Remarks by PM Lawrence Wong at the Press Conference on the new Cabinet Line-Up

Good afternoon, I’ve called this press conference to announce my new Cabinet line-up. I thank Singaporeans once again for giving me and my team a clear mandate to form the next government.

With your strong support, 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.

DPM and Coordinating Ministers

I will appoint four key Cabinet ministers to assist me in my work. DPM Gan Kim Yong and three new Coordinating Ministers – K Shanmugam, Chan Chun Sing and Ong Ye Kung. They will oversee four critical areas – the economy, national security, public services, and social policies.

Gan Kim Yong remains as Deputy Prime Minister. He will continue to coordinate our efforts on the economy, including his role as Chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce.

He continues with his other responsibilities as Chairman of MAS, and the minister overseeing the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He will take on additional duties, including overseeing our work on climate change and population.

K Shanmugam will take over from Teo Chee Hean as the Coordinating Minister for National Security.

This is a critical role with far reaching responsibilities.

Because security threats are constantly evolving, and safeguarding our safety and survival is essential.

With his extensive experience in government – stretching from MFA to MHA – he is well placed to take on this new role.

Chan Chun Sing will be appointed as Coordinating Minister for Public Services.

This is about bringing together public services in a more accessible and integrated manner.

We have improved on this front over the years; but there is still more to be done. For example, in coordinating a wide range of different amenities and facilities in our new housing estates.

So Chan Chun Sing will coordinate and oversee these efforts.

Ong Ye Kung will be appointed as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

Reviewing and updating our social policies are a big part of Forward Singapore.

We will press on with this effort to strengthen our social safety nets. But we also have to design our policies well, and manage the trade-offs carefully.

So Ye Kung will oversee these efforts.

Next, let me go through the ministerial appointments across these four priority areas.

Economy

First, the ministries that lead our economic agenda.

We are operating in a changed world, with rising trade barriers, sharper competition, and greater uncertainty. We need experienced hands at the helm. So I’m keeping most of the Ministers in their current roles during this critical period.

I will continue to helm the Ministry of Finance. Indranee continues to assist me in MOF as Second Minister. She will continue as Second Minister at MND, and also the Minister in the PMO overseeing the population portfolio. She will also continue as Leader of the House.

Gan Kim Yong remains at MTI.

He will continue to be supported by Grace Fu, who will remain as the Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations

Tan See Leng will be appointed Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology in MTI.

These are key areas for our economy.

Science & Technology is a key driver of growth. Energy, especially clean energy, will be an important part of this government’s agenda. We will consider how we can better organise ourselves to accelerate our transition to cleaner energy.

So See Leng will focus on these areas in MTI.

He will also continue at MOM. He was sent there after the last election, and he has made a difference. So he will continue with the work to translate growth opportunities into good jobs for Singaporeans.

Josephine Teo will continue at MDDI. She is overseeing important work there including our AI strategies. She will also be the Minister-in-charge of our Smart Nation initiative.

The government works closely with the tripartite partners in developing our economic strategies. The PAP-NTUC symbiotic partnership anchors this tripartite partnership.

The NTUC Secretary-General has traditionally held a position in the Cabinet.

I value this link, and I know the NTUC does too.

Ng Chee Meng has requested not to be offered a position in government, so that he can focus on his work in NTUC and Jalan Kayu.

I respect his wishes. But to be clear: this is a temporary arrangement, and I look forward to having the Labour Chief being part of the Cabinet before too long.

Meanwhile, my government will continue to work closely with the Labour Movement, and will ensure that the views of NTUC and union leaders, and the interests of Singapore workers, are fully taken into account in our deliberations and decisions.

Security

In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, we also need a strong and experienced team across the ministries overseeing security issues – protecting our interests at home and abroad.

Vivian Balakrishnan will continue at MFA. He has represented Singapore ably and has forged close working relationships with counterparts worldwide. His counsel and extensive networks will be invaluable as I intensify my international engagements in this new term.

Chan Chun Sing will take over from Ng Eng Hen as Defence Minister. He was Chief of Army and had served as 2M in MINDEF. He has deep operational experience and strategic insights. I am confident he will lead the ministry well, and further strengthen Singapore’s defence posture.

Shanmugam will continue to helm MHA. It is a key ministry which oversees a broad spectrum of security operations. I have appointed Edwin as Second Minister at MHA. This will allow Edwin to gain experience and broaden his expertise, and prepare him to assume greater responsibilities in due course.

At MinLaw, Edwin has been 2M for some time before the GE. He has established himself well in the portfolio, and will take over at MinLaw from Shanmugam. Edwin will also continue as Dy Chairman at PA.

Social

Next, the ministries covering the key social areas.

Ong Ye Kung will continue at MOH.

