief Chan Chun Sing will head MTI, while Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung will be Education Minister overseeing the entire ministry. His fellow Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng is set to helm the labour movement and continue in the Cabinet as a Minister in the PMO. — TODAY
