Cabinet changes will 'consolidate front bench of tomorrow'
Four ministers of state also moving up to strengthen core team of tomorrow's leaders
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
Mrs Josephine Teo and Mr Desmond Lee will be promoted to full ministers in the latest round of Cabinet changes, which observers say will consolidate the front bench of tomorrow.
Four ministers of state will also be promoted to senior ministers of state: Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat. They will continue in their current ministries.
Dr Lam will also be appointed Senior Minister of State for Transport.
The changes are part of leadership renewal, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said yesterday.
They take effect on May 1.
Political watchers said the newly promoted ministers will add to and strengthen the core team of fourth- generation leaders. Said ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute research fellow Mustafa Izzuddin: "The Prime Minister and his generation of ministers are building a team that can provide the necessary support to the next PM so the next lap of Singapore's political leadership will continue to be a team effort."
Both Mrs Teo, 48, and Mr Lee, 40, will be ministers in the PMO.
Four ministers of state also moving up to strengthen core team of tomorrow's leaders
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
Four ministers of state will also be promoted to senior ministers of state: Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat. They will continue in their current ministries.
Dr Lam will also be appointed Senior Minister of State for Transport.
The changes are part of leadership renewal, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said yesterday.
They take effect on May 1.
Political watchers said the newly promoted ministers will add to and strengthen the core team of fourth- generation leaders. Said ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute research fellow Mustafa Izzuddin: "The Prime Minister and his generation of ministers are building a team that can provide the necessary support to the next PM so the next lap of Singapore's political leadership will continue to be a team effort."
Both Mrs Teo, 48, and Mr Lee, 40, will be ministers in the PMO.
Mrs Teo will also be Second Minister in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will give up her appointment in the Ministry of Transport.
She will continue to oversee population matters, assisting Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Mrs Teo's promotion means that for the first time, Singapore will have two women as full ministers in the Cabinet. The milestone was not lost on Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, currently the only woman Cabinet minister, who hailed it as "yet another step forward for women in Singapore".
Mr Lee will be Second Minister in his present ministries: the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of National Development. He will be one of the youngest full ministers in recent years.
Experts called this Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's way of enlarging and strengthening the pool of leadership, without throwing in the rookie ministers at the deep end.
"This is a cautious pace of leadership succession," said Institute of Policy Studies deputy director Gillian Koh. "You don't see the standing down of senior members of the Cabinet, and you have the youngest set double-hatting a lot."
Observers saw Mrs Teo's move as a sign that she may be groomed to be the next manpower minister, especially given her past experience working in the labour movement.
Mrs Teo herself said of her MOM appointment: "It feels like I'm coming home to Singapore's unique brand of tripartism at this critical juncture for our workers."
As for the new senior ministers of state, all have been in office for under three years: Dr Lam since August 2014, Mr Chee since October 2015, and Dr Janil and Dr Koh since January last year.
Observers say this steep trajectory signals that they could become ministers if they prove themselves.
Additionally, parliamentary secretaries Low Yen Ling and Faishal Ibrahim will be promoted to senior parliamentary secretaries in their current ministries: Trade and Industry, and Education for Ms Low, and Education and Social and Family Development for Dr Faishal.
Minister of State Sam Tan will take on the foreign affairs portfolio, in addition to his current ones in MOM and the PMO, while Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin will take on an additional post in the Health Ministry.
Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck will step down from office on June 30 and return to the private sector, at his request. His term as mayor of North East District ends on May 26, but he will still be an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo will replace him as mayor.
The four other mayors - Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Dr Teo Ho Pin, Ms Denise Phua and Ms Low - will be reappointed on May 27.
Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck will step down from office on June 30 and return to the private sector, at his request. His term as mayor of North East District ends on May 26, but he will still be an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo will replace him as mayor.
The four other mayors - Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Dr Teo Ho Pin, Ms Denise Phua and Ms Low - will be reappointed on May 27.
