New political appointments for four backbenchers

Singapore

FOUR backbenchers from the private sector will take on office-holder positions in what is described as a "more extensive than usual" Cabinet shuffle, which sees many of the ruling party's recently elected candidates given new or expanded roles.

The four are Marine Parade GRC MP Edwin Tong, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Sun Xueling and Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng.

Senior Counsel Edwin Tong, who joined politics in 2011, will be leaving law firm Allen & Gledhill to be Senior Minister of State (SMOS) for Law and Health from July 1. Mr Zaqy, elected in 2006, is also serving notice at Ernst and Young where he is a partner. He will start his new job as Minister of State for National Development and Manpower on May 1.

Ms Sun and Dr Tan were elected in 2015. Ms Sun, chief executive of Business China, a non-profit organisation which promotes bilingualism and biculturalism, will take on the appointment of Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development.

Dr Tan, an oncologist, is to become Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). Both Ms Sun and Dr Tan will start work in their new roles on May 1.

Seven existing office-holders will also have a change of appointments, which will take effect on May 1.

Heng Chee How will move from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to become SMOS in the Ministry of Defence. Sim Ann will be the new SMOS in the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI). She will give up her appointment in MTI but continue in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

Chee Hong Tat will become SMOS for MTI and Education, while dropping his appointments in MCI and the Ministry of Health. Janil Puthucheary will swap his SMOS role in the Ministry of Education for a similar role in the Ministry of Transport. He will remain SMOS in MCI.

Koh Poh Koon will give up his appointment in the Ministry of National Development but keep his job as SMOS for MTI. Sam Tan will become Minister of State for Social and Family Development and continue in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but relinquish his appointments in PMO and MOM.

Low Yen Ling will become Senior Parliamentary Secretary at MOM. She will continue in the Minister of Education but give up her appointment in MTI.

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