Tan Chuan-Jin, Lawrence Wong promoted to full ministers

SINGAPORE - Acting Ministers Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong have been promoted to full ministers, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.

He said in a press statement that they have performed well since taking office and mastered their portfolios. He also noted that they have worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans.

Mr Tan will be Manpower Minister and Mr Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth with effect from Thursday.

Other appointments were also announced in the fourth round of Cabinet changes since the 2011 General Election.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth Sam Tan will be promoted to Minister of State. He will be appointed to the Prime Minister's Office to help coordinate social policies across multiple ministries, and especially implementation on the ground.

Mr Tan will relinquish his appointments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Mayor of Central Singapore District to focus on these new tasks.

Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Denise Phua will take over his appointment as Mayor.

Also made mayor is Low Yen Ling, for South West Community Development Council. She takes over from Dr Amy Khor, who has been made co-chair of the Pioneer Generation Taskforce and given additional responsibilities in the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Ms Low will also be appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, concurrent with her present appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

The new mayors will assume their roles from May 27.

PM Lee also announced the appointment of Sengkang West MP Dr Lam Pin Min as an additional Minister of State for Health, with effect from August 1. He said Dr Lam will play an important role in the MOH's review of policies and development of new models of care, particularly in the aged care and primary care sectors.

Mr Wong later said in a statement that he is grateful for the opportunity to continue serving.

"The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is a new ministry. Since our formation, we’ve been looking at ways to enable Singaporeans to lead more fulfilling lives through the arts, sports and community involvement," Mr Wong said.

"There’s still much more to be done, and I look forward to working with our partners and stakeholders to make Singapore a distinctive and endearing home for all of us.”'

Summary of changes to Cabinet and other political appointments >>

Summary of changes to Cabinet and other political appointments:

Appointment of Minister

- Mr Tan Chuan-Jin will be promoted to full Minister in the Ministry of Manpower, with effect from May 1.

- Mr Lawrence Wong will be promoted to full Minister in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), and 2nd Minister for Communications and Information, with effect from May 1.

Promotion to/appointment of Minister of State

- Mr Sam Tan will be promoted to Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the MCCY, with effect from May 1. He will relinquish his current appointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also step down as Mayor of Central Singapore CDC on May 27, at the end of his Mayor's term.

- Dr Lam Pin Min will be appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health with effect from August 1.

Changes to/appointment of Mayors and Parliamentary Secretaries

- Ms Denise Phua will replace Mr Sam Tan as the Mayor of Central Singapore CDC, with effect from May 27.

- Dr Amy Khor will relinquish her appointment as Mayor of South West CDC on May 27, at the end of her Mayor's term. She will continue as the Senior Minister of State in the Ministries of Health and of Manpower.

- Ms Low Yen Ling will replace Dr Khor as Mayor of South West CDC, with effect from May 27. Ms Low will also be appointed as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, concurrent with her present appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.