SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has unveiled his first full cabinet since the 2025 General Election, in which the ruling People’s Action Party won 87 of the parliamentary seats with 65.57% of the national votes.
Mr Gan Kim Yong, dubbed as the “Taskforce Man” during the election, remained as the only Deputy Prime Minister (DPM). Mr Gan will continue to serve as the Minister for Trade and Industry, while Dr Tan See Leng, who is the Minister for Manpower, has been appointed as the Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
“He (DPM Gan) will continue to coordinate our efforts on the economy, including his role as Chairman of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce. He continues with his other responsibilities as Chairman of MAS, and the minister overseeing the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister’s Office. He will take on additional duties, including overseeing our work on climate change and population,” said PM Wong during the unveiling of his cabinet on Wednesday, May 21.
Although PM Wong did not name a second DPM, he has promoted three Ministers to the role of Coordinating Minister. PM Wong will continue as the Finance Minister, while Mr Lee Hsien Loong remains as Singapore’s Senior Minister.
Mr K Shanmugam is appointed as the Coordinating Minister for National Security, while Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Mr Ong Ye Kung are now Singapore’s Coordinating Ministers for Public Services and Social Policies respectively.
“As I rejoin MINDEF, I am acutely aware of the changed world we are living in. It will require us to re-examine our fundamental operating assumptions, and evolve new capabilities to inspire a new generation to serve with grit and gumption.
“Regardless of MOE, MINDEF or the Public Service, we will work hard for Singapore to remain distinguished and to continue defying the odds of history. Together, we will keep building a Singapore which all Singaporeans can be proud of,” posted Mr Chan on his social media after PM Wong’s announcement.
NEW MINISTER-IN-CHARGE OF MUSLIM AFFAIRS
One of the changes in the new cabinet by PM Wong is the Minister-in-Charge for Muslim Affairs portfolio, previously led by Mr Masagos Zulkifli since 2018.
The Prime Minister has now appointed Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim as the Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, in addition to his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, who is currently the deputy chairman of MENDAKI, will take over from Masagos as chairman of the Malay / Muslim community self-help group which was founded in 1982 to uplift the academic performance of the community in Singapore through education and lifelong learning.
“Faishal and Zaqy, together with our other Malay / Muslim officeholders and MPs, will continue to engage the Malay / Muslim community closely – building on the strong foundations we have today, and working with the community to realise our shared goals.
“I will work closely with them too. Engaging the Malay / Muslim community was a priority for me in the last term; and it will continue to be a priority in this new term of government,” explained PM Wong.
This move was closely watched and anticipated by many political observers after Mr Masagos’ Tampines GRC team faced a strong challenge from the Workers’ Party, led by former Aljunied GRC MP Mr Faisal Manap, in the recent election.
Despite securing 52.02% of the votes (71,589), the PAP’s reduced margin highlighted shifting voter sentiments in the constituency. In the four-corner contest, WP’s secured 47.37% (65,197), while the People’s Power Party and the National Solidarity Party forfeited their election deposit as they received a paltry 0.43% and 0.18% of the votes.
Online reactions were mixed with the new appointment for the Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs. While several commenters welcomed the move, some felt that Mr Masagos should not be blame entirely for the team’s performance in the election and instead the move should be seen as a renewal process.
“…the most consequential appointment from this election is Masagos losing his Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs portfolio. He has been proven to be extremely unpopular among the Malay Muslim community,” said one forum user on Reddit.
In another social media thread, a netizen commented, “While the Tampines GRC was seen as a battle between Masagos and Faisal, his (Masagos) perceived declined popularity in Tampines should not be seen as a rejection by the entire Malay / Muslim community in Singapore. Is it timely that there is a leadership renewal for the post (Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs).”
While Mr Masagos has been relieved of the Minister-in-Charge of Muslims Affairs, he retained the Minister for Social and Family Development post, which he was first appointed in 2020.
Mr Masagos was first appointed as the Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs on May 1, 2018, taking over from Mr Yaacob Ibrahim (2002-2018). Prior to that, the portfolio was held by former Speaker of Parliament Mr Abdullah Tarmugi from 1993 to 2022 and Mr Ahmad Mattar from 1977 to 1993.
FIRST-TERM MP PROMOTED AS MINISTERS
As expected by many political observers, Mr Jeffrey Siow and former army chief Mr David Neo have been appointed as new political office holders.
Mr Siow will replace Mr Chee Hong Tat as the Acting Transport Minister, while Mr Neo will take over from Mr Edwin Tong as the new Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.
Mr Tong is now the new Law Minister, replacing Mr Shanmugam who will remain as the Minister for Home Affairs. Mr Chee, will now helmed the Ministry for National Development, and Mr Desmond Lee moving to the Ministry of Education.
“Familiar with land transport policies from his past experience as a civil servant. Of course, there is much more to be done as a minister. He will be stretched and tested; but I am confident he will be able to step up,” mentioned PM Wong during the media conference.
Mr Siow was the most senior ranking civil servant to contest in the 2025 election. He previously served as a principal private secretary to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from 2017 to 2021.
In his 24-year career in the public service, he had served in various ministries including in the Ministry of Transport from 2012 to 2017, before moving on to the Prime Minister’s Office. In Jan 2024, he was the second permanent secretary in the Ministry of Manpower, before switching to the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Sept 2024.
“Jeffrey Seow trial by fire in his first term. He must be that good for LW to give him what is traditionally perceived as the most difficult ministry,” mentioned a Reddit forum user.
Mr Siow took over the Transport portfolio from Mr Chee who was first appointed as the Acting Transport Minister in July 2023 after the resignation of former Minister S Iswaran.
The swearing-in ceremony for the Ministers, Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State will be on 23 May 2025, while the swearing-in ceremony for the Senior Parliamentary Secretaries will be held on another date.
Singapore’s New Cabinet (as announced on May 21, 2025)
Lawrence Wong: Prime Minister and Minister for Finance.
Lee Hsien Loong: Senior Minister
Gan Kim Yong: Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Trade and Industry
K Shanmugam: Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs
Chan Chun Sing: Coordinating Minister for Public Services, and Minister for Defence
Ong Ye Kung: Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Minister for Health
Vivian Balakhrisnan: Minister for Foreign Affairs
Indranee Rajah: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development
Grace Fu: Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations
Masagos Zulkifli: Minister for Social and Family Development
Josephine Teo: Minister Digital Development and Information, and Minister-in-Charge of Cybersecurity and Smart Nation Group
Desmond Lee: Minister for Education, and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration
Edwin Tong: Minister for Law, and Second Minister for Home Affairs
Chee Hong Tat: Minister for Transport
Tan See Leng: Minister for Manpower, and Minister-in-Charge of Energy, Science and Technology
Jeffrey Siow: Acting Minister for Transport, and Senior Minister of State for Finance
David Neo: Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Senior Minister of State for Education
Faishal Ibrahim: Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs