PM Lee reveals new cabinet
Nearly two weeks after the general election, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced the new cabinet lineup, bringing in new chiefs and promising all ministers a "free hand" to reshape policies.
PM Lee promoted Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Deputy Prime Minister. Aside from retaining his position as Finance Minister, he will also hold responsibility as the Manpower Minister.
Since many will hold multiple positions, Singapore's new cabinet lineup is much leaner, with only 15 members compared to the previous 21. The Prime Minister said that this is a transition team that will form the fourth-generation leadership. He noted that it is important to give the younger and newer ministers more exposure and experience.
Out of the 23 newly elected MPs, five are now in the position and two of them will become ministers immediately. Chan Chun Sing will be acting minister at MCYS, while Former MAS Managing Director Heng Swee Keat has been named Education Minister.
"We are putting them in at the deep end. It's not easy to come in as a minister, whether full or acting. But I believe they can do it and I am testing them out," said PM Lee.
Three other new comers — Lawrence Wong, Sim Ann and Tan Chuan-Jin — will hold the positions of either senior parliamentary secretary or minister of state.
"The pace is faster than normal, but I have decided to bring them in early and test them out quickly," he said.
Teo Chee Hean will remain in his posts as Deputy PM, coordinating minister for national security and head of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Meanwhile, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng and Transport Minister Raymond Lim will step down from their cabinet posts.
Their retirement will bring the total number of ministers stepping down to nine, including Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Lim Boon Heng and S Jayakumar had also expressed their intentions of stepping down even before the general election.
PM Lee had accepted the decisions of Mr. Goh and MM Lee, describing the new cabinet without them as an "epochal change" going forward.
However, Mr. Goh and MM Lee have been appointed as senior advisers for the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) respectively. Mr. Goh has also accepted PM Lee's offer to be named Emeritus Senior Minister.
PM Lee also announced that he will become the new GIC chairman while Mr. Shanmugaratnam will become the new MAS chairman.
Having a new lineup comprising both fresh and experienced faces, the Prime Minister said he would allow his new team to take a "fresh look" at different problems and approach the future with a clean slate.
"We hope that, over time, this group will be able to acquire the same experience and the same feel as the old team."
The Prime Minister and the new cabinet will be officially sworn into office by President SR Nathan on Saturday, 21 May 2011.
To contact the journalist, you may send your message to editor@propertyguru.com.sg
More from PropertyGuru:
Businesses worry about departure of two ministers
Spotlight on green buildings
PM Lee says no significant change in S'pore economic model
PM Lee: Govt will be more sensitive to Singaporeans' concerns
