Singapore PM’s new cabinet seen as ‘safe’ choices with room for more changes
When asked about Ng Chee Meng, PM Lawrence Wong says the absence of a labour chief in his cabinet is a ‘temporary arrangement’
Among the changes announced on Wednesday, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is a former chief of army, will take over as head of defence following the retirement of Ng Eng Hen. Two newcomers, former senior civil servant Jeffrey Siow and ex-chief of army David Neo, will become acting ministers for transport and culture, respectively.
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, whose team narrowly defeated their Workers’ Party (WP) opponents in Tampines, is also set to give up his role to minister of state for home affairs Faishal Ibrahim, who will be acting minister. Faishal will also be promoted to senior minister of state for home affairs.
Wong, who will remain as finance minister, did not choose a second deputy prime minister from his fellow fourth-generation leaders, or the 4G as they are known locally. Gan Kim Yong will become his sole deputy and keep his current portfolio as trade and industry minister.
Speaking to the local media during a press conference on Wednesday, Wong said: “We are operating in a changed world, with rising trade barriers, sharper competition, and greater uncertainty. We need experienced hands at the helm. So I’m keeping most of the ministers in their current roles during this critical period.”
Political observers This Week in Asia spoke to said that the cabinet changes represented stability rather than change and Wong’s choice of Chan was expected, given the latter’s former role as chief of army before joining politics.
Bilveer Singh, a political scientist and associate professor at National University of Singapore, said: “Generally this reshuffle is continuity rather than change. The challenging thing for this young prime minister is that he has only just taken over and it’s a very challenging time at home, with social cohesion, and abroad.”