Lawrence Wong to be promoted to Deputy PM from Jun 13

FINANCE Minister Lawrence Wong has been promoted to Deputy Prime Minister with effect from Jun 13, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced in a statement on Monday afternoon (Jun 6) .

Wong, 49, will continue in his role at the Ministry of Finance and will also serve as the Acting Prime Minister in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s absence.

In addition, Wong will assume responsibility for the Strategy Group in the PMO, taking over that role from Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The latest round of Cabinet changes - which saw promotions and new appointments for several other office-holders - comes just over a year from the last one, where several ministers, including Wong, were handed new portfolios.

In April this year, Wong, 49, was selected by his fellow Cabinet ministers to be the new leader of the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team, paving the way for him to eventually succeed PM Lee as Singapore’s next Prime Minister.

In a Facebook post following the announcement, Wong said he is looking forward to steering Singapore through the challenges it faces. “I will do my best to give every ounce of my strength to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. In turn, I seek your support as I take on my latest appointment as DPM and take another step forward in embracing my new responsibilities.”

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Besides Wong, there were 3 office-holders who received promotions, all of which will also take effect from Jun 13. Minister of State Tan Kiat How will move up a rank to Senior Minister of State at both the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and the Ministry of National Development.

Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua rises up a notch to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and remains at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam will similarly move up to become a Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and take up a new appointment in the Law Ministry. She will continue in the Ministry of Health (MOH), but relinquish her position at MCI.

It was also announced that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has agreed to PM Lee’s request for Senior Minister of State and NTUC deputy secretary-general Chee Hong Tat to return to the government full-time. Chee will be Senior Minister of State for Finance to help Wong, while continuing in the Ministry of Transport.

The Labour Movement, in turn, said it has accepted PM Lee’s proposal for Minister of State Desmond Tan to join the NTUC, with his official appointment to be made known at a later date. He takes on a new role as Minister of State in the PMO, and gives up his appointments at both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE).

Besides Desmond Tan, 3 other office-holders will have new responsibilities. Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon will join MSE and continue at the Manpower Ministry, but relinquish his appointment at MOH.

Minister of State Sun Xueling will take on a new appointment at MHA and continue in MSF. She will give up her role at the Education Ministry. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng will take on a new role at that level at MSE.

In a Facebook post shortly after the PMO statement was released, PM Lee wrote: “The next generation leadership is taking shape. I ask everyone to give your full support to this important transition, to steer Singapore safely out of the pandemic and into a brighter future.”