Lawrence Wong promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of Cabinet reshuffle

Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of the Cabinet reshuffle taking place on Jun 13, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday (Jun 6).

Mr Wong will also be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of PM Lee and assume  responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office, taking over from Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat. 

He will still continue his role as the Minister of Finance. 

Mr Wong’s promotion headlines a list of changes. The other changes are:

Mr Tan Kiat How will be promoted to Senior Minister of State. He will continue in the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), and the Ministry of National Development (MND).

Mr Eric Chua will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary. He will continue in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).

Ms Rahayu Mahzam will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary, and will take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Law (MinLaw). She will continue in the Ministry of Health (MOH), but relinquish her appointment in the MCI.

Mr Chee Hong Tat will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance (MOF). He will continue in the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

Dr Koh Poh Koon will be appointed Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE). He will continue in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), but relinquish his appointment in the MOH.

Ms Sun Xueling will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). She will continue in the MSF, but relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Mr Baey Yam Keng will be appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the MSE. He will continue in the MOT.

PM Lee also shared in a Facebook post that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has agreed to his request for Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat to return to the Government full-time. Mr Chee will be appointed as Senior Minister of State in the MOF to assist Mr Wong.

NTUC has also accepted PM Lee’s proposal for Mr Desmond Tan to join NTUC. As part of the move, Mr Tan will be appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and relinquish his appointments in the MHA and the MSE.

“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,” said PM Lee.