Changes to Singapore's Cabinet and other appointments effective 15 May 2024

In related news, the Ministry of Communications and Information will be renamed as the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, effective 8 July 2024.

With effect from 15 May 2024, Singapore's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) will observe a change in the Cabinet line-up alongside other political appointments, in conjunction with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong's appointment as Prime Minister.

As announced by DPM Wong on 13 May 2024 (Monday), the changes are as follows: 

Promotions: 

1. Gan Kim Yong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister. He will also be the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office. He will continue as Minister for Trade and Industry. 
2. Low Yen Ling, currently Mayor of Southwest District, will concurrently assume the role of Senior Minister of State, and will continue in the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
3. Desmond Tan will be promoted to Senior Minister of State and will continue in the Prime Minister's Office and the National Trades Union Congress.
4. Rahayu Mahzam will continue in the Ministry of Health but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Law. She will be promoted to Minister of State and will take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Communications and Information. 

Other appointments:

1. ⁠Lee Hsien Loong will be appointed Senior Minister. He will remain Chairman of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council.
2. Murali Pillai will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Transport.
3. Shawn Huang will be appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance.

While taking on the role of Prime Minister effective the same date, DPM Wong will retain his role as Minister of Finance.

The full Cabinet line-up and list of appointments across the PMO and different ministries can be found ⁠here. No changes have been made to the line-up at the Ministry of Manpower.

Most of the above appointments will be made on 15 May 2024 and the appointment holders will be sworn in on the same day, with the exception of: 

(i) Murali Pillai, who will be appointed and sworn in on 1 July 2024; and

(ii) the Senior Parliamentary Secretaries, who will be appointed on 15 May 2024 and sworn in on 24 May 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong shared during his opening remarks at the press conference on the new Cabinet line-up that he will be supported by two Deputy Prime Ministers - Gan Kim Yong, as well as Heng Swee Keat who will retain his role as Deputy Prime Minister. 

Excerpts of his speech are as follows:

"Swee Keat, you already know his record in government. We entered politics together in 2011 and worked together in MOE and MOF, as well as in national exercises like the Our Singapore Conversation.

"Kim Yong, we went through the COVID baptism of fire together and he was a pillar of strength throughout. Through the course of working together, we have come to get to know each other's working styles better and in this period of increased geopolitical tensions, his experience in international economics will also help us navigate a more contested global environment. Both Kim Yong and Swee Keat are experienced ministers and will provide a steady hand in this initial period of transition. I will be able to tap on their views and expertise as I take on my new responsibility, and they will also help me to mentor our younger officeholder colleagues."

Commenting on the overall appointments, DPM Wong added: "On the whole, we have a strong team with a good mix of both experienced ministers and younger office holders. Amongst the 4G ministers, some have been in office for several terms. A number entered politics at around the same time as me, and others are still relatively new in their roles. I will be working and interacting with all of them and beyond this term, if my government is reelected, I plan to rotate the 4G ministers to different portfolios and give them wider exposure and experience."

Speaking at the press conference, DPM and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat said that he is "very happy" to work alongside Minister Gan, and looks forward to supporting the incoming Prime Minister in bringing Singapore together to work on the various critical issues facing the country.

"We will also work with our younger colleagues to help develop another generation of leadership, so that together with Singaporeans, we can take Singapore forward", he said. 

Minister for Trade & Industry Gan Kim Yong commented that he will work with DPM Heng and with the various ministries and agencies to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to formulate and implement key policies. 

"The Strategy Group will help to assess and review these policies to ensure that they are consistent and appropriate.

"Together with DPM Heng, I will do my best to support the Prime Minister and help my younger colleagues in whichever way I can, to build a strong team that will lead us forward", Minister Gan said. 

Concurrently, it was announced that the Ministry of Communications and Information will be renamed as the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. This will take effect on 8 July 2024. 

The Ministry will continue to oversee information policy and strategy, media development, and public communications efforts. 

Lead image / Prime Minister's Office Singapore