Four new senior ministers of state tipped for bigger roles
Speed at which they have moved up the ranks a sign they are being groomed for ministerial positions: Observers
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
The rapid pace at which four ministers of state have been promoted to senior ministers of state is a sign that they are being groomed for ministerial appointments, political observers said.
The quartet are Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat.
Their move up the ranks of political leadership from May 1 was announced by the Prime Minister's Office yesterday.
Dr Lam, who will be Senior Minister of State for Health, will take on the additional portfolio of Senior Minister of State for Transport.
The other three men, who juggle two portfolios each, will stay at their current ministries.
Dr Lam, 47, was the first of the four to enter politics in 2006 and was a backbencher until he was appointed Minister of State in 2014, while Dr Janil, 44, entered politics in 2011 and took office last year.
Dr Koh, 45, and Mr Chee, 43, were elected in 2015.
The rate at which all four have moved up the ranks is noteworthy, said observers. ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat said: "They have been seen as high fliers. Their promotion reflects their performance in the last few years."
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan cited Dr Janil, Dr Koh and Mr Chee - who in the space of 18 months or so rose from being minister of state to senior minister of state - and said: "They obviously have shown themselves to be equal to the task."
"Their trajectories are rather steep. Certainly, the assessment is that they are being groomed for bigger things," he added.
"The promotions, coming swiftly, reflect the pressing need to ramp up the renewal as the leadership handover draws closer.
Speed at which they have moved up the ranks a sign they are being groomed for ministerial positions: Observers
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
The rapid pace at which four ministers of state have been promoted to senior ministers of state is a sign that they are being groomed for ministerial appointments, political observers said.
The quartet are Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat.
Their move up the ranks of political leadership from May 1 was announced by the Prime Minister's Office yesterday.
Dr Lam, who will be Senior Minister of State for Health, will take on the additional portfolio of Senior Minister of State for Transport.
The other three men, who juggle two portfolios each, will stay at their current ministries.
Dr Lam, 47, was the first of the four to enter politics in 2006 and was a backbencher until he was appointed Minister of State in 2014, while Dr Janil, 44, entered politics in 2011 and took office last year.
Dr Koh, 45, and Mr Chee, 43, were elected in 2015.
The rate at which all four have moved up the ranks is noteworthy, said observers. ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat said: "They have been seen as high fliers. Their promotion reflects their performance in the last few years."
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan cited Dr Janil, Dr Koh and Mr Chee - who in the space of 18 months or so rose from being minister of state to senior minister of state - and said: "They obviously have shown themselves to be equal to the task."
"Their trajectories are rather steep. Certainly, the assessment is that they are being groomed for bigger things," he added.
"The promotions, coming swiftly, reflect the pressing need to ramp up the renewal as the leadership handover draws closer.
"They will be taking on bigger challenges. For now, they are assessed to be able to be part of the core team in the 4G (fourth-generation) leadership."
The speed at which politicians are given ministry portfolios is generally seen as an indicator of their potential. Dr Koh and Mr Chee, who were elected to Parliament in 2015, went from being MPs to senior ministers of state in about 20 months.
The speed at which politicians are given ministry portfolios is generally seen as an indicator of their potential. Dr Koh and Mr Chee, who were elected to Parliament in 2015, went from being MPs to senior ministers of state in about 20 months.
Mr Chee, previously second permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, had resigned from the civil service less than a month before the September 2015 General Election.
Barely a month after he was elected that year, he was appointed Minister of State for Communications and Information, as well as Health in October.
The appointment of Dr Koh as Minister of State for Trade and Industry as well as National Development came about three months later, in January last year. The colorectal surgeon made a bid to enter politics in 2013, but was defeated in the Punggol East by-election.
As for Dr Janil, he was appointed Minister of State for Education as well as Communications and Information in January last year. The former paediatrician, however, entered politics in 2011 and spent a term as a backbencher. Associate Professor Tan noted that he "has made strides since he became an office holder".
