PM Lawrence Wong unveils new Cabinet after GE2025, says it’s the ‘strongest team’ for Singapore

DPM Gan remains No. 2; three veterans to take on coordinating minister roles
9 new office-holders, including David Neo and Jeffrey Siow as acting ministers
All ministries to see at least one change in personnel; six to be led by new ministers

By Goh Yan Han, The Straits Times, 22 May 2025

A core team of four senior leaders and the appointment of two new and younger ministers are part of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s new Cabinet “to take Singapore forward in these uncertain and turbulent times”, he said.

On May 21, PM Wong announced his Cabinet for the new term of government, about two weeks after he received a strong mandate from Singaporeans at the polls.

“With your strong support, I have done my utmost to assemble the strongest team I could for Singapore,” he said at a press conference at the National Press Centre.

Three existing ministers, Mr K. Shanmugam, Mr Chan Chun Sing and Mr Ong Ye Kung, will be taking on coordinating minister roles, while Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will remain as PM Wong’s No. 2 – making up the team of four senior leaders.

Two new MPs and former public servants, Mr David Neo and Mr Jeffrey Siow, have been appointed as acting ministers.

This is PM Wong’s first Cabinet reshuffle after a general election. He had led his PAP team to win 65.57 per cent of the nationwide vote share at the polls on May 3. PM Wong had made few changes in his first reshuffle in May 2024 after taking on the role of head of government.

The latest changes largely involve the younger and newer office-holders and the social and security portfolios, while the economic portfolios were mostly kept unchanged. All ministries saw at least one change in personnel.

Overall, four existing office-holders will be promoted: Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Mr Murali Pillai, Ms Sun Xueling and Mr Baey Yam Keng.

Nine new office-holders will be appointed: Mr Neo, Mr Siow, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Ms Jasmin Lau, Mr Goh Pei Ming, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Ms Goh Hanyan and Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi.

Six office-holders retired from Cabinet and politics: Mr Heng Swee Keat, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Dr Maliki Osman, Mr Heng Chee How and Dr Amy Khor.

PM Wong said that most of the ministers who lead Singapore’s economic agenda will be kept in their current roles during this critical period.

“We are operating in a changed world with rising trade barriers, sharper competition and greater uncertainty, and we need experienced hands at the helm,” he said. He will continue to helm the Finance Ministry.

The new Cabinet changes will be effective from May 23, when most of the new political office-holders will be sworn in.

There will be only one deputy prime minister in this Cabinet. This departs from tradition, as PM Wong’s predecessors each had two after their first elections as prime minister.

Asked about this, PM Wong said: “For now, I have a solid team behind me. Gan Kim Yong is my deputy prime minister, and I’ve appointed three coordinating ministers. So that’s four senior leaders in my Cabinet.

“They are part of the core team to assist me, to advise me, and also to provide guidance and mentorship to the new and younger ministers.”

DPM Gan will be Acting Prime Minister in his absence, PM Wong added. If both men are not around, one of the coordinating ministers will take that role.

“I think that’s a good configuration for now, and of course, along the way, I may make further adjustments where needed,” said PM Wong.

His Cabinet’s first priority will be to secure Singapore’s position in the new global environment and to advance the nation’s interests overseas.

It will also steer Singapore through economic uncertainties and changes, he said.

“It’s with this in mind that... I’ve kept most of the experienced ministers in the core areas like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the economic ministries, but where there are gaps, then obviously I will have to field and move ministers around,” he said.

Key changes to the Cabinet

The three coordinating ministers will look after three areas – national security, public services and social policies.

Mr Shanmugam will take on the national security portfolio that was previously helmed by Senior Minister Teo.

Mr Shanmugam will also remain Minister for Home Affairs but relinquish his role as Minister for Law to Mr Edwin Tong, who is currently Second Minister for Law.

Mr Chan will look after public services, a new portfolio created in this reshuffle that will look at bringing together public services in a more accessible and integrated manner. This includes coordinating a wide range of different amenities and facilities in the new housing estates.

Mr Chan will also take on the role of Minister for Defence, filling the gap left by the retired Dr Ng. He will relinquish his education portfolio.

Mr Ong will be the one to coordinate and oversee efforts in reviewing and updating social policies.

The role was last held by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was then senior minister.

Mr Ong will continue as Minister for Health, as per his request to oversee the major initiatives started in the last term such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG, said PM Wong.

Among the economic portfolios, DPM Gan will continue as Minister for Trade and Industry, supported by Ms Grace Fu, who will continue as Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations on top of her sustainability and environment portfolio.

Dr Tan See Leng, who is currently Second Minister at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, will be appointed to a new role – Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology. He will remain as Minister for Manpower.

PM Wong said science and technology is a key driver of growth while energy, especially clean energy, will be an important part of this government’s agenda.

