SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced changes to the Cabinet on Monday (Jun 6), appointing Finance Minister Lawrence Wong as Deputy Prime Minister.
The Cabinet changes come about two months after Mr Wong was named leader of the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation or 4G team, paving the way for him to become Singapore's next Prime Minister.
Mr Wong, 49, fronted key announcements as co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force. He is also the deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), having been appointed to the role in May last year.
The last Cabinet reshuffle was in April 2021, two weeks after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had said that he would step aside as the leader of the 4G team. Mr Wong took over the finance portfolio from Mr Heng in last year's reshuffle.
This is the full statement released by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday:
"The Prime Minister will make the following changes to his Cabinet with effect from Jun 13, 2022.
"Mr Lawrence Wong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister. He will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister. He will continue as Minister for Finance.
"Mr Tan Kiat How will be promoted to Senior Minister of State. He will continue in the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Ministry of National Development.
"Mr Eric Chua will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary. He will continue in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
"Ms Rahayu Mahzam will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and will take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Law. She will continue in the Ministry of Health, but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Communications and Information.
"Mr Chee Hong Tat will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance. He will continue in the Ministry of Transport.
"Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. He will continue in the Ministry of Manpower, but relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Health.
"Ms Sun Xueling will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. She will continue in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Education.
"Mr Desmond Tan will be appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. He will relinquish his appointments in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment.
"Mr Baey Yam Keng will be appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. He will continue in the Ministry of Transport.
"Mr Lawrence Wong will assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office, taking over from Mr Heng Swee Keat.
"The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has agreed to the Prime Minister’s request for Mr Chee Hong Tat to return to the Government full‐time, and accepted his proposal for Mr Desmond Tan to join the NTUC."
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The Cabinet changes come about two months after Mr Wong was named leader of the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation or 4G team, paving the way for him to become Singapore's next Prime Minister.
Mr Wong, 49, fronted key announcements as co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force. He is also the deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), having been appointed to the role in May last year.
The last Cabinet reshuffle was in April 2021, two weeks after Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had said that he would step aside as the leader of the 4G team. Mr Wong took over the finance portfolio from Mr Heng in last year's reshuffle.
This is the full statement released by the Prime Minister's Office on Monday:
"The Prime Minister will make the following changes to his Cabinet with effect from Jun 13, 2022.
"Mr Lawrence Wong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister. He will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister. He will continue as Minister for Finance.
"Mr Tan Kiat How will be promoted to Senior Minister of State. He will continue in the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Ministry of National Development.
"Mr Eric Chua will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary. He will continue in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
"Ms Rahayu Mahzam will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and will take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Law. She will continue in the Ministry of Health, but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Communications and Information.
"Mr Chee Hong Tat will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance. He will continue in the Ministry of Transport.
"Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. He will continue in the Ministry of Manpower, but relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Health.
"Ms Sun Xueling will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. She will continue in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Education.
"Mr Desmond Tan will be appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. He will relinquish his appointments in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment.
"Mr Baey Yam Keng will be appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment. He will continue in the Ministry of Transport.
"Mr Lawrence Wong will assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office, taking over from Mr Heng Swee Keat.
"The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has agreed to the Prime Minister’s request for Mr Chee Hong Tat to return to the Government full‐time, and accepted his proposal for Mr Desmond Tan to join the NTUC."
Continue reading...