As for Dr Janil, he was appointed Minister of State for Education as well as Communications and Information in January last year. The former paediatrician, however, entered politics in 2011 and spent a term as a backbencher. Associate Professor Tan noted that he "has made strides since he became an office holder".
Political observers added that the appointment of four new senior ministers of state sets the groundwork for significant changes to the Cabinet in the coming years.
They indicate that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his ministers are nurturing a larger pool of talent to consider for Cabinet positions and this points to the impending retirement of some senior ministers before the next general election, said Dr Norshahril. The election is due by April 2021.
These positions are valuable training ground, and are an important avenue allowing politicians to be groomed for ministerial positions and to prove themselves worthy of such roles, said observers.
As Institute of Policy Studies deputy director Gillian Koh pointed out, the new Cabinet appointments and other promotions show that "there's a lot of talent being nurtured right now".
National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser said of the four new senior ministers of state: "They are probably future ministers in waiting, while being exposed to different ministries and under assessment."
Desmond Lee youngest minister at age 40
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
At 40 years of age, Mr Desmond Lee will be the youngest full minister in the current Cabinet.
He will be Minister in the Prime Minister's Office from May 1, and continue in the Home Affairs and National Development ministries as Second Minister.
Mr Lee's political journey, which began in 2011 when he entered politics as a backbencher in Jurong GRC, has seen him rise rapidly.
In 2013, he was made Minister of State for National Development. He was promoted to Senior Minister of State in 2015, and took on the additional portfolio of Home Affairs.
Before Mr Lee, the youngest to be made full minister among the fourth-generation leadership was Mr Lawrence Wong, who was 41 when he was made Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.
When asked yesterday, Mr Lee - the son of former Cabinet minister Lee Yock Suan - said he was "humbled to be able to serve".
He would focus on three main areas in his new roles - transforming the built environment sector, partnering the community to conserve Singapore's national heritage, and tackling security threats such as terrorism, cybercrime and drugs.
A lawyer by training, Mr Lee helmed significant legislative changes recently. He fronted a Bill that grants the Government more regulatory powers over town councils last month, and argued for changes to the law to protect the reefs at Sisters' Islands Marine Park in February.
Dr Shawn Lum, president of Nature Society (Singapore), said Mr Lee has a unique ability to bring diverse groups of people together to have frank, open discussions. "He really takes the time to learn the issues from the stakeholder's point of view. He's a lawyer by training, not a biologist, but he made it a point to learn what the issues were, in order to understand us," he said, adding that Mr Lee would bring this unique skillset to a much wider group of people with this promotion.
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
At 40 years of age, Mr Desmond Lee will be the youngest full minister in the current Cabinet.
He will be Minister in the Prime Minister's Office from May 1, and continue in the Home Affairs and National Development ministries as Second Minister.
Mr Lee's political journey, which began in 2011 when he entered politics as a backbencher in Jurong GRC, has seen him rise rapidly.
In 2013, he was made Minister of State for National Development. He was promoted to Senior Minister of State in 2015, and took on the additional portfolio of Home Affairs.
Before Mr Lee, the youngest to be made full minister among the fourth-generation leadership was Mr Lawrence Wong, who was 41 when he was made Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.
When asked yesterday, Mr Lee - the son of former Cabinet minister Lee Yock Suan - said he was "humbled to be able to serve".
He would focus on three main areas in his new roles - transforming the built environment sector, partnering the community to conserve Singapore's national heritage, and tackling security threats such as terrorism, cybercrime and drugs.
A lawyer by training, Mr Lee helmed significant legislative changes recently. He fronted a Bill that grants the Government more regulatory powers over town councils last month, and argued for changes to the law to protect the reefs at Sisters' Islands Marine Park in February.
Dr Shawn Lum, president of Nature Society (Singapore), said Mr Lee has a unique ability to bring diverse groups of people together to have frank, open discussions. "He really takes the time to learn the issues from the stakeholder's point of view. He's a lawyer by training, not a biologist, but he made it a point to learn what the issues were, in order to understand us," he said, adding that Mr Lee would bring this unique skillset to a much wider group of people with this promotion.
Two women ministers in Cabinet for first time with Josephine Teo's promotion
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
For the first time, Singapore will have two women ministers in the Cabinet.
Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, who will be promoted to full minister on May 1, will join Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu as the second woman in the now 22-strong Cabinet.
Mrs Teo, 48, will be Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). She will also take on a new portfolio as Second Minister for Manpower, a field not unfamiliar to the former assistant secretary- general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
It was the last job that Mrs Teo, who entered politics in 2006, held before she was appointed Minister of State in 2011.
Her new portfolio will have her working again with her former boss, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say.
Mr Lim was the NTUC secretary-general during her years in the labour movement. She had also worked under him during her 10 years at the Economic Development Board, which Mr Lim headed in the 1990s.
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
For the first time, Singapore will have two women ministers in the Cabinet.
Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, who will be promoted to full minister on May 1, will join Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu as the second woman in the now 22-strong Cabinet.
Mrs Teo, 48, will be Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). She will also take on a new portfolio as Second Minister for Manpower, a field not unfamiliar to the former assistant secretary- general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
It was the last job that Mrs Teo, who entered politics in 2006, held before she was appointed Minister of State in 2011.
Her new portfolio will have her working again with her former boss, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say.
Mr Lim was the NTUC secretary-general during her years in the labour movement. She had also worked under him during her 10 years at the Economic Development Board, which Mr Lim headed in the 1990s.
Mrs Teo said in a Facebook post yesterday: "He has always been a generous mentor and we enjoy good chemistry. We've discussed some areas of focus and I will share more in due course."
A PMO statement said Mrs Teo will continue in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as Second Minister, and help Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in overseeing population matters.
A PMO statement said Mrs Teo will continue in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as Second Minister, and help Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in overseeing population matters.
MPs and women groups said her promotion brings women one step closer to having equal representation in leadership positions, including in politics.
Said Ms Fu on Facebook: "It was a matter of time before more female colleagues will join me."
She added: "This signifies yet another step forward for women in Singapore. I hope to see more women fulfilling their aspirations and taking on leadership roles, regardless of their line of work."
She added: "This signifies yet another step forward for women in Singapore. I hope to see more women fulfilling their aspirations and taking on leadership roles, regardless of their line of work."
Said Ms Jolene Tan of the Association of Women for Action and Research: "It is important to not just remove formal barriers to equal representation, but also promote it actively."
Some believe Mrs Teo's appointment as Second Minister for Manpower could pave the way for her to helm the ministry one day.
It would be "a nice fit, given her background", said Dr Gillian Koh of the Institute of Policy Studies.
"The other route is for her to take over as secretary-general of NTUC and for (labour chief) Chan Chun Sing to get back to mainstream government work."
Some believe Mrs Teo's appointment as Second Minister for Manpower could pave the way for her to helm the ministry one day.
It would be "a nice fit, given her background", said Dr Gillian Koh of the Institute of Policy Studies.
"The other route is for her to take over as secretary-general of NTUC and for (labour chief) Chan Chun Sing to get back to mainstream government work."
Teo Ser Luck to explore start-up sector after leaving public office
By Joanna Seow, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck plans to go into the start-up field as he returns to the private sector after stepping down from public office on June 30.
He also steps down as mayor of North East District after his term ends on May 26, and wants to spend time with his family and continue his journey in the private sector, he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
"I plan to build, create, invest or help start-ups and businesses. Some are tech-related, while others will be in products or services which I'm passionate about. Business aside, I'm glad to continue to serve you as an MP," said Mr Teo, who has represented Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC since 2006. He was general manager of DHL Express Singapore before he entered politics and was made parliamentary secretary for the then Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry that year.
In his post, he thanked residents, friends and colleagues for their good wishes and support, saying the decision to leave office was one he had "made and thought through for a while".
