SINGAPORE PM WONG UNVEILS NEW CABINET LINE-UP, SWEARING-IN ON MAY 23

By Nur Ashikin Abdul Aziz

SINGAPORE, May 21 (Bernama) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled his new Cabinet line-up on Wednesday, just over two weeks after leading the People's Action Party (PAP) to a landslide victory in the May 3 general election.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement that the swearing-in ceremony will take place on Friday (May 23).

Wong will retain his portfolio as Minister for Finance. Meanwhile, there will be no appointment of a second Deputy Prime Minister to replace Heng Swee Keat, who is retiring.

At a press conference, Wong announced that he will appoint four key Cabinet ministers to assist in his work -- Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and three new Coordinating Ministers: K. Shanmugam, Chan Chun Sing, and Ong Ye Kung.

They will oversee four critical areas: the economy, national security, public services, and social policies.

Wong said Gan, who also remains Minister for Trade and Industry, will continue to coordinate Singapore's efforts on the economy, including his role as Chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT).

Gan will also take on additional duties, including overseeing Singapore's work on climate change and population issues.

K. Shanmugam will be appointed Coordinating Minister for National Security. He will continue as Minister for Home Affairs but will relinquish his role as Minister for Law that will be taken over by Edwin Tong.

Health Minister Ong will retain his current portfolio and be appointed Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

Chan will be appointed Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, replacing the retiring Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Desmond Lee will relinquish his National Development portfolio and take over from Chan as Minister for Education.

Chee Hong Tat will relinquish his current portfolio as Minister for Transport and take over from Lee as Minister for National Development.

Masagos Zulkifli will remain Minister for Social and Family Development but will no longer be Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

Wong announced that Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim will be promoted to Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and appointed as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

Zaqy Mohamad, currently Deputy Chairman of MENDAKI, will take over from Masagos as Chairman of MENDAKI.

Set up in 1982, MENDAKI (Council for the Development of the Singapore Malay/Muslim Community), is a Self-Help Group to uplift the academic performance of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore through education and lifelong learning.

"Faishal and Zaqy, together with our other Malay/Muslim officeholders and MPs, will continue to engage the Malay/Muslim community closely -- building on the strong foundations we have today and working with the community to realise our shared goals," said Wong.

The Prime Minister also stated that he expects to make further adjustments to the Cabinet in one or two years' time, when more junior officeholders are ready to step up.

"I have done my best to put together an effective government to take Singapore forward in these uncertain and turbulent times. I ask Singaporeans to give me and my team your full support," he said.

Wong also thanked the retiring officeholders -- Heng, Dr Ng, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How and Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Amy Khor.

"They have all been valued members of the team. (I) Thank them again for their many years of contribution and service," he said.

-- BERNAMA