Mrs Josephine Teo will continue as Minister for Digital Development and Information and as Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation initiative.

Newly elected Jalan Kayu MP Ng Chee Meng, who was previously a minister before he lost in the 2020 General Election, had requested not to be offered a position in government to focus on his work as secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and in Jalan Kayu.

PM Wong said on May 21 that the NTUC secretary-general has traditionally held a position in the Cabinet, but he respected Mr Ng’s wishes.

“But to be clear, this is a temporary arrangement, and I look forward to having the labour chief being part of the Cabinet before too long,” he said.

Across the security portfolios, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will continue as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

While Mr Shanmugam continues at the Home Affairs Ministry, Mr Tong will be appointed second minister, allowing him to gain experience and “prepare him to assume greater responsibilities in due course”, said PM Wong.

In the social portfolios, Mr Desmond Lee will assume the role of Minister for Education, relinquishing his national development portfolio. He will continue as Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.

The newly elected Mr Neo, a former chief of army, will be Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, taking over from Mr Tong. Mr Neo will also be Senior Minister of State for Education.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli will continue as Minister for Social and Family Development, but relinquish his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

PM Wong said he had discussed it with Mr Masagos and agreed that it was time for a new generation of leaders to take over the portfolio.

Prof Faishal, who is a minister of state, will be promoted to senior minister of state and assume the role of Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

Mr Chee Hong Tat will take over as Minister for National Development.

His Transport Ministry portfolio will be covered by new MP Mr Siow, who will be acting minister. Mr Siow will also be Senior Minister of State for Finance.

Promotions and new political office-holders

There are four promotions among existing office-holders.

Prof Faishal, Mr Murali and Ms Sun will be promoted to senior ministers of state. They are now ministers of state.

Mr Baey, who is a senior parliamentary secretary, will be minister of state. He will also take on the role of Mayor for the North East District.

Among the nine new political office-holders, seven are newly elected MPs.

Two are backbenchers – third-term MP Mr Choo will be Minister of State for Defence, and second-term MP Mr Zhulkarnain will be Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development from Feb 1, 2026.

Mr Neo and Mr Siow have been given the most senior appointments among the new faces as acting ministers and senior ministers of state.

Mr Dinesh, former chief of the Agency for Integrated Care, will be Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth as well as for Manpower.

He will also take on the role of Mayor for the South East District that was previously held by Mr Fahmi Aliman, who did not stand for re-election.

Ms Lau, who was deputy secretary of policy at the Health Ministry, will be Minister of State for Digital Development and Information as well as Education.

Mr Goh, former chief of staff – joint staff in the Singapore Armed Forces, will be Minister of State for Home Affairs as well as Social and Family Development.

Ms Goh, a former ministry director, will be Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth as well as Sustainability and the Environment.

Dr Syed Harun, a psychiatrist, will be Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and for National Development. He will assume his roles from Oct 1, 2025.

The latest reshuffle will see new office-holders across all ministries.

“I’m doing this to give younger leaders more experience and exposure across different areas of government so as to prepare them for greater responsibilities in the future,” said PM Wong.

The team is also slightly bigger than before as it is in transition, he said. There are 40 political office-holders, up from 37 previously.

PM Wong said he expects to make further adjustments in one or two years, when more of the junior office-holders are ready to step up.

He thanked the retiring office-holders for their years of contribution and service.

While much has been said already about the four retiring ministers, PM Wong highlighted Mr Heng Chee How and Dr Khor, who had both been mayors and held positions as minister of state and senior minister of state across different ministries. Mr Heng had also contributed to the NTUC.

“They never sought credit or fanfare... A big thank you to Chee How and Amy,” he said.

In a Facebook post, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he would continue to support PM Wong in his role and was confident that Singapore would grow from strength to strength under his leadership.

“There is a good balance of experience and fresh perspectives, and progress in leadership renewal,” he said of the new Cabinet line-up.

Changi Airport Terminal 5 breaks ground: PM Lawrence Wong hails bold move, says Singapore must stay connected to the world

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong breaks ground on Changi Airport T5 on 14 May 2025; all SIA, Scoot flights to move there when it opens

By Vanessa Paige Chelvan, The Straits Times, 15 May 2025

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has broken ground on Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5), an expansion project more than a decade in the making that will position the airport to ride an expected surge in air travel within the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

With the May 14 ground-breaking, work on the mega terminal has begun, following delays owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its budget arm Scoot will consolidate their operations under one roof at T5 when the terminal opens in the mid-2030s, said operator Changi Airport Group (CAG).

The airlines now operate across Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and SIA Group said the consolidation at T5 will provide space for its future growth and improve “operational synergies”.

There will be room at T5 and other terminals for other carriers to expand their operations, CAG added.

When asked about the other airlines that could operate from T5, CAG said it was too early to tell, as flight operations are dynamic and can change over the next decade.

