Press Statement from the Prime Minister on Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments

Singapore is going through an important transition. We are creating opportunities for all by upgrading our workers’ skills and raising our productivity. We are helping Singaporeans lead more fulfilling lives by promoting sports and culture, and engaging our youth in nation-building. We are giving Singaporeans more peace of mind by strengthening our social safety nets through policies like the Pioneer Generation Package and MediShield-Life. These major policy shifts require good political leadership, close coordination across ministries, effective ground implementation, and strong support from Singaporeans.

I am strengthening the Cabinet line-up to address our priorities and challenges, and see Singapore through our next phase of development. I am promoting Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lawrence Wong to full Ministers. They have performed well since taking office, and mastered their portfolios. They have also worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans.

I will also strengthen my team in charge of the social sector. Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong has done well both as Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and as Mayor. He engages residents deeply, and takes special care of the elderly and needy. I am promoting him to Minister of State (MOS), and appointing him to the Prime Minister’s Office to help me coordinate delivery of our social policies across multiple ministries, and especially implementation on the ground. To focus on this task, Mr Tan will relinquish his appoint­ments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Mayor, though he will continue as MOS in MCCY. Ms Denise Phua will take over as Mayor of Central Singa­pore CDC in the next term.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is at the forefront of the changes we are making. The Pioneer Generation Package focuses on medical expenses. Working out the details of MediShield-Life and implementing the scheme well is a major and complex undertaking. We are also investing heavily to expand and upgrade our healthcare system to cater for an ageing population and growing healthcare needs.

To reinforce Mr Gan Kim Yong in MOH, I am appointing Dr Lam Pin Min as an additional Minister of State. He will play an important role in MOH’s efforts to review our policies and develop new models of care, especially in our aged care and primary care sectors, as outlined in the Healthcare 2020 Master Plan. Dr Lam’s professional expertise as a doctor will be very useful in designing policies and engaging our community of healthcare professionals.

Dr Amy Khor has also been given additional responsibilities in MOH. As Co-Chair of the Pioneer Generation Taskforce, Dr Khor will focus on implementing the Pioneer Generation Package, and helping our pioneers to understand and benefit from the Package. Dr Khor will hence relinquish her appointment as Mayor of Southwest CDC after this term. She has done a lot as Mayor, expanding outreach in the community, deepening engagement with residents, and partnering grassroots organisations and business corporations. She also worked closely with the other Mayors to pursue a more aligned and coordinated approach to community development.

The fourth office holder in MOH, Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Bin Ibrahim, will continue to drive the Ministry’s initiatives to promote healthy living. He led a taskforce to draw up the Healthy Living Master Plan which was launched recently, and will be overseeing its implementation. 

Ms Low Yen Ling will take over from Dr Amy Khor as Mayor of Southwest CDC. I am adding MCCY to her portfolio, while she continues as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development. In MCCY, she will help Min Lawrence Wong to implement the Youth Corps Singapore programme and expand our youth outreach initiatives, and augment our efforts to engage the arts community, and Chinese cultural and clan groups.

These changes are part of my Government’s continuing leadership renewal efforts. I expect to do further reshuffles from time to time, to ensure that we always have the best team for Singapore.

Annex A summarises the changes, while Annex B (pdf, 314.38KB) gives the new portfolios of the Cabinet members and other office holders. 

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PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

29 APRIL 2014

ANNEX A

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO CABINET AND OTHER APPOINTMENTS

The Prime Minister will make the following changes to Cabinet and other political appointments. All changes take effect on 1 May 2014 unless explicitly indicated.

Appointment of Minister

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin will be promoted to full Minister in the Ministry of Manpower.

Mr Lawrence Wong will be promoted to full Minister in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and 2^nd Minister for Communications and Information.

Promotion to/Appointment of Minister of State

Mr Sam Tan will be promoted to Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the MCCY. He will relinquish his current appointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also step down as Mayor of Central Singapore CDC on 27 May 2014, at the end of his Mayor’s term. 

Dr Lam Pin Min will be appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health with effect from 1 Aug 2014.

Changes/Appointment of Mayors and Parliamentary Secretaries

Ms Denise Phua will replace Mr Sam Tan as the Mayor of Central Singapore CDC with effect from 27 May 2014. 

Dr Amy Khor will relinquish her appointment as Mayor of South West CDC on 27 May 2014, at the end of her Mayor’s term. She will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministries of Health and of Manpower.

Ms Low Yen Ling will replace Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan as Mayor of South West CDC with effect from 27 May 2014. Ms Low will also be appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, concurrent with her present appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.