Singapore Ready to Welcome New Leadership on Wednesday
SINGAPORE: After nearly two decades, Singapore will witness a historic event on Wednesday afternoon as the republic appoints a new prime minister. In a smooth leadership transition, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, 51, will replace Lee Hsien Loong, 72, who has served as prime minister since 2004. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 8 PM at the Istana.
Wong, a civil servant before entering politics in 2011, emerged as the prime ministerial candidate after being named the leader of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) fourth-generation (4G) team in April 2022, following Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s withdrawal from the role.
The leadership handover was confirmed following an April 15 announcement when Lee declared he would resign on May 15. Wong, with unanimous support from PAP Members of Parliament (MPs), will succeed him.
On Monday (May 13), Lee officially informed President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of his intention to resign and advised Tharman to invite Wong, who holds the majority confidence of MPs, to form the next government.
Wong, also the MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, accepted Tharman’s invitation and subsequently informed the president of his new Cabinet lineup, which will also be sworn in on May 15.
The list sees minimal changes, with the Minister for Trade and Industry appointed as deputy prime minister.
Lee will be appointed as Senior Minister in the new leadership lineup and will remain Chairman of the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Council.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and other ministers in Lee’s Cabinet will retain their positions.
In the new lineup, two Ministers of State – Low Yen Ling and Desmond Tan – will be promoted to Senior Ministers of State, while Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam will be promoted to Minister of State.
Low will remain in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth as well as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while Tan will continue in the PMO.
Rahayu will be promoted to Minister of State and appointed to lead the Ministry of Communications and Information while continuing her service with the Ministry of Health.
According to the PMO, the new leadership will be sworn in on May 15, except for Murali Pillai, who will be appointed and sworn in on July 1 as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Transport, while the Senior Parliamentary Secretary will be sworn in on May 24.
Meanwhile, the PMO also announced that the Ministry of Communications and Information will be renamed the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, effective July 8.
It stated that the new name reflects the ministry’s role in driving Singapore’s national digital agenda.
“The ministry will also continue to oversee information policies and strategies, media development, and public communication efforts,” it said.
In a press conference on Monday, Wong stated that he intends to “balance the need for continuity and renewal” with the new Cabinet lineup as the government approaches the end of its term, with the next general election required to be held by November 2025.
Wong emphasized that his Cabinet will focus on issues concerning Singaporeans, such as the cost of living, jobs, the ‘Forward Singapore’ initiative, and other medium-term plans.