He said: "Truly appreciate that PM agreed to my request."
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked him for his "valuable services to the Government", highlighting his active role in promoting small and medium-sized enterprises at the Manpower and Trade and Industry ministries. Mr Teo was minister of state for trade and industry from 2011 to 2015, and in 2015 took on his Manpower Ministry portfolio.
Mr Teo also promoted youth participation, corporate social responsibility and sports, launched the Singapore National Games and made a major contribution to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
By Joanna Seow, The Straits Times, 28 Apr 2017
Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck plans to go into the start-up field as he returns to the private sector after stepping down from public office on June 30.
He also steps down as mayor of North East District after his term ends on May 26, and wants to spend time with his family and continue his journey in the private sector, he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
"I plan to build, create, invest or help start-ups and businesses. Some are tech-related, while others will be in products or services which I'm passionate about. Business aside, I'm glad to continue to serve you as an MP," said Mr Teo, who has represented Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC since 2006. He was general manager of DHL Express Singapore before he entered politics and was made parliamentary secretary for the then Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry that year.
In his post, he thanked residents, friends and colleagues for their good wishes and support, saying the decision to leave office was one he had "made and thought through for a while".
He said: "Truly appreciate that PM agreed to my request."
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked him for his "valuable services to the Government", highlighting his active role in promoting small and medium-sized enterprises at the Manpower and Trade and Industry ministries. Mr Teo was minister of state for trade and industry from 2011 to 2015, and in 2015 took on his Manpower Ministry portfolio.
Mr Teo also promoted youth participation, corporate social responsibility and sports, launched the Singapore National Games and made a major contribution to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010.
He initiated the cycling plan, and installed lifts for overhead bridges and wheelchair access for buses at the Transport Ministry. "As mayor, he worked with the other mayors on many innovative and meaningful flagship programmes," the Prime Minister's Office added.
Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who will take over as North East District mayor, said he hoped "to continue to build on the firm foundation that (Mr Teo) has built up over the years".
PM Lee to make bigger changes to Cabinet team in 2018
By Tham Yuen-C, Assistant Political Editor, The Sunday Times, 30 Apr 2017
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday said he plans to make bigger changes to his team next year, and will put new ministers in charge of some ministries.
His comments came two days after he promoted senior ministers of state Josephine Teo and Desmond Lee to full ministers in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"This one is not a full set of changes. I expect to do a much bigger change next year... there will be more ministers, more changes by that time and then more new ministers will be helming their own ministries," he told Singapore reporters after attending the ASEAN Summit.
PM Lee has stressed the urgency of succession planning, especially in recent years. At last year's National Day Rally, he said he planned to step down soon after the next general election, due by April 2021.
The PMO had said that the latest changes, which take effect on Monday, are part of leadership renewal.
Asked about the reshuffle, Mr Lee said he had promoted the ministers because they deserved it.
"They've shown that they are capable of more responsibilities. They have done good work and I expect them to do even more," he added.
Also in the latest reshuffle, four ministers of state will be promoted to senior ministers of state: Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat. They will continue in their current ministries.
Dr Lam will also be appointed Senior Minister of State for Transport.
As for the new ministers, Mrs Teo will also be Second Minister for Manpower and Foreign Affairs, while Mr Lee will be Second Minister in his present ministries of Home Affairs and National Development.
Observers said this could mean that Mrs Teo, who has worked in the labour movement, is being groomed to be the next manpower minister.
PM Lee said he had assigned Mrs Teo to the Manpower Ministry to shadow Minister Lim Swee Say. "They've worked together for a long time so I think that should work well," he said.
As for Mr Desmond Lee, who at 40 will be one of the youngest full ministers in recent years, PM Lee quipped: "I've left him at (MHA and MND) and I'm sure his ministers, knowing that he is a minister, will give him more work to do."
Other office holders promoted in the reshuffle include parliamentary secretaries Low Yen Ling and Faishal Ibrahim, who will be senior parliamentary secretaries.
