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Singaporeans welcome sweeping Cabinet changes

Singaporeans Yahoo! Singapore spoke to have welcomed the new line-up of Cabinet ministers unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong on Wednesday.

Among the most notable absentees, Ministers Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan and Raymond Lim will all be retiring from the government and were not part of the new line-up although they will remain as Members of Parliament.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong was formerly in charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Coordinating Minister for National Security. Mah Bow Tan was National Development Minister and Raymond Lim was in charge of the Transport Ministry.

All three were, at various stages of the General Election campaign, heavily criticised for issues relating to the Mas Selamat escape, the high cost of housing as well as overcongestion on public transport networks.

Singaporean Thomas Tan, 60, told Yahoo! Singapore that the triple resignation showed that PM Lee was willing to listen to the people.

"It's good that they retire. I think they really felt the heat. It shows that PM Lee can read the ground and has acted accordingly. Lets see how this new Cabinet does in the next 5 years," said the director of a hardware company.

Entrepreneur Henry Koh, 34, said the changes meant there was no turning back for the PAP now.

"It's good that we're moving forward and seeing the old guard slowly leave. Although there is no guarantee that the new batch will be successful, the fact that they are being given this opportunity is a step in the right direction," he said.

Another Singaporean, Daniel Chia, 31, said the changes reflected PM Lee's earlier vow to "transform" the PAP.

"I think it's part of their whole renewal process and it shows on the one hand PAP's commitment to get new blood in charge of portfolios of everyday Singaporeans. On the other hand if you're a cynic, you can say that since these ministers were lightning rods for criticism during the elections, them leaving is a way for the PAP to garner more popularity," said the lawyer.

Educator Manjit Kaur, 46 also said the changes were "the strongest indicator" the PAP was willing to change.

"Excellent! This is good news. The two of them (Mah Bow Tan, Wong Kan Seng) stepping down is the strongest indicator yet of the PAP making good on their promise to listen to the people," he said.

However, university graduate, Hisham Omar, 24, said the trio should have stepped down earlier.

"Although it is good that they are taking accountability for their actions and stepping down now, I think they should have done it before the elections. What is the point of them stepping down after being voted in by their supporters?" he said.