PM Lee to stay on as senior minister; Cabinet reshuffle due ‘a few days’ before May 15: Lawrence Wong

UPON stepping down next month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will remain in Cabinet as senior minister, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (Apr 16).

“I have asked Mr Lee Hsien Loong to continue serving in the Cabinet as a senior minister, and I am glad that he has agreed to do so,” Wong told reporters a day after the news that he will be sworn in as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15.

He added that the upcoming ceremony is not just for himself, but also a new Cabinet – though there will be no major changes, as Singapore’s system works on the basis of “continuity and progressive change”.

“It has never been the case that when there is a leadership transition, all the older ministers stepped down at the same time,” said Wong. “Instead, they continued to contribute in different ways, while making room for the younger ones to step up.”

Other ministers should largely continue to serve in their respective portfolios, including current Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, said Wong, who is in the process of speaking with them about their preferences.

“I will also look at possible promotions as well as consider bringing in a few backbenchers to strengthen the team,” he added. The new line-up will be announced at a press conference “a few days” before the swearing-in.

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Wong said that “bigger changes” to the Cabinet will likely happen only after the next General Election (GE), which must take place before November 2025.

He is already looking for new candidates, especially those with potential to hold political office, “to renew and strengthen the team with new members”.

Asked about his considerations in deciding the new Cabinet line-up, Wong said his priority is to continue renewing and updating the team.

“I want continuity, because we should build on what we have today,” he said. “But I also want change, because we should re-examine and refresh our current approaches, and be prepared to break new ground in order to adapt more effectively to a rapidly changing environment.”

The aim is for the Cabinet to eventually comprise a good balance of experienced ministers and new members who can add fresh perspectives, said Wong.

Priorities for this term and the next

Recruiting new members “to form the best possible team” will be one of his priorities upon assuming office, along with addressing immediate concerns and charting Singapore’s future.

For the rest of this government term, there is already a “full agenda to deal with”, he said – tackling concerns around the economy, jobs and cost of living, as well as providing assurance to seniors and vulnerable groups.

Another focus is “taking concrete steps towards our shared aspirations”, as set out in the Forward Singapore feedback exercise.

As for whether the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) 70th anniversary in November might affect the timing of the GE, Wong said the party meeting and the GE are separate matters.

“Preparations for the GE are always a work in progress,” he said. “The work to prepare for the next GE starts the day after the last election. We have to consistently tend the ground, attend to the needs of residents, and strive to win over their hearts and minds.”

That way, the PAP will not need to anticipate when the next hustings are, as the party is always ready for the campaign, Wong added.