Minister of State Sam Tan and Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin will take on an additional portfolio each.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck asked to step down from office on June 30 and return to the private sector. But he will still be an MP for Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC.
Eugene K B Tan is associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University.
Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo, who will take over as North East District mayor, said he hoped "to continue to build on the firm foundation that (Mr Teo) has built up over the years".
PM Lee to make bigger changes to Cabinet team in 2018
By Tham Yuen-C, Assistant Political Editor, The Sunday Times, 30 Apr 2017
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday said he plans to make bigger changes to his team next year, and will put new ministers in charge of some ministries.
His comments came two days after he promoted senior ministers of state Josephine Teo and Desmond Lee to full ministers in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
"This one is not a full set of changes. I expect to do a much bigger change next year... there will be more ministers, more changes by that time and then more new ministers will be helming their own ministries," he told Singapore reporters after attending the ASEAN Summit.
PM Lee has stressed the urgency of succession planning, especially in recent years. At last year's National Day Rally, he said he planned to step down soon after the next general election, due by April 2021.
The PMO had said that the latest changes, which take effect on Monday, are part of leadership renewal.
Asked about the reshuffle, Mr Lee said he had promoted the ministers because they deserved it.
"They've shown that they are capable of more responsibilities. They have done good work and I expect them to do even more," he added.
Also in the latest reshuffle, four ministers of state will be promoted to senior ministers of state: Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Dr Koh Poh Koon and Mr Chee Hong Tat. They will continue in their current ministries.
Dr Lam will also be appointed Senior Minister of State for Transport.
As for the new ministers, Mrs Teo will also be Second Minister for Manpower and Foreign Affairs, while Mr Lee will be Second Minister in his present ministries of Home Affairs and National Development.
Observers said this could mean that Mrs Teo, who has worked in the labour movement, is being groomed to be the next manpower minister.
PM Lee said he had assigned Mrs Teo to the Manpower Ministry to shadow Minister Lim Swee Say. "They've worked together for a long time so I think that should work well," he said.
As for Mr Desmond Lee, who at 40 will be one of the youngest full ministers in recent years, PM Lee quipped: "I've left him at (MHA and MND) and I'm sure his ministers, knowing that he is a minister, will give him more work to do."
Other office holders promoted in the reshuffle include parliamentary secretaries Low Yen Ling and Faishal Ibrahim, who will be senior parliamentary secretaries.
Minister of State Sam Tan and Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin will take on an additional portfolio each.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck asked to step down from office on June 30 and return to the private sector. But he will still be an MP for Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC.
Passing the baton: Getting the 4G leadership ready
By Eugene K B Tan, TODAY, 3 May 2017
Although the next General Election (GE) is not due until April 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has signalled that the leadership renewal is proceeding apace by making his third round of changes to his Cabinet since the September 2015 GE.
The latest Cabinet changes last Thursday build on and consolidate earlier ones, but do not amount to a major reshuffle. Over the weekend, PM Lee indicated that he plans “a much bigger change” in 2018. There will be “more ministers, more changes by that time and then more new ministers will be helming their own ministries”, he said.
With the appointment of Mrs Josephine Teo and Mr Desmond Lee as Ministers effective on May 1, the fourth-generation (4G) leadership now has a core team that is growing incrementally in number as well as in expertise and experience.
It is being put through its paces with heavier responsibilities, to challenge the team members individually and as a team.
A significant sign of how the 4G leaders are being prepared to take over came from PM Lee in his May Day rally on Monday, when he explained why he is putting the 4G ministers in charge of the Future Economy Council to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Future Economy.
“It is an opportunity for the younger ministers to work closely together as a team, strengthen their bonds with employers and unions, and with each other, and show Singaporeans what they can do,” said Mr Lee.
There are now seven 4G Ministers who were first elected as Members of Parliament either in 2011 and 2015: Messrs Chan Chun Sing, Heng Swee Keat, Desmond Lee, Ng Chee Meng, Ong Ye Kung, Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong.
