Changes in Singapore’s Cabinet

Lawrence Wong

Prime Minister; Minister for Finance

Age: 53

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office, Finance

He is Singapore's fourth prime minister. He is also the Minister for Finance.

PM Wong entered politics in 011 and previously helmed the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education.

He is the PAP's secretary-general.

Lee Hsien Loong

Senior Minister

Age: 74

Years In Politics: 4

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office

He was appointed Senior Minister after stepping down in 04 as Singapore's third prime minister.

SM Lee entered politics in 1984 after a career in the Singapore Armed Forces, retiring as a Brigadier-General.

He has served as Minister for Trade and Industry, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Gan Kim Yong

Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade)

Age: 67

Years In Politics: 5

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office, Trade and Industry

He is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade).

Gan is also the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and is responsible for the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He joined politics in 001, and has held positions in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Health. He was the previous chairman of the PAP.

K. Shanmugam

Senior Minister; Coordinating Minister for National Security; Minister for Home Affairs

Age: 67

Years In Politics: 38

Ministry: Home Affairs

Shanmugam will take on the role of Senior Minister following PM Wong's latest Cabinet reshuffle. He will be the first Senior Minister to be appointed to the role without having previously been a Prime Minister or a Deputy Prime Minister.

He remains Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.

He entered politics in 1988 and was a backbencher for 0 years before being appointed to Cabinet in 008 as Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs between 011 and 015.

He was previously a senior partner in law firm Allen & Gledhill.

Chan Chun Sing

Coordinating Minister for Public Services; Minister for Defence; Minister-in-charge of the Public Service

Age: 56

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Defence

He was Education Minister from May 01.

He has formerly held roles such as Minister for Social and Family Development, Minister for Trade and Industry, and secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

He was chief of army, holding the rank of major-general, when he entered politics in 011.

He is an assistant secretary-general of the PAP.

Ong Ye Kung

Coordinating Minister for Social Policies; Minister for Health

Age: 56

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: Health

He takes on the new portfolio as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies while retaining the Health Minister post which he has held since May 01.

The former civil servant entered politics in 011.

After being elected in 015, he has been Minister for Education and Minister for Transport.

He is the assistant treasurer of the PAP.

Vivian Balakrishnan

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Age: 65

Years In Politics: 5

Ministry: Foreign Affairs

He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 015.

He entered politics in 001.

A member of the PAP's central executive committee, he has previously been Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

Grace Fu

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment; Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations

Age: 6

Years In Politics: 0

Ministry: Sustainability and the Environment, Trade and Industry

She has been Minister for Sustainability and the Environment since July 00.

She was the first female minister to helm her own ministry in 015, when she was appointed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

She was the chief executive of PSA South-east Asia and Japan before entering politics in 006, and became a full Cabinet minister in 01.

She is a PAP organising secretary.

Masagos Zulkifli

Minister for Social and Family Development

Age: 63

Years In Politics: 0

Ministry: Social and Family Development

He has been Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health since July 00.

An electrical engineer by training, he was chief executive of Singtel Global Offices before entering politics in 006.

He became a full Cabinet Minister in 014, and has been Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.

He is the vice-chairman of the PAP.

Josephine Teo

Minister for Digital Development and Information; Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity and Smart Nation Group

Age: 58

Years In Politics: 0

Ministry: Digital Development and Information

She was Minister for Digital Development and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs. She is also Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity.

She was Minister for Manpower, and previously served in the Prime Minister’s Office and the finance, transport and foreign affairs ministries.

She worked in human resources at statutory boards and the National Trades Union Congress before entering politics in 006.

Desmond Lee

Minister for Education; Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration

Age: 50

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Education, Social and Family Development

He was Minister for National Development.

A former lawyer and civil servant, he entered politics in 011.

He is an assistant secretary-general of the PAP.

Indranee Rajah

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office; Second Minister for Finance; Second Minister for National Development

Age: 63

Years In Politics: 5

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office, Finance, National Development

She is a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, as well as Second Minister for Finance and National Development.

She was appointed Leader of the House in 00.

The former lawyer entered politics in 001. She is a member of the PAP's central executive committee.

Edwin Tong

Minister for Law, Second Minister for Home Affairs

Age: 56

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Law, Home Affairs

He entered politics in 011 and became an office-holder in 018. He was appointed a full Cabinet minister in 00, and took on the role of Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law.

The former partner in law firm Allen & Gledhill is also organising secretary for the PAP.

Tan See Leng

Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry)

Age: 61

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Trade and Industry

He will take on the role of Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry), while relinquishing the Manpower Minister post. This follows his appointment as Minister-in-charge of Energy, and Science and Technology in May 05.

Before entering politics in 00, the medical doctor was Group CEO and managing director at IHH HealthCare Berhad, and Parkway Pantai Limited. He also founded Healthway Medical Group in Singapore.

He was co-opted into the PAP's central executive committee in 04.

Chee Hong Tat

Minister for National Development

Age: 5

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: National Development

He was Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance from January 04.

He was Senior Minister of State for Finance, Transport, and Foreign Affairs, and deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

A former senior civil servant, he entered politics in 015.

He was co-opted into the PAP's central executive committee in 04.

Ng Chee Meng

Minister in Prime Minister’s Office

Age: 57

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office

Ng is NTUC secretary-general and MP for Jalan Kayu.

He was the chief of defence force before entering politics in 015, when he won in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC as part of a PAP team. He went on to hold several Cabinet positions, including education minister (schools) and second minister for transport.

In 00, he helmed a PAP team to contest the newly-created Sengkang GRC, but lost to the WP there.

