SINGAPORE: Of the three men who have been mentioned as potential prime ministers, Mr Chan Chun Sing will be moving on to head the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung will be staying on in their existing roles but with expanded responsibilities, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Tuesday (Apr 24).
Other ministries will get new ministers and a new female minister, Ms Indranee Rajah, was appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle that marks the mid-point of this Government's term.
Mr Chan, 48, currently a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, was asked by Mr Lee to return to Government after three years with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
He will also take over responsibility for the Public Service Division from Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and continue to be deputy chairman of the People’s Association.
Mr Heng, 57, will stay on at the Finance Ministry, which he has headed since 2015.
He had said last week that he would be "very happy" to continue at the ministry as there are many things it needs to do which he announced in this year's Budget.
AdvertisementAdvertisementMr Heng will take over responsibility for assisting the Prime Minister on National Research Foundation matters from DPM Teo Chee Hean, Mr Lee said in his statement.
Mr Ong, 48, will also be staying on at the Ministry of Education. However, he will now be helming the full ministry by himself as Mr Ng Chee Meng, 49, heads to NTUC and is expected to replace Mr Chan as labour chief.
Mr Ng will be appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and relinquish his appointments as Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport. Mr Ong will relinquish his appointment as Second Minister for Defence.
Ms Indranee Rajah, 55, has been promoted to be a full minister serving in the Prime Minister's Office. The former Senior Minister of State for Finance and for Law will also be appointed Second Minister for Law until Jun 30, when Mr Edwin Tong becomes Senior Minister of State in the Ministry.
Mrs Josephine Teo, 49, will be appointed Minister for Manpower. She will continue as Second Minister for Home Affairs, but will relinquish her appointment in the Prime Minister’s Office.
She takes over from Mr Lim Swee Say who will be retiring from the Cabinet.
Mr S Iswaran, 55, will be appointed Minister for Communications and Information, in place of Dr Yaacob Ibrahim who is also stepping down. Mr Iswaran will continue in the Ministry of Trade and Industry but be redesignated Minister?in?charge of Trade Relations.
The appointments are to take effect on May 1.
Three senior office holders, Mr Yaacob Ibrahim, 62, Mr Lim Swee Say, 63, and Mr Lim Hng Kiang, 64, will be stepping down.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli will be in charge of Muslim affairs and Dr Janil Puthucheary will be responsible for cybersecurity, taking over from Dr Yaacob.
Several ministers were promoted in this reshuffle, which Mr Lee said would involve changes in "almost all the ministries".
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