Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has announced the new Cabinet line-up and political appointments, which will take effect from May 23. This reshuffle includes retirements, promotions, new appointments and changes in ministerial portfolios.
The swearing-in ceremony for Ministers, Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State will be held on May 23. The ceremony for Senior Parliamentary Secretaries will be held on a later date.
Speaking at the at the press conference on the new Cabinet line-up on Wednesday, May 21, PM Wong said, “I have done my utmost to assemble the strongest team I could for Singapore – a team comprising steady and experienced hands, as well as new and younger ministers.”
The PM announced that four key Cabinet ministers will assist him in his work. DPM Gan Kim Yong and three new Coordinating Ministers – K Shanmugam, Chan Chun Sing and Ong Ye Kung will be assisting PM Wong and oversee four critical areas: economy, national security, public services, and social policies.
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As per the PM’s statement, he will retain the Finance portfolio. DPM Gan will stay on at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while Tan See Leng will become the Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology.
Indranee Rajah will continue as the Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and will also remain the Leader of the House.
In defence and foreign affairs, Chan Chun Sing will take over the Ministry of Defence from Ng Eng Hen, who retired just days before the May 3 election.
Vivian Balakrishnan will remain Foreign Minister, while Shanmugam will continue at Home Affairs. Edwin Tong will helm the Law Ministry, supported by a new role as Second Minister in MHA.
Ong Ye Kung will stay on at Health to continue key reforms like Healthier SG. Desmond Lee will move to Education. Meanwhile, David Neo will become the Acting Minister at Culture, Community and Youth, while Masagos Zulkifli will retain Social and Family Development but will hand over Muslim Affairs to Faishal Ibrahim.
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On the infrastructure front, Grace Fu will remain at Sustainability and Environment, while Chee Hong Tat will move to National Development, and Jeffrey Siow will become the Acting Minister at Transport.
Six leaders will retire, including Heng Swee Keat and Teo Chee Hean. The new Cabinet witnessed four promotions and nine new office-holders, reflecting a strong push for leadership renewal.
PM Wong said that this team was built for transition, and further adjustments are expected in coming years. He also urged Singaporeans to support the new Cabinet in shaping a resilient and inclusive future.
“I ask Singaporeans to give me and my team your full support. We will do our best to serve you, and secure a brighter future for you and your families,” he said.
Here’s a list with bullet points for easy understanding
Six senior officeholders will be retiring from politics
- Heng Swee Keat
- Teo Chee Hean
- Ng Eng Hen
- Maliki Osman
- Heng Chee How
- Amy Khor
Four political officeholders have been promoted
- Senior Ministers of State- Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Murali Pillai, and Sun Xueling.
- Minister of State- Baey Yam Keng.
Several key leadership changes have been made at the ministerial level
- K Shanmugam will be appointed Coordinating Minister for National Security. He continues as Minister for Home Affairs and will relinquish the Law portfolio.
- Chan Chun Sing will be appointed Coordinating Minister for Public Services and will take over as Minister for Defence, giving up the Education portfolio.
- Ong Ye Kung will be appointed Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, while continuing as Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues.
- Desmond Lee will become Minister for Education and remain Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. He will step down as Minister for National Development.
- Edwin Tong will take over as Minister for Law and also serve as Second Minister for Home Affairs. He will give up the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).
- Dr Tan See Leng will be appointed Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while continuing as Minister for Manpower.
- Chee Hong Tat will be appointed Minister for National Development, and will relinquish his responsibilities in Transport and Finance.
Several existing officeholders will be redeployed or given additional responsibilities
- Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim will be Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and continue as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will leave the Ministry of National Development.
- Sim Ann will continue in Foreign Affairs and join Home Affairs as Senior Minister of State, leaving National Development.
- Dr Janil Puthucheary will move to Education and Sustainability & Environment as Senior Minister of State, leaving Digital Development and Health.
- Dr Koh Poh Koon will continue in Manpower and join Health, stepping down from Sustainability & Environment.
- Zaqy Mohamad will remain in Defence and join Sustainability & Environment, giving up his Manpower portfolio.
- Tan Kiat How will continue in Digital Development and join Health, leaving National Development.
- Sun Xueling will take on new roles in National Development and Transport, stepping down from Home Affairs and Social and Family Development.
- Gan Siow Huang will be appointed to Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry, leaving Education and Manpower.
- Alvin Tan will continue in Trade & Industry and take on a new role in National Development, relinquishing MCCY.
- Baey Yam Keng will take up portfolios in MCCY and Transport, leaving Sustainability & Environment.
- Eric Chua will become Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Law and continue in Social and Family Development, stepping down from MCCY.
- Shawn Huang will become Senior Parliamentary Secretary in Manpower and continue in Finance, giving up Education.
Nine new faces have been appointed to political office
- David Neo: Acting Minister for MCCY and Senior Minister of State in Education
- Jeffrey Siow: Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State in Finance
- Dinesh Vasu Dash: Minister of State in MCCY and Manpower
- Desmond Choo: Minister of State in Defence; he will also continue at the National Trades Union Congress
- Jasmin Lau: Minister of State in Digital Development and Education
- Goh Pei Ming: Minister of State in Home Affairs and Social and Family Development
- Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: Minister of State in Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development
- Goh Hanyan: Senior Parliamentary Secretary in MCCY and Sustainability & Environment
- Syed Harun Alhabsyi: Senior Parliamentary Secretary in Education and National Development
Mayoral appointments
- Baey Yam Keng will serve as Mayor of North East District.
- Dinesh Vasu Dash will serve as Mayor of South East District.