Designed to handle about 50 million passengers a year, T5 will effectively double the size of Changi Airport and allow it to handle 140 million passengers yearly – boosting its current capacity of 90 million by more than 55 per cent.

Passenger traffic in the Asia-Pacific – already the world’s largest air travel market, taking about a third of the global share – is projected to double in the 2040s.

CAG said the extra capacity at T5 will enable Singapore to take advantage of this growth.

While prize-winning Changi Airport is a source of pride for many Singaporeans, PM Wong said Singapore can never be complacent about its achievements and “cannot presume that our success can continue just on its own”.

Amid sharpening competition from other airports and an uncertain global economy, the Prime Minister said Singapore must continue to work hard and remain connected to the world.

Hence, it is making a “bold move” with T5’s development to ensure Singapore’s air hub stays competitive.

At present, Changi Airport is linked to more than 170 cities. With T5, the airport will be able to reach its target of more than 200 city links by the mid-2030s, said PM Wong.

Construction on T5 will intensify in the next few years and peak around 2029, said Mr Ong Chee Chiau, CAG’s managing director for Changi East.

Works completed so far include a new runway, the airport’s third; an underpass for vehicular traffic; and tunnels for baggage and automated people-mover systems similar to the Skytrain.

With three runways operational by the time T5 opens, a second control tower will be built to manage air traffic, Mr Ong said.

T5 is located within the 1,080ha Changi East development, which is almost as big as the land area of today’s Changi Airport, he added.

In a first for the airport, T5 will house a ground transport centre, bringing together the Thomson-East Coast and Cross Island MRT lines, buses, taxis and other transport services.

State-of-the-art systems

T5 will have overlapping curved roofs with varying heights, in a nod to “Singapore’s unique blend of nature and city”, said CAG.

It will also have natural light and landscaping, giving the terminal “the familiar cosy yet uplifting feel that Changi is known for”.

Besides its facade and interior, the mega terminal will have state-of-the-art systems, and will leverage technology and automation to improve efficiency and passenger experience.

Plans include baggage robots that can operate in poor weather conditions, as well as video analytics and artificial intelligence tools that can track aircraft turnarounds to predict potential delays. A turnaround refers to the time between the arrival of an aircraft and its next departure.

These technologies are being tested now to prepare for their roll-out when T5 opens, said CAG.

To make it easier for passengers to move around, three automated people-mover systems as well as travelators will reduce walking distances.

There will be two people-mover systems within T5 that can connect departing passengers to their gates and arriving passengers to two arrival immigration halls. A third people-mover system will link T5 to T2, facilitating passenger transfers to other terminals.

“Most passengers arriving in Singapore will still be able to hop onto a taxi or the MRT within 30 minutes after leaving the aircraft,” said CAG chief executive Yam Kum Weng.

Meanwhile, transfer passengers at T5 can expect to connect to another flight in less than an hour. “Faster than Changi today,” Mr Yam added.

Passengers departing from T5 will undergo security checks near their boarding gates at the multiple security screening points for each cluster of gates.

This means more flexibility for the airport operator, as it can choose to open or close a particular cluster of gates according to demand, Mr Ong said.

T5 will be powered by more clean energy to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint. Its rooftop solar system – one of Singapore’s largest – will have the potential to generate enough energy to power up to 20,000 four-room Housing Board flats for a year.

It will also be ready to support viable alternative jet fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels.

From 2025, all new light vehicles, forklifts and tractors on the airside will be electric, and T5 will be able to support a fully electric airside fleet, CAG said. The airside is the part of the airport beyond passport control, where aircraft operate.

GE2025 results: PAP gets 65.57 per cent of votes in landslide win

Commanding swing from 61.24% share in last general election gives Prime Minister Lawrence Wong the clear mandate he sought

By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, 4 May 2025

Singaporeans have returned the PAP to power with 65.57 per cent of the popular vote, a commanding swing from its 61.24 per cent share in the last general election.

Voters overwhelmingly endorsed the ruling party, which secured 87 of 97 seats in an election that took place against a backdrop of global uncertainty and trade wars.

They gave Prime Minister Lawrence Wong the clear mandate that he had sought, in his first electoral contest as head of government and leader of the PAP.

Constituencies tipped to be fierce battlegrounds – Punggol GRC, Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC – were in the PAP’s grip by 11pm, when all sample count results were in.

Contests in East Coast GRC and West Coast-Jurong West GRC that were expected to be close also ended in decisive wins for the PAP.

At a press conference at 3am, PM Wong said the clear and strong mandate that Singaporeans have given the PAP was deeply humbling, and called the results “a clear signal of trust, stability and confidence” by Singaporeans in their government.

The immediate next task is to form the Cabinet, and PM Wong said he was grateful that all his key MPs had been voted in, and he could put together the best team to serve Singapore. “I will announce the Cabinet line-up when ready.”

