Leadership Renewal Continues with Latest Cabinet Reshuffle from 1 May 2014

Cabinet shuffle 'to see Singapore through next phase'

New appointments will strengthen social and health teams: PM Lee

By Tham Yuen-C, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong has promoted Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lawrence Wong to full ministers and named two new ministers of state to bolster the social and health teams, in a move he said was aimed at strengthening the Cabinet and helping Singapore through an important period of transition.

He said the Government was creating opportunities for Singaporeans through skills upgrading and raising productivity, improving lives through sports, culture and youth engagement, and giving people peace of mind through stronger social safety nets in health and for the elderly.

"These major policy shifts require good political leadership, close coordination across ministries, effective ground implementation and strong support from Singaporeans," he added. He was strengthening the Cabinet line-up "to address our priorities and challenges, and see Singapore through our next phase of development".

In this latest round of changes, the fourth since the May 2011 General Election, Mr Tan will be promoted to Manpower Minister and Mr Wong to Minister for Culture, Community and Youth tomorrow. They have been acting ministers since August 2012 and November 2012, respectively.

The two fourth-generation leaders, along with their peers Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing, were appointed to office shortly after the May 2011 polls.

Yesterday, Mr Lee said Mr Tan and Mr Wong had performed well since taking office, and had mastered their portfolios, adding: "They have also worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans."

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, in a Facebook update, said both men had also done well in "policy formulation and in explaining policies both in and outside Parliament".

Both ministers yesterday welcomed the opportunity to serve the country, and said they would continue to put in their best.

Along with them, the PM also appointed two new ministers of state. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Sam Tan will be made Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, where he will focus on social policies.

Moulmein-Kallang GRC Member of Parliament Denise Phua will take over from him as Mayor of Central District from May 27.

Meanwhile, two-term backbencher MP Lam Pin Min, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, will be Minister of State for Health from Aug 1, to reinforce the team led by minister Gan Kim Yong.

The Health Ministry is at the "forefront" of health-care changes to cater to an ageing population and growing needs, and has its work cut out, Mr Lee said.

Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor, who is co-chair of a task force to implement the $8 billion Pioneer Generation Package, will also take on more responsibilities in the Health Ministry, and will relinquish her role as Mayor of South West District.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social and Family Development Low Yen Ling will take over as Mayor from May 27. She also adds Culture, Community and Youth to her portfolio.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament and political watcher Zulkifli Baharudin said yesterday the changes made clear who would be in the group that would make up the next generation of Singapore's leaders. "At that time, there was some doubt, but now it is clear that Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong will be taking up some of the heavy responsibility in the next phase of our development," he said.

PM Lee said yesterday that the changes were part of the 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," he said.

Post by Dr Tony Tan.

Promotions and changes

THE following Cabinet promotions and changes take effect tomorrow, unless indicated otherwise.

PROMOTIONS

- Acting Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Ministry of Manpower: Promoted to full minister.

- Acting Minister Lawrence Wong, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY): Promoted to full minister and Second Minister for Communications and Information.

- Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan: Promoted to Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and MCCY. Relinquishes current appointment as Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will step down as mayor of Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) on May 27, when his term ends.

NEW APPOINTMENTS

- Ms Denise Phua, MP (Moulmein-Kallang GRC): Takes over from Mr Tan as mayor of Central CDC.

- Dr Lam Pin Min, MP (Sengkang West): Moves to frontbench as Minister of State in the Health Ministry, starting on Aug 1.

- Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower: Steps down as South West CDC mayor on May 27.

- Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social and Family Development: Takes over from Dr Khor as South West CDC mayor. Will also take on a new post as Parliamentary Secretary in MCCY.

Latest Cabinet reshuffle to benefit health, social portfolios
Tan Chuan-Jin, Lawrence Wong also made full ministers as leadership renewal continues
By Neo Chai Chin, TODAY, 30 Apr 2014

To address the Government’s priorities and challenges as well as see the nation though its next phase of development, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong put it, a slew of Cabinet changes were announced yesterday.

The third round of changes — since a new Cabinet line-up was announced after the 2011 General Election — will notably beef up the ranks of the teams overseeing the social and health portfolios as leadership renewal efforts continue.

From May 1, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong will be promoted to full Ministers. Mr Wong will also become Second Minister for Communications and Information.

Mr Sam Tan, who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Foreign Affairs and Culture, Community and Youth), will be promoted to Minister of State (Culture, Community and Youth) and will be appointed to the Prime Minister’s Office to help coordinate the delivery of social policies across ministries, as well as their implementation on the ground.

Two backbenchers, Sengkang West Member of Parliament (MP) Lam Pin Min and Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Denise Phua, will assume political office. Dr Lam will be Minister of State (Health) from Aug 1, while Ms Phua will take over from Mr Sam Tan as Mayor of Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) towards the end of next month.

Ms Phua and Dr Lam, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health, are joining the ranks of several backbenchers who have been appointed to political office over the past two years.

Parliamentary Secretary (Social and Family Development) Low Yen Ling will take on the Culture, Community and Youth portfolio as well. She will also replace Senior Minister of State (Health and Manpower) Amy Khor as Mayor of South West CDC.

Describing the Cabinet changes as part of continuing efforts to inject new blood, Mr Lee said he expects to conduct further reshuffles from time to time “to ensure that we always have the best team for Singapore”. Mr Lee noted that the two Acting Ministers have performed well and have mastered their portfolios. “They have also worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans,” he said.

Reiterating that Singapore is going through an “important transition”, Mr Lee said he was strengthening the teams in charge of the social sector and at the Ministry of Health. Citing the Pioneer Generation Package and the proposed MediShield Life scheme as examples, he said the ministry was “at the forefront of the changes” that the Government is making. “We are also investing heavily to expand and upgrade our healthcare system to cater for an ageing population and growing healthcare needs,” he said.

Adding that Dr Khor will focus on implementing the Pioneer Generation Package, Mr Lee said Dr Lam — an eye specialist who will give up private practice — will play an important role in helping to review healthcare policies and develop new models of care, especially in the areas of aged care and primary care.

Political watchers said the changes signalled a commitment to successfully implement important policies such as the Pioneer Generation Package and MediShield Life, as well as the progression of younger leaders into key government portfolios. Singapore Management University law don and Nominated MP Eugene Tan said: “Much political gunpowder has been invested ... and obviously, the Government is pulling out all the stops to make sure that the policies work well.”

On his promotion, Mr Wong said he was “grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve in a larger capacity” and that he looked forward to working with partners and stakeholders, as there was “still much more to be done” for his 18-month-old ministry. Mr Tan thanked his colleagues and grassroots volunteers who have supported his work at the Manpower Ministry and, previously, at the Ministry of National Development.

Institute of Policy Studies Senior Research Fellow Gillian Koh noted that the promotions of both Acting Ministers were a vote of confidence in their abilities. The pair, along with Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, had been earmarked as the core of the party’s fourth-generation leadership. Dr Koh said it was also important to pay attention to backbenchers who have become office holders when thinking about the ruling party’s fourth generation leaders.

On Dr Lam’s appointment, she said: “It will be interesting to see if the promotion of a GPC chairperson becomes another track by which PAP backbenchers progress in their political careers.”

A special Labour Day for new ministers
Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong mastered their portfolios: PM Lee
By Maryam Mokhtar, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

THIS Labour Day will be a little more special for Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.

When the holiday to honour workers comes round tomorrow, Mr Tan will be getting promoted to full minister.

Yesterday's announcement of his promotion came eight months after he was asked to relinquish his second portfolio as Senior Minister of State for National Development - a move that raised questions about his performance and prospects.

Another member of the Government's fourth-generation leadership being promoted to full minister is Mr Lawrence Wong, who heads the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).

Their promotion and other appointments of office-holders were announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.

Both Mr Tan and Mr Wong, he said, had performed well since taking office and had "mastered their portfolios". "They have also worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans," he added.

Explaining the changes, Mr Lee said that as Singapore undergoes an important transition, major policy shifts require good political leadership, close coordination across ministries, effective ground implementation and strong support from Singaporeans.

Mr Tan, 45, and Mr Wong, 41, entered politics in 2011.

Both were made ministers of state before moving up a year later to be acting ministers.

The duo are members of the "Fabulous Five", a group that is expected to form part of the core of the People's Action Party's (PAP's) fourth-generation leadership.

The other three are Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, and Ms Sim Ann, who is Minister of State for Education as well as Communications and Information.

Mr Tan, a former brigadier-general, was previously commander of the Singapore Armed Forces' Army Training and Doctrine Command.

Under his charge, MOM revised the Workfare Income Supplement for low-wage workers and tightened the eligibility criteria for foreign workers seeking S-Passes, among others.

Speaking to reporters at a May Day celebration for unions last night, he said a lot of the work cannot be done without the support of his colleagues, activists, volunteers and grassroots members.

"The priorities don't change just because your appointments change," he added.

Labour MP Zainal Sapari told The Straits Times that Mr Tan's promotion was "fully deserved".

"He has been very supportive in terms of bettering the lives of workers, and gave strong support to the NTUC in introducing a progressive wage model for the cleaning and security sectors," he said.

Mr Wong, meanwhile, made his mark in a ministry that promotes sports and culture and engages the country's youth - a portfolio PM Lee said aims to provide ways for Singaporeans to lead more fulfilling lives.

The former career civil servant said yesterday he was grateful for the opportunity to serve in a larger capacity, especially in Singapore's period of transition.

His new ministry, he added, had rolled out new initiatives such as free museum entry for all Singaporeans and the setting up of volunteer brigade Youth Corps to meet its goals.

"There is still much more to be done, and I look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to make Singapore a distinctive and endearing home for all of us," he added.

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong congratulated both men in a Facebook post, saying they had performed well in policy formulation and in explaining policies both in and outside Parliament.

New ministers of state bring different areas of expertise: PM
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

ONE is an office-holder known for being able to relate well to elderly and needy residents, while the other is a backbencher with extensive experience in health care in the private sector.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan and Dr Lam Pin Min's different areas of expertise will come into play in their new roles as ministers of state, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong seeks to strengthen his team in charge of the social sector.

Mr Tan, who will hold the post in the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) from tomorrow, will coordinate the delivery of social policies across ministries, especially implementation on the ground.

The 55-year-old was described by PM Lee as someone who "engages residents deeply, and takes special care of the elderly and needy".

He will relinquish his appointments as Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Foreign Ministry and Mayor of Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC). The mayor's post will be filled by Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Denise Phua.

Dr Lam, 44, will leave his private sector post as an eye surgeon at Mount Alvernia Hospital to join the Ministry of Health on Aug 1. He will help in the review of health-care financing policies and develop new models of care, especially in the aged and primary care sectors.

"Dr Lam's professional expertise as a doctor will be very useful in designing policies and engaging our community of health-care professionals," PM Lee said in a press statement.

Both Mr Tan and Dr Lam highlighted the Pioneer Generation Package - the centrepiece of this year's Budget which aims to help older Singaporeans with medical bills - as a key area they will tackle.

Communicating the policy's benefits and getting feedback from Singaporeans will be important, Mr Tan said. "The implementation and last-mile delivery of a policy is very crucial. It can make or break it," he added.

Dr Lam, MP for Sengkang West, also said that "there is much work to be done". The pioneer package helps address health-care affordability for seniors, but many Singaporeans are still concerned about their future health-care needs, he said.

PM Lee noted that the Health Ministry is "at the forefront of the changes" the Government is making.

"Working out the details of MediShield Life and implementing the scheme is a major and complex undertaking," he said. "We are also investing heavily to expand and upgrade our health-care system to cater for an ageing population and growing health- care needs."

Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor will focus on implementing the pioneer package and helping Singaporeans understand how they can benefit, he added.

Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, will take over Dr Khor's role as South West CDC Mayor on May 27. She will also be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in MCCY, where her duties will include implementing the Youth Corps Singapore programme.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim will continue to drive the Health Ministry's healthy living initiatives.

Denise Phua will continue to be vocal champion for social issues
By Xue Jianyue, TODAY, 30 Apr 2014

Even after she takes political office next month, Ms Denise Phua, 54, plans to continue being a vocal champion for social issues and the special needs sector.

Noting that her heart is “still with the disadvantaged”, the Mayor-designate of Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) said she spent a week mulling over whether to take over from Mr Sam Tan when she was approached to take the office earlier this month.

“I wanted to be sure I can add value and contribute to the CDC’s mission. I intend to continue to speak up on issues I feel strongly about and to influence more changes in the back room, too, to make a difference,” Ms Phua told TODAY.

Ms Phua’s appointment was announced yesterday as part of several changes that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is making to his Cabinet.

Ms Phua entered politics in 2006 and became known as a vocal advocate for the disadvantaged. Two similarly vocal backbenchers who were promoted to political office in recent years were Dr Amy Khor and Madam Halimah Yacob.

Ms Phua was also held as an example to her party colleagues as the People’s Action Party (PAP) set about reinventing itself to become less centralised and more interactive after the 2011 General Election.

Her passionate advocacy for those with special needs caught the attention of Mr Lee — who is also PAP’s secretary-general — as he lauded her for working from within the party in pushing for change.

Commenting on her appointment, Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said Ms Phua was well-known, well-liked and would add “a strong human dimension” to her mayoral duties. “Given her popularity and willingness to speak her mind, it’s also timely for Ms Phua to take on bigger responsibilities and leverage on her common touch,” he said.

Apart from Ms Phua, the other backbencher promoted to political office is Sengkang West Member of Parliament Lam Pin Min. He will become Minister of State (Health) in August.

The 44-year-old eye specialist was taken out of Ang Mo Kio GRC after one term and fielded in the single-seat ward, which he won.

The director of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Services at Mount Alvernia Hospital’s Eagle Eye Centre said he would be giving up his medical practice for the political office. “It was not an easy decision as I have always enjoyed seeing patients, especially the little children,” said Dr Lam.

Having spent eight years in the Government Parliamentary Committee (Health) and two decades as a doctor, Dr Lam said he was familiar with many healthcare concerns and would be able to add value to the Health Ministry’s efforts to review existing policies and develop new models of care.

Fourth generation political leadership taking shape
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

YESTERDAY'S round of Cabinet promotions has essentially confirmed the outline of Singapore's fourth generation of political leaders.

Acting ministers Tan Chuan- Jin (Manpower) and Lawrence Wong (Culture, Community and Youth) will be full ministers from tomorrow, just shy of three years since they were first elected to Parliament.

They join Education Minister Heng Swee Keat and Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who made the grade earlier.

That makes four full ministers from the batch of 24 new faces Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong inducted in 2011.

That is not a bad haul, compared to previous batches.

Take the 2001 cohort, for example. It was touted to include a constellation of stars known as the "Super Seven", all of whom were appointed to political office after being elected that year.

Today, four of the Super Seven remain on the frontbench. They are: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan.

Their peers include former transport minister Raymond Lim, who stepped down from the frontbench after the 2011 polls, Mr Cedric Foo, who left political office for the private sector in 2005, and former senior minister of state Balaji Sadasivan, who died in 2010.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong was also from the 2001 batch, but joined the Cabinet later than the other seven.

As for the 2006 cohort, it yielded three Cabinet ministers - Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew and Ministers in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu and S. Iswaran.

Rounding out the 2011 batch of high fliers is Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information Sim Ann, the youngest at age 39.

The firming up of the fourth-generation line-up confirms what Mr Lee told regional media editors at a dialogue last month.

He said attention was being paid to succession planning and making sure there was a new team ready, with new leaders capable of taking charge.

With the Prime Minister's vote of confidence, it seems clear that the 2011 quartet is set to go far, and that leadership renewal continues in typical Singapore fashion, that is, slowly but steadily.

In any case, mid-term Cabinet changes tend to be incremental, and yesterday's was no exception.

It lacked any major portfolio swops, which is perhaps unsurprising given the "epochal" Cabinet shake-up of May 2011 when new ministers were put at the helm of 11 of the 14 ministries.

That radical reshuffle after a watershed general election also saw Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Mr Lim retire from office. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong also stepped down to give the new team a fresh start.

This time, instead of seismic shifts, Mr Lee has opted for gradual change and targeted appointments to make sure major policy innovations in health and the social sectors, especially for the elderly, are delivered well.

For this, he has redistributed the work among Cabinet members and brought two more ministers of state on board.

Dr Lam Pin Min has been roped in to help with the Health Ministry, which has the Pioneer Generation Package and the upcoming MediShield Life to carry through.

He has also given newly appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Sam Tan the task of helping to coordinate social policies across ministries and implement them.

The appointments make clear the priority being accorded to social policies as Singapore embarks on what Mr Lee has called a new way forward, promising more government and community support for individuals, especially those who are vulnerable.

As with the infusion of young blood into Singapore's highest echelons, that, too, offers a glimpse of the shape of things to come.