He started many new national programmes in the last term – programmes like Healthier SG, Age Well SG which had major transformational impact on our society.

He asked me to allow him to continue at MOH, and I have agreed so that he can see through these initiatives.

Desmond Lee will take over from Chun Sing at MOE.

Desmond brings a quiet but effective style of leadership.

He listens actively and persistently, and engages widely with stakeholders, and takes decisive actions when needed.

He will build on the good work done by predecessors to bring out the best in every child, and to advance our culture of lifelong learning.

David Neo will succeed Edwin Tong at MCCY, taking over as Acting Minister.

David has had experience previously helming the SGO.

So he knows what it takes to build strong community bonds.

I look forward to his contributions at MCCY – championing the arts and sports, engaging our youths as well as our diverse community groups.

Masagos will remain at MSF, and will continue to be supported by Desmond Lee, as Minister-in-charge of Social Service Integration.

Masagos will relinquish his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. I discussed with him, and we agreed that it is time for a new generation of leaders to take over this portfolio.

I am promoting Faishal Ibrahim to SMS and appointing him as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

Zaqy Mohamad, who is currently Deputy Chairman of MENDAKI, will take over from Masagos as Chairman of MENDAKI.

Faishal and Zaqy, together with our other Malay/Muslim officeholders and MPs, will continue to engage the Malay/Muslim community closely – building on the strong foundations we have today, and working with the community to realise our shared goals.

I will work closely with them too. Engaging the Malay/Muslim community was a priority for me in the last term; and it will continue to be a priority in this new term of government.

Public Infrastructure and Services

Finally, we have the ministries focussing on public infrastructure and services.

Grace Fu will continue to helm MSE.

Sustainability is becoming a more important part of our national agenda – it is not just about water security; it is also food security; as well as reducing carbon footprint and adapting to global warming.

There are many important projects which Grace has started and will continue to oversee at MSE.

Chee Hong Tat will relinquish his portfolio at MOT, and will take over from Desmond Lee at MND.

This is a new area for him.

It is an important portfolio that impacts all our lives.

Has done well at MOT, and I am sure he will do a good job at MND too.

Jeffrey Siow will be appointed as Acting Minister in MOT.

Familiar with land transport policies from his past experience as a civil servant.

Of course, there is much more to be done as a minister.

He will be stretched and tested; but I am confident he will be able to step up.

Retirements

In this round, we have six officeholders retiring – Heng Swee Keat, Teo Chee Hean, Ng Eng Hen, Maliki Osman, as well as Heng Chee How and Amy Khor.

They have all been valued members of the team.

Thank them again their many years of contribution and service.

Much has been said about the 4 ministers – Swee Keat, Chee Hean, Eng Hen and Maliki. In fact all four gave very good interviews to the media recently.

I would like today, to highlight and thank Chee How and Amy.

Both have been Mayors, they held MOS and SMS positions across different ministries. And in Chee How’s case, in NTUC as well, where he was a pillar of strength to successive Secretary-Generals.

Both always focused on serving and getting the job done.

They never sought credit or fanfare.

They are true servant leaders.

As well as role models and inspiration for younger members of the team.

So a big thank you, to Chee How and Amy.

Promotions and Rotations

I highlighted the promotion of Faishal Ibrahim earlier. I am promoting three others – Murali Pillai and Sun Xueling to SMS; and Baey Yam Keng to MOS.

I am also appointing 9 new office holders from the backbench as well as from the new MPs. That is one of the highest in recent history, and it is because of the importance of leadership renewal.

Desmond Choo and Zhulkarnain will come in as MOS. Desmond will continue to serve at NTUC.

From amongst the new MPs, there are 7 office-holders. I mentioned the two Ag Ministers – just now – David and Jeffrey.

There are five others:

Goh Pei Ming – MOS in MHA and MSF.

Jasmin Lau – MOS in MOE and MDDI, she is here today in the panel.

Dinesh – MOS in MCCY and MOM; also Mayor of South East.

Syed Harun – SPS in MOE and MND.

Goh Han Yan – SPS in MCCY and MSE.

With this reshuffle, all the ministries will have new office-holders – be it Ministers, MOS or Parl Secs. I am doing this to give younger leaders more experience and exposure across different areas of Government, so as to prepare them for greater responsibilities in the future.

The full list of movements can be found in the Annex to the press statement.

Conclusion

This is my Cabinet at the beginning of this new term of government, as we embark on our next phase. The team is slightly bigger than what we had before because we are in transition. I expect to make further adjustments in 1 or 2 years’ time, when more of the junior office holders are ready to step up.

I have done my best to put together an effective government to take Singapore forward in these uncertain and turbulent times. 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.

I am happy to take questions from all of you; and so would the ministers on the panel.