While voters largely heeded PM Wong’s call for a strong PAP team to steer Singapore through coming storms, they also helped the WP retain its 10 seats and strengthen its grip on Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC.

However, the WP’s call for a more balanced Parliament – and that more opposition MPs would lead to better policies – did not seem to have resonated with voters, as the party failed to make inroads elsewhere.

In Tampines, the only four-cornered fight in this election, the PAP secured 52.02 per cent of the vote against a WP team that garnered 47.37 per cent.

In Punggol, which was a focal point of the hustings after Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was deployed there, the PAP polled 55.17 per cent to clinch the new GRC against a WP team led by senior counsel Harpreet Singh.

The other opposition parties failed to win any constituencies or send any candidates to Parliament as Non-Constituency MPs.

The PSP failed to convert or retain its two NCMP seats.

Its West Coast-Jurong West team, led by party chairman Tan Cheng Bock and NCMPs Leong Mun Wai and Hazel Poa, polled 39.99 per cent. This was a near-10 percentage point drop in votes from 2020, when the PSP came close to winning then West Coast GRC.

Instead, the “best loser” of this election was the WP’s candidate in Jalan Kayu SMC Andre Low, who took 48.53 per cent of the votes against labour chief Ng Chee Meng. Mr Ng made a successful comeback after losing in Sengkang GRC in the 2020 election.

The second NCMP came from the WP’s Tampines team, which comprises WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, Institute of Mental Health senior principal clinical psychologist Ong Lue Ping, former diplomat Eileen Chong, start-up co-founder Michael Thng and industrial equipment supply firm co-founder Jimmy Tan.

PM Wong said an issue that came up in the election was the desire for more alternative voices in Parliament, and that he respected Singaporeans with these views.

While he understood the sentiments, he urged those who held them to consider the merits of having a strong team in the Government to work effectively for the country.

The WP fielded a strong and young slate that gave the PAP a tough fight in several constituencies, and now have 10 elected seats as well as two NCMP seats, if they choose to accept them, he added.

“That’s an increase from what they have today, so they will have an increased and continued strong presence in Parliament, as well as the opportunity to refresh some of the members in their slate,” he said.

The WP did not hold its customary post-election press conference right away, but party chief Pritam Singh told supporters at Serangoon stadium at about 1am that it was always going to be a difficult election.

“The slate is wiped clean. We start work again tomorrow, and we go again,” he said to cheers.

The PSP’s Mr Leong, who is the party’s chief, said the results were “shocking” and that the party needed to regroup to fight another day.

SDP chairman Paul Tambyah expressed disappointment at his party’s showing, and attributed voters’ flight to safety to “the constant drumbeat of crisis”.

He said the silver lining was Dr Chee Soon Juan’s showing. The SDP chief took 46.81 per cent of votes in Sembawang West against the PAP’s Poh Li San in his best electoral performance to date. This, however, was not enough for the SDP to secure a parliamentary presence.

At the PAP press conference, PM Wong said he heard feedback from Singaporeans on key issues like cost of living and housing, and gave his assurance that the Government will redouble its efforts in the coming term to tackle these concerns.

“We have already started work on many of these issues and progress has been made, but we will work even harder with this mandate now to ensure concrete progress, and to see how we can achieve even better outcomes across all of these issues and on the economic challenges that are coming,” he said.

He also highlighted the mixing of race and religion with politics as an issue that surfaced at the election.

This was not just a matter of foreign interference, as there were also many negative comments by Singaporeans encouraging people to vote along racial lines, he added.

PM Wong said: “I am heartened that all political parties made clear their stance in this campaign to reject identity politics and reaffirm their commitment to multiculturalism, and the election results show that Singaporeans, by and large, reject identity politics and continue to support a multiracial and multi-religious society.”

The PAP had asked Singaporeans to vote for the name on the ballot that could best represent them in Parliament, and that it was not time for political experimentation given external turbulence.

In the end, the people chose stability and continuity over the opposition’s call for greater checks and balances, and gave PM Wong and his 4G team an unequivocal mandate to tackle the coming storms.

At the close of polls at 8pm, there were 2,429,281 votes cast in Singapore, including 42,829 rejected votes. This made up 92.47 per cent of the 2,627,026 registered voters in all contested electoral divisions.

PM Wong said Singapore has always been and continues to be the underdog despite what it has achieved, and must now close ranks to face the challenges ahead together.

“Now that the election is over, we must put aside our differences and stand together as one Team Singapore to confront the storms ahead, and to secure a brighter future for ourselves, our families and Singapore.”

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said changes happening to the world are worrying, but that Singapore can come through with cooperation between the PAP and the people.

“With your trust and your full support and cooperation, we will do the best for our families, for our country and for our future,” SM Lee said.