Singapore Cabinet: Masagos made full minister; new heads for Social & Family Development, Manpower

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday made several changes to his Cabinet line-up, with five office-holders involved in this latest reshuffle.

The changes are part of "continuing leadership renewal" in Singapore, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement detailing the new appointments.

Masagos Zulkifli, the Senior Minister of State at both the Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs ministries, will be promoted to a full Minister from Thursday. He will be a Minister in the PMO, and will continue in both his existing ministries as their new Second Minister.

Chan Chun Sing will also be a Minister in the PMO and will relinquish his two existing positions - he is Social and Family Development Minister and Second Defence Minister - from Thursday.

Mr Chan, who entered politics at the last general election in May 2011, will also become Singapore's new labour chief on May 4. This after the National Trades Union Congress central committee on Wednesday elected him to take over as its secretary-general, with Lim Swee Say stepping down from the post.

Mr Lim, meanwhile, will also leave his post as Minister in the PMO to become the new Manpower Minister on May 4.

The current Manpower Minister, Tan Chuan-Jin, will become the new Social and Family Development Minister on Thursday. He will hold both portfolios until he relinquishes the Manpower post on May 4.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew will be given an additional responsibility as the new Second Defence Minister from Thursday.