In addition, the other 4G Ministers elected before 2011 are Mr S Iswaran (1997), Ms Grace Fu, Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Mrs Teo (all in 2006).
It is likely that the new Ministers to be appointed next year will come from the ranks of Senior Ministers of State, of which there are at least eight (including the four latest promotions) who can be identified as being part of the 4G cohort.
The new junior ministers’ individual trajectories are not unusual but, as a cohort, it is significant. With their relatively rapid promotions, it should not come as a surprise if they are being groomed to become Ministers in due course.
With the latest changes, there are now slightly more than 20 4G office-holders, from Senior Parliamentary Secretaries to Ministers.
Given the demands and vagaries of politics and public office, it is advantageous for the 4G leadership to be adequately staffed, and to possess sufficient depth and breadth in their ranks. As it stands, the 4G leadership has a predominantly public sector or military background prior to entering politics.
With more younger Ministers taking charge, we can expect a few of the seniors in the Cabinet to step down in next year’s reshuffle. Most have been in the Cabinet for on average close to two decades.
In addition, next year’s reshuffle is likely to see most, if not all, of the 4G leadership being reassigned ministerial portfolios, to enable them to cut their teeth and learn the ropes in new areas.
However, gone are the days when certain ministries, such as Defence, Finance, and Trade and Industry, are regarded as mandatory way stations to the premiership.
Instead, given the more complex governance landscape and the persistence of issues such as income and wealth inequalities, the need for the political leadership to be sensitised and knowledgeable in social and grassroots matters is arguably greater than before.
In addition, issues such as population matters, climate change, cyber security and the Smart Nation initiative will require a whole-of-government perspective as well as an inter-disciplinary approach to managing challenges, including those over the horizon.
Singapore’s 4G Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will not have the long gestation period as Ministers that their older colleagues had. For instance, Mr Goh Chok Tong was Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) for five years between January 1985 and November 1990.
His successor, PM Lee, was DPM for an extended period of almost 14 years, between November 1990 and August 2004.
In fact, PM Lee had been in politics for 20 years when he became Prime Minister. Will PM Lee appoint a 4G Minister as DPM in the reshuffle next year?
It would probably still be early days then, considering that the 4G team is still being developed and the front-runners to be Prime Minister having no more than seven years as Ministers under their belt.
But the need for PM Lee’s successor to have greater visibility is a growing imperative as the handover draws closer.
The latest time such an appointment could take place is just before or after the next GE.
Time is of the essence for Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister to be well known to Singaporeans.
Going by precedent, PM Lee will probably lead the People’s Action Party in the next GE before handing the reins of government to his successor two to three years after the polls.
PM Lee, 65, had said that he would like to step down some time after the next GE, without giving a specific time frame. He had once said in an interview that Singapore should not have a Prime Minister who is 70 years old or older.
By Eugene K B Tan, TODAY, 3 May 2017
Although the next General Election (GE) is not due until April 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has signalled that the leadership renewal is proceeding apace by making his third round of changes to his Cabinet since the September 2015 GE.
The latest Cabinet changes last Thursday build on and consolidate earlier ones, but do not amount to a major reshuffle. Over the weekend, PM Lee indicated that he plans “a much bigger change” in 2018. There will be “more ministers, more changes by that time and then more new ministers will be helming their own ministries”, he said.
With the appointment of Mrs Josephine Teo and Mr Desmond Lee as Ministers effective on May 1, the fourth-generation (4G) leadership now has a core team that is growing incrementally in number as well as in expertise and experience.
It is being put through its paces with heavier responsibilities, to challenge the team members individually and as a team.
A significant sign of how the 4G leaders are being prepared to take over came from PM Lee in his May Day rally on Monday, when he explained why he is putting the 4G ministers in charge of the Future Economy Council to implement the recommendations of the Committee on the Future Economy.
“It is an opportunity for the younger ministers to work closely together as a team, strengthen their bonds with employers and unions, and with each other, and show Singaporeans what they can do,” said Mr Lee.
There are now seven 4G Ministers who were first elected as Members of Parliament either in 2011 and 2015: Messrs Chan Chun Sing, Heng Swee Keat, Desmond Lee, Ng Chee Meng, Ong Ye Kung, Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong.
In addition, the other 4G Ministers elected before 2011 are Mr S Iswaran (1997), Ms Grace Fu, Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Mrs Teo (all in 2006).
It is likely that the new Ministers to be appointed next year will come from the ranks of Senior Ministers of State, of which there are at least eight (including the four latest promotions) who can be identified as being part of the 4G cohort.
The new junior ministers’ individual trajectories are not unusual but, as a cohort, it is significant. With their relatively rapid promotions, it should not come as a surprise if they are being groomed to become Ministers in due course.
With the latest changes, there are now slightly more than 20 4G office-holders, from Senior Parliamentary Secretaries to Ministers.
Given the demands and vagaries of politics and public office, it is advantageous for the 4G leadership to be adequately staffed, and to possess sufficient depth and breadth in their ranks. As it stands, the 4G leadership has a predominantly public sector or military background prior to entering politics.
With more younger Ministers taking charge, we can expect a few of the seniors in the Cabinet to step down in next year’s reshuffle. Most have been in the Cabinet for on average close to two decades.
In addition, next year’s reshuffle is likely to see most, if not all, of the 4G leadership being reassigned ministerial portfolios, to enable them to cut their teeth and learn the ropes in new areas.
However, gone are the days when certain ministries, such as Defence, Finance, and Trade and Industry, are regarded as mandatory way stations to the premiership.
Instead, given the more complex governance landscape and the persistence of issues such as income and wealth inequalities, the need for the political leadership to be sensitised and knowledgeable in social and grassroots matters is arguably greater than before.
In addition, issues such as population matters, climate change, cyber security and the Smart Nation initiative will require a whole-of-government perspective as well as an inter-disciplinary approach to managing challenges, including those over the horizon.
Singapore’s 4G Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will not have the long gestation period as Ministers that their older colleagues had. For instance, Mr Goh Chok Tong was Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) for five years between January 1985 and November 1990.
His successor, PM Lee, was DPM for an extended period of almost 14 years, between November 1990 and August 2004.
In fact, PM Lee had been in politics for 20 years when he became Prime Minister. Will PM Lee appoint a 4G Minister as DPM in the reshuffle next year?
It would probably still be early days then, considering that the 4G team is still being developed and the front-runners to be Prime Minister having no more than seven years as Ministers under their belt.
But the need for PM Lee’s successor to have greater visibility is a growing imperative as the handover draws closer.
The latest time such an appointment could take place is just before or after the next GE.
Time is of the essence for Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister to be well known to Singaporeans.
Going by precedent, PM Lee will probably lead the People’s Action Party in the next GE before handing the reins of government to his successor two to three years after the polls.
PM Lee, 65, had said that he would like to step down some time after the next GE, without giving a specific time frame. He had once said in an interview that Singapore should not have a Prime Minister who is 70 years old or older.
Much hype and anticipation surrounds this leadership renewal, as it is still not clear who will succeed PM Lee. That may, however, not be the case where the 4G leaders are concerned, since they work closely with one another. Like their predecessors, the 4G leaders will choose, by consensus, the next Prime Minister from among their number.
In the meantime, the 4G leadership will continue to be rigorously tested and stretched in a variety of portfolios. The challenge for them is to grow in confidence and to gain the trust of the people — as individual Ministers and as a team.
How they come together as a team and stronger than their predecessors is critical, given that the calibre, values, resilience and ethos of our political leadership is a vital prerequisite to Singapore’s continued success.
How they come together as a team and stronger than their predecessors is critical, given that the calibre, values, resilience and ethos of our political leadership is a vital prerequisite to Singapore’s continued success.
Eugene K B Tan is associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University.
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