4 women promoted in Cabinet tweak

4 women promoted in Cabinet tweak

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday announced changes to his Cabinet and other political appointments.

This round of changes comes just over a year after the last Cabinet reshuffle was announced on July 31 last year.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday that Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing will be promoted to a full minister.

He will also be Second Minister for Defence.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, who will continue as Acting Minister for Manpower, will relinquish his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development.

Four female politicians will also be promoted. Dr Amy Khor will be promoted to Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower. Mrs Josephine Teo will be promoted to Senior Minister of State for Finance and Transport.

Ms Sim Ann will be promoted to Minister of State and remain in the ministries of Education, and Communications and Information.

Ms Low Yen Ling will be appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development with effect from Oct 1. All other changes take effect on Monday.

Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said the latest changes are not major.

However, the Government is taking "small steps" to appoint more politicians into Cabinet and more women to higher leadership positions, she noted.

Dr Koh said: "It's not only for diversity's sake, but more as proof that Singaporean women leaders are equally capable and dynamic."

myp@sph.com.sg


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