PM Lawrence Wong has announced major changes to his cabinet. These include three new Coordinating Minister positions. Together with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, they will oversee four critical areas for Singapore.
Mr Chan Chun Sing will be Coordinating Minister for Public Services while Mr Ong Ye Kung will be appointed Coordinating Minister for Social Policies. Mr K Shanmugam will be Coordinating Minister for National Security.
Meanwhile, DPM Gan will continue coordinating Singapore’s efforts on the economy, including his role as the chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce.
“That’s four senior leaders in my Cabinet,” said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a press conference this week (21 May). “They are part of the core team to assist me, to advise me, and also to provide guidance and mentorship to the new and younger ministers.”
“This is a changed world,” added PM Wong. “Entering this new phase, our first priority will be to secure Singapore’s position in this new environment …steering Singapore through great economic uncertainties and changes.”
Nine of the new MPs elected during GE2025 will also assume political office. PM Wong described the number of new political appointments as “one of the highest in recent history.”
These appointments include MP David Neo (Tampines GRC) as Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth as well as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, and MP Jeffrey Siow (Chua Chu Kang GRC) as Acting Minister for Transport as well as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance.
Four other existing officeholders, including current Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai, will be appointed to handle greater responsibilities. With the retirement of six current officeholders, including Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, the reshuffle represents a commitment to the renewal of political leadership in Singapore.
With this reshuffle, all Ministries will have new officeholders ranging from Minister to Parliamentary Secretary.
“I’m 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,” said PM Wong, who has previously stated that long-term leadership renewal is a priority.
Coordinating Ministers to oversee critical areas
Public services, social policies and national security will be overseen by three Coordinating Ministers, in an expansion of the Coordinating Minister role.
As the new Coordinating Minister for Public Services, Mr Chan Chun Sing will focus on improving the delivery of government services.
“It’s more about public services than large-scale infrastructure planning, and that’s why I’ve decided to rename it to give it that new focus and priority,” said PM Wong
Mr Chan said he will oversee both digital and physical services, from planning to execution.
“So that the individual who is seeking help from the public service or who is seeking access to different services will not need to run to different places and can have a better, seamless and one-stop service,” said Minister Chan.
Minister Chan will also be appointed Minister for Defence and relinquish his appointment as Minister for Education.
As Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Minister Ong will firstly carry on the work of the Forward Singapore exercise, and secondly champion meritocracy and social mobility.
“Third is ageing, which is the reason why I also requested to stay in MOH,” he added. “Ageing will be the single largest social development we will see in the next decade. We need to adapt to it in the way we learn, we work, we play or live …so I think that still requires a lot of work.”
Minister Ong will continue as Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Ageing Issues.
Minister Shanmugam’s role as Coordinating Minister for National Security is a critical one, as security threats to Singapore continue to evolve and will tap upon his extensive experience as Minister for Home Affairs.
Taking over the role from retiring Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister K Shanmugam will continue as Minister for Home Affairs and relinquish his position as Minister for Law.
The outline of the next generation of leaders
During the recent GE, PM Wong explained to Singaporeans that he is assembling the best team possible to take Singapore forward in these uncertain times.
“The team is slightly bigger than what we had before, because we are in transition,” he said. “I expect to make further adjustments in one or two years time, when more of our junior office-holders are ready to step up.”
“We are stretching them. We are giving them significant responsibilities. Jeff Siow in MOT, David in MCCY” continued PM Wong. “Many others as MOSes, SPSes and PSes.”
“I think we are starting to see the outlines of the next-generation team,” he added.
“On behalf of all the new political office holders, we look forward to the work ahead,” said MP Jasmin Lau (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who will be MOS for Digital Development and Information as well as for Education. “We also thank in advance our senior leaders for the lessons and the development that they will give us in the coming years.”
“It is for the long haul,” she continued about the duties which she and her fellow new leaders must now perform. “So over time, we must remain committed and flexible in terms of where we‘re sent to and the work that we do.”
