Chan Chun Sing becomes full minister in Cabinet promotion

SINGAPORE - Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, 44, has been promoted to a full minister, making him one of the fastest-rising politicians in recent history.

Mr Chan, who was the Chief of Army before resigning to enter politics in 2011, will also be Second Minister for Defence. His promotion, announced on Wednesday by the Prime Minister's Office with a slew of other Cabinet appointments, makes him the youngest full minister in Cabinet.

The Tanjong Pagar GRC MP's rise outpaces others like Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who entered politics in 2001 and was appointed a full Minister in 2004.

But among the PAP's fourth-generation leaders drafted into politics in 2011, it was Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, 52, who was appointed a full Minister first after being elected.

The Cabinet promotions saw two PAP backbenchers - Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Low Yen Ling and Jurong GRC MP Desmond Lee - join Government. Ms Low will be Parliamentary Secretary with Mr Chan's Ministry of Social and Family Development, while Mr Lee will be Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development.

Four female politicians were promoted in all, making this the Cabinet with the greatest women representation in Singapore's history.

In addition to Ms Low, Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor was promoted to Senior Minister of State; Minister of State for Finance and Transport Josephine Teo was promoted to Senior Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Communications and Information Sim Ann was promoted to Minister of State.

Finally, Dr Maliki Osman was promoted from Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development to Minister of State, while Acting Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin will relinquish his second appointment as Senior Minister of State for National Development.

The changes take effect on September 1. Ms Low's will take effect on October 1.

Selected bios

Chan Chun Sing

Age: 44

In 2011, the former President's Scholar left his post as Chief of Army after 15 years military, to contest in the General Election.

Political career:

May 6, 2011: Elected as an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

May 21, 2011: Appointed Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts

Aug, 1, 2012: Appointed Senior Minister of State for DefenceNovember 1 , and Acting Minister for Social and Family Development

Sep 1, 2013: Promoted to full Minister in MSF, and Second Minister for Defence

Sim Ann

Age: 38

In 2011, the former President's Scholar left the civil service to contest in the General Election

Political career:

May 6, 2011: Elected as an MP in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Law.

Nov 1, 2012: Relinquished her portfolio of Law and took up the portfolio of Communications and Information instead.

Sep 1, 2013: Promoted to Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Minsitry of Communications and Information.

Desmond Lee

Age: 37

The lawyer is an associate director at Temasek International and was formerly deputy director in the Legal Policy Division of the Ministry of Law. He is the son of former Cabinet minister Lee Yock Suan who retired in 2004.

Political career:

May 6, 2011: Elected as an MP for Jurong GRC.

Sep 1, 2013: Appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development.

Low Yen Ling

Age: 39

Ms Low has been chief executive of Business China since 2011, and was an officer in the Economic Development Board before she entered politics in 2011.

Political career:

May 6, 2011: Elected as an MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC.

Oct 1, 2013: Appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

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