SINGAPORE, Apr 24 (NNN-CNA) – Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, announced here yesterday a cabinet reshuffle, with seven of the 15 ministries to be headed by new ministers starting from May 15.
Ong Ye Kung will transfer from Minister for Transport to Minister for Health, and co-chair the multi-ministry task force handling COVID-19 with Lawrence Wong.
Minister for Education and the Second Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, will replace Heng Swee Keat as the Finance Minister.
Meanwhile, Chan Chun Sing will relinquish his post as the Minister for Trade and Industry to become the Minister of Education. Health Minister, Gan Kim Yong will preside over the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Communications and Information Minister, S. Iswaran will be Minister for Transport, with Manpower Minister, Josephine Teo, replacing him at the ministry. Second Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, will move up to head the Ministry of Manpower.
Speaking at a press conference, Lee noted that, he is making a more extensive reshuffle than is usual, this early in the term of government, which began last July after the general election.
Lee said he had considered making these changes after the general election, but the country was still in the thick of battling COVID-19.
According to him, he is now able to do so as the COVID-19 situation is more stable.
After quitting his post as Finance Minister, Heng Swee Keat will continue to act as the Deputy Prime Minister and the Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies. He will also continue to co-chair the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, the highest bilateral platform between Singapore and China.
