Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments (July 2020)

The Prime Minister has announced his new Cabinet line-up and other political appointments. Three office holders will retire and 6 office holders promoted. In addition, there will be 7 new political office holders. Annex A outlines the appointments. They take effect from 27 July 2020 unless stated otherwise.

Retirement

Mr Khaw Boon Wan retires as Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport. The Prime Minister thanks Mr Khaw for his service and contributions in multiple portfolios over many years.

Mr Sam Tan retires as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, and as Chairman of the Government’s feedback unit, REACH.

Dr Tan Wu Meng retires as Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The Prime Minister thanks Mr Tan and Dr Tan for their service and contributions.

Appointment of Ministers

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien will be appointed Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. (The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources will be renamed the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.) She will relinquish her appointment as Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

Mr Lawrence Wong will be appointed Minister for Education. He will remain Second Minister for Finance, and relinquish his appointment as Minister for National Development.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli will be appointed Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health. He will remain the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and relinquish his appointment as Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Mr Ong Ye Kung will be appointed Minister for Transport. He will relinquish his appointment as Minister for Education.

Mr Desmond Lee will be appointed Minister for National Development. He will relinquish his appointment as Minister for Social and Family Development but will remain in the Ministry and be concurrently appointed as Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.

Ms Indranee Rajah will be appointed Second Minister for National Development, and relinquish her appointment as Second Minister for Education. She will remain Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and as Second Minister for Finance. 

Dr Tan See Leng will be appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.

Promotions

Dr Maliki Osman will be promoted to full Minister. He will be appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs. He will relinquish his appointment as the Mayor of South East District.

Mr Edwin Tong will be promoted to full Minister. He will be appointed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Law.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad will be promoted to Senior Minister of State. He will remain at the Ministry of Manpower and take up an additional appointment at the Ministry of Defence.

Ms Low Yen Ling will be promoted to Minister of State, and take up new appointments at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. She will relinquish her appointments at the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Education. She will also remain as Mayor of South West District.

Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim will be promoted to Minister of State, and take up new appointments at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of National Development. He will relinquish his appointments at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Ms Sun Xueling will be promoted to Minister of State, and take up new appointments at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. She will relinquish her appointments at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development.

Other Political Appointments

Mr Heng Swee Keat, the Deputy Prime Minister, will take on an additional appointment as Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies.

Dr Amy Khor will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport. She will continue in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Ms Sim Ann will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development. She will continue in the Ministry of Communications and Information but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

Mr Chee Hong Tat will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport. He will relinquish his appointments in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Dr Janil Puthucheary will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health. He will continue in the Ministry of Communications and Information but relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Transport.

Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health. He will relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

New Political Office Holders

In addition to Dr Tan See Leng, there will be six new political office holders.

Ms Gan Siow Huang will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Manpower.

Mr Alvin Tan will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, with effect from 1 September 2020.

Mr Desmond Tan will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Mr Tan Kiat How will be appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of National Development. He will also be Chairman of REACH.

Mr Eric Chua will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, with effect from 1 September. 

Mayors

Mr Alex Yam will be appointed Mayor for North West District.

Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman will be appointed Mayor for South East District.

Swearing-in Ceremony

The Swearing-in Ceremony for the Cabinet and other officer holders will take place on Monday, 27 July 2020, 7pm at the Istana and Parliament House.

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PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
25 JULY 2020

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Cabinet and Other Appointments (from 27 July 2020 unless otherwise indicated)

Concurrent responsibilities

ⁱ Heng Swee Keat – Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Strategy Group, Future Economy Council, National Research Foundation (assisting PM), Productivity Fund Administration Board (assisting PM) 
ⁱⁱ Teo Chee Hean – Coordinating Minister for National Security, Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, National Security Coordination Secretariat, National Population and Talent Division, National Climate Change Secretariat
ⁱⁱⁱ Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Monetary Authority of Singapore, National Jobs Council
^iv Indranee Rajah – Population matters (assisting Mr Teo Chee Hean)
^v Tan Kiat How – REACH
^vi S Iswaran – Cyber Security
^vii Janil Puthucheary – GovTech
^viii Vivian Balakrishnan – Smart Nation
^ix Gan Kim Yong – Ageing issues
^x Sim Ann – Municipal Services Office
^xi Masagos Zulkifli – Muslim affairs, CDC matters (assisting Mr Chan Chun Sing)
^xii Chan Chun Sing – People’s Association, Public Service Division
^xiii Low Yen Ling – Coordinator of Mayors

Legend

Promotions
Concurrent responsibilities
New appointment