SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that the "extensive" reshuffle to the Cabinet announced on Tuesday (Apr 24) means that the Singapore Government's leadership transition is well underway.
"Cabinet is a live grouping. I regularly have to move ministers around, appoint new ones from the backbenches, promote some office holders, and from time to time retire others," he wrote in a Facebook post shortly after the changes were unveiled.
"This year’s reshuffle is more extensive than usual. Three long-serving ministers are retiring. Many office holders elected in recent elections are getting new or expanded portfolios. I have decided to stretch the younger ones, giving many of them two ministries and additional responsibilities."
A number of fourth generation, or 4G, leaders in the Government were given new roles in the reshuffle: Mr Chan Chun Sing will head the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Mrs Josephine Teo was made Manpower Minister and Mr S Iswaran will be Minister for Communications and Information.
Ms Indranee Rajah will be Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as well as Second Minister for Finance and Education.
Mr Ong Ye Kung, who helmed the Education Ministry with Mr Ng Chee Meng, will now be in charge of the entire ministry, while Mr Ng moves on to be Minister at PMO while leading the labour movement as deputy secretary-general of the National Trade Unions Congress (NTUC).
Mr Lee wrote that the younger ministers will "progressively take over more responsibility for governing Singapore".
"After this reshuffle, they will head two-thirds of the ministries ... The leadership transition taking place in the next few years is well underway," he said.
"I ask Singaporeans to continue to support us, and work with me and my team to take Singapore forward."
AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, ministers affected by the reshuffle have said they welcome their new or expanded portfolios.
Mr Chan said that he will be looking forward to "write the next chapter of our country's economic development".
"In a way, the new role at MTI is an extension of the work in NTUC to ensure that our working people can continue to benefit from good jobs and our businesses can have the opportunities to become more competitive," he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Mr Ong said that "there is a lot of important work ahead" in response to his larger role at the Ministry of Education.
"I will build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors, and continue to improve our education system. Education has been, and will continue to be, an uplifting and integrating force in society. I look forward to working with our dedicated teachers and staff to achieve this," he wrote on Facebook.
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who will be stepping down as Minister for Communications and Information, posted a heartfelt farewell video on Facebook that rounding up his 16 years as a minister in three different ministries.
"A big thank you to all those who supported me in various ways to make my work as a minister much easier and more meaningful," he said.
Mr Chan also congratulated the office holders and backbenchers who were promoted and thanked the three veteran ministers who will be stepping down.
Dr Tan Wu Meng, who was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry said he will be leaving his medical practice. He is an oncologist at Parkway Cancer Centre.
"It is with regret that I am leaving my professional medical practice. I will miss caring for patients," he said. "But if one can help improve Singapore's future more directly, even if in a small way, there is a duty to take up this new journey."
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