4G leaders to head two-thirds of ministries following Cabinet changes

SINGAPORE — The much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle will see changes at all but one government ministry, with nearly two-thirds of the ministries helmed by a fourth-generation leader and a third woman full minister being named, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced on Tuesday (April 24).

There will be no changes to the third-generation ministers helming the Defence, Health, Law, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Transport portfolios. Meanwhile, three long-time Cabinet Ministers will retire — the highest number at one go since the 2011 Cabinet reshuffle which saw five ministers stepping down.

The majority of the changes, which take effect on May 1, will be in the ranks of Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries.

Writing on Facebook, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described the latest reshuffle as "more extensive than usual". "Many office holders elected in recent elections are getting new or expanded portfolios," he said. "I have decided to stretch the younger ones, giving many of them two ministries and additional responsibilities. The younger ministers will progressively take over more responsibility for governing Singapore."

Among the promotions, Senior Minister of State for Law Indranee Rajah will become a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Education. With her appointment, the Finance Ministry — which will continue to be helmed by Mr Heng Swee Keat — will have two Second Ministers, the other being Mr Lawrence Wong.

As a transitional arrangement, Ms Indranee will serve as Second Law Minister until June 30. On July 1, lawyer Edwin Tong, an MP for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), will be named Senior Minister of State for Law and Health.

Three veteran government leaders — Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim and Trade and Industry (Trade) Minister Lim Hng Kiang — will retire from the Cabinet but remain as MPs. Mr Lim Hng Kiang will also be appointed Special Adviser to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

Second Manpower Minister Josephine Teo will be promoted to helm the Manpower Ministry, even as she continues as Second Home Affairs Minister. She will leave her position as Minister in the PMO.

Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S Iswaran will take over the Communications and Information portfolio from Dr Yaacob. He will remain in the MTI as the Minister in Charge of Trade Relations.

Labour chief Chan Chun Sing will head MTI, while Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung will be Education Minister overseeing the entire ministry. His fellow Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng is set to helm the labour movement and continue in the Cabinet as a Minister in the PMO.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli will take over from Dr Yaacob as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

The new line-up will also see other backbenchers take on Cabinet appointments. Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad will be Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, while Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) will be a Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development.

Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng will be Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Trade and Industry.

When contacted, Dr Tan said it was "with regret" that he is leaving medical practice. "I will miss caring for patients. 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," he said, adding that he was "very much humbled at being brought into political office".

Ms Sun said she hopes to serve "in whatever capacity to the best of my abilities". "As a newcomer, I need to understand how the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs operate and meet the needs of the citizens," she said. "There is a need to ensure citizens walk away knowing there is heart involved and that it's not just a process."

Speaking to TODAY, political analysts pointed to the significant movements involving junior political office holders, compared with the changes at the ministerial level.

Mr Lee had earlier made clear that there will not be a new Deputy Prime Minister in this round of changes. The analysts said that following the latest reshuffle, there are still no clear indications of who will be the next Prime Minister. The changes appeared to be aimed at strengthening and preparing the collective, instead of the individual, they added.

Mr Lee had focused on "picking a team that whoever is in the running (to be the next PM) is able to gain respect from and work with", said Dr Felix Tan, an associate lecturer at SIM Global Education. "Bear in mind, whoever becomes the Prime Minister, this will be his or her team…. (The next PM will) need their backing and work with all of them," he added.

Speaking to reporters on the Cabinet changes, Mrs Teo said it has been "very helpful" for the younger office holders to gain exposure to different ministries. She noted that for herself, she had experience working in the finance, transport and foreign affairs ministries before moving on to the manpower and home affairs portfolios.

"It is very important that we have broad exposure… because when you think about how to (achieve) progress for Singaporeans… (we must) have an understanding of different issues from different lenses and perspectives," she said.

For now, Mrs Teo said the 4G leaders are focused on drafting the President's Address which will be delivered by President Halimah Yacob when the 13th Parliament reconvenes on May 7.

The address will outline the priorities for the remainder of the Government's current term.

Paying tribute to the outgoing ministers, Ms Indranee said she was "honoured and humbled" by Mr Lee's confidence in her.

She reiterated that the 4G leaders "have actually been working very well together".

Adding that they are working together on many projects, she said: "I have to say the chemistry is good. We realised that people have different strengths and you should tap on that."

Referring to the succession issue, Ms Indranee stressed that the identity of the next Prime Minister will be settled in time to come. "It will be somebody who obviously has the support of all," she said. "Our way of working has always been very collegiate. We work as a team." ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KELLY NG, SIAU MING EN AND FARIS MOKHTAR