Gan Kim Yong promoted to DPM in Lawrence Wong’s Cabinet

[drdoof]

SINGAPORE - Singapore's next prime minister Lawrence Wong unveiled his Cabinet on May 13, with Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong to be appointed as deputy prime minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong, 51, who will be sworn in as Singapore's fourth prime minister on May 15, will continue as Finance Minister, a role he has taken on since May 2021.

Outgoing PM Lee Hsien Loong had remained finance minister for three years after he became prime minister in 2004.

At a press conference, DPM Wong – flanked by Mr Gan and DPM Heng Swee Keat – said he sought to balance the need for continuity and renewal in assembling his Cabinet.

"Continuity and stability are key considerations, especially as we are approaching the end of this term of government," he said.

Stepping up to speak after DPM Wong was Mr Gan, 65, who said he was grateful and humbled to be given the opportunity to step up, although he is "not quite" part of the People's Action Party 4G team.

"It is indeed my honour to be given this opportunity, and I will do my best to support the new prime minister and his team," he said.

Mr Gan will continue as Minister for Trade and Industry, a position he has filled since May 2021. At the press conference, he also said he would continue to focus on economic issues in this role.

Mr Heng, 63, will remain as Deputy Prime Minister, but Mr Gan will be the acting PM in the PM's absence, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a separate statement. Mr Gan will also assume responsibility for the strategy group within the PMO.

The PMO also announced that Mr Gan will replace DPM Wong as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The new line-up – announced after DPM Wong accepted President Tharman Shanmugaratnam's invitation to form the next government – also confirmed PM Lee, 72, will stay on in the Cabinet as senior minister. PM Lee will also remain chairman of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council.

Meanwhile, two ministers of state – Ms Low Yen Ling, 49, and Mr Desmond Tan, 54 – are to be promoted to senior ministers of state. They will serve in the new role in their existing portfolios, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth for Ms Low, and under the PMO for Mr Tan.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam, 43, will be promoted to minister of state. With the promotion, she will relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Law, but continue to serve in the Health Ministry as she takes up a new appointment in the Ministry of Communications and Information.

Meanwhile, two backbenchers have been brought in to strengthen the team. They are Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai, 56, and Jurong GRC MP Shawn Huang, 41, who served as a fighter pilot before entering politics and is director for enterprise development at Temasek.

Mr Huang will be appointed senior parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance, while Mr Murali, who was trained as a lawyer, will step into a larger role as minister of state in the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Transport.

The appointment holders will be sworn in on May 15, with the exception of Mr Murali who will be appointed and sworn in on July 1, and the senior parliamentary secretaries who will be sworn in on May 24.

[daryl76]

u know how fucking useless this guy is gonna be if gan is to be appointed as dpm

[drdoof]

[drdoof]

How's oyk feeling rn?

[jim889]

huai promote Gan boh yong .. moi dunno
 

[Tuna seng]

Not Josephine teo meh?

[Aisingioro]

same shit, just more promotions and a few new faces at the lower levels

[Acebase]

promote the one with zero threats so his own position can be secure mah

[Keeptrucking]

promote the one with zero threats so his own position can be secure mah

yeah, he kept his competitors far below him. so no chance of overtaking. DPM is defacto PM if say the PM goes overseas or what.

sure got two or three different camps in pap now.

too bad no one on the inside is spilling the beans.

[Risa]

vote for change...

[ABCDFinanceGuy]

huai promote Gan boh yong .. moi dunno
 

Imo he is the best minister amongst the COVID task force.

[ABCDFinanceGuy]

u know how fucking useless this guy is gonna be if gan is to be appointed as dpm

I'd rather Gan Kim Yong be PM and LW be ousted lol.

[daryl76]

I'd rather Gan Kim Yong be PM and LW be ousted lol.

cant stand his accent
like having ice ko leong 24/7

[jim889]

Imo he is the best minister amongst the COVID task force.

hokay moi dunno he good.. not moi doubting him. he is good that's why can be ministar..

but wat  he do deserve mention in covid ? besides covid.. how abt before/after covid?
wat else?

also covid task force have so many ppl who is the leader ?
is him or lw or oyk ?
 
 

[Tuna seng]

Already 65 liao a low threat bench warmer.