In 05, Ng won the newly carved-out Jalan Kayu single seat with 51.47 per cent of the vote but later said he had asked PM Wong not to assign him any position in government.

Jeffrey Siow

Minister for Transport; Second Minister for Finance

Age: 48

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Transport, Finance

He has been Acting Minister for Transport since PM Wong’s last Cabinet reshuffle in May 05.

Before that, he was a second permanent secretary at the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Trade and Industry.

He was also previously managing director of statutory board Enterprise Singapore and principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong from 017 to 01.

David Neo

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth; Second Minister for Education

Age: 48

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Culture, Community and Youth, Education

He has been Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth since PM Wong's last Cabinet reshuffle in 05.

He served as Deputy Secretary (Technology) at the Ministry of Defence prior to his appointment as the chief of army. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1996.

He was programme director of the Pioneer Generation Office and founding group chief of the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care.

Sim Ann

Second Minister for Foreign Affairs; Second Minister for Home Affairs

Age: 51

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs

She will take on the role of Second Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development. She is currently Senior Minister of State for both ministries.

She is a former civil servant. She entered politics in 011 and was appointed deputy Whip of the PAP in 016.

She was co-opted into the PAP's central executive committee in 04.

Zaqy Mohamad

Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs; Senior Minister of State for Defence

Age: 51

Years In Politics: 0

Ministry: Defence

He became Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs on July 0 - taking over from Faishal Ibrahim who resigned from political office the same day. Zaqy has since relinquished his Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

He was Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence.

The former partner at consultancy Ernst & Young entered politics in 006. He was appointed Deputy Leader of the House in 00.

Jasmin Lau

Acting Minister for Manpower; Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information; Minister-in-charge of GovTech

Age: 43

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Manpower, Digital Development and Information

Lau will become the Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information following the latest reshuffle.

Following the 05 Cabinet reshuffle, she took on the role of Minister of State for Digital Development and Information as well as Education, the latter post she will relinquish.

She is a former civil servant who served as deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Health. Her other stints in public service were at the Public Service Division, the Manpower and Finance ministries, and the Economic Development Board.

She is also on the board of the Building and Construction Authority and a member of the board of trustees for the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries

Janil Puthucheary

Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and Environment; Senior Minister of State for Education

Age: 53

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Sustainability and Environment, Education

He was Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and Health.

He was appointed PAP Whip in 019.

Before entering politics, he was a paediatrician.

Low Yen Ling

Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth; Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry

Age: 51

Years In Politics: 15

Ministry: Culture, Community and Youth, Trade and Industry

Low is Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry.

She entered politics in 011. She chairs the Mayors' Committee and is Mayor of South West District.

She is also assistant organising secretary in the PAP's central executive committee.

Sun Xueling

Senior Minister of State for National Development; Senior Minister of State for Transport

Age: 47

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: National Development, Transport

Sun was Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Home Affairs. She previously worked at the Economic Development Board and various banks.

She entered politics in 015.

Desmond Tan

Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office

Age: 56

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Prime Minister's Office

Tan is Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office and deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

He is a former SAF scholarship holder and held the rank of brigadier-general.

He entered politics in 00 and is now assistant organising secretary in the PAP's central executive committee.

Tan Kiat How

Senior Minister of State for Health; Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information

Age: 48

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Health, Digital Development and Information

He was Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and National Development.

He was formerly chief executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority, and is assistant organising secretary in the PAP's central executive committee.

Murali Pillai

Senior Minister of State for Law; Senior Minister of State for Transport

Age: 58

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: Law, Transport

Murali was Minister of State for Law and Transport.

He is a senior counsel and former partner at law firm Rajah & Tann.

He entered politics in 015 as part of a PAP team that contested Aljunied GRC but lost to the WP. He was first elected in the 016 Bukit Batok by-election.

Goh Pei Ming

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs; Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development

Age: 43

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Home Affairs, Social and Family Development

Goh will be Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Social and Family Development. He is currently Minister of State in both ministries.

Goh is former SAF chief of staff – joint staff who held the rank of brigadier-general. He also served concurrently as SAF inspector-general and chief sustainability officer.

He is chairman of the Kampong Chai Chee Community Club management committee.

Baey Yam Keng

Minister of State for Transport; Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth

Age: 55

Years In Politics: 0

Ministry: Transport, Culture, Community and Youth

He is the Mayor of the North East District.

The former public servant entered politics in 006.

In 01, he quit his job as managing director of Hill+Knowlton Strategies to be a full-time MP.

Desmond Choo

Minister of State for Defence

Age: 48

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: Defence

He is the assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, where he leads economic and social policy, strategic communications, and international relations.

Rahayu Mahzam

Minister of State for Digital Development and Information; Minister of State for Health

Age: 46

Years In Politics: 11

Ministry: Digital Development and Information, Health

Rahayu is Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Health.

She was an associate director of law firm Heng, Leong & Srinivasan and former deputy registrar of the Syariah Court before she entered politics in 015.

Alvin Tan

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Minister of State for National Development

Age: 46

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: National Development, Foreign Affairs

Tan will be Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and remain Minister of State for National Development. He will relinquish his Ministry of Trade and Industry post.

He was made Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth during the Cabinet reshuffle in 04.

He made his electoral debut in 00.

He has worked in the private, public and non-profit sectors, including roles at LinkedIn and Facebook.

Gan Siow Huang

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Minister of State for Trade and Industry

Age: 51

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry

Gan was Minister of State for Education and Manpower.

She was elected MP for Marymount in GE00.

Before entering politics in 00, she was Singapore's first woman general and held the rank of brigadier-general in the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim

Minister of State for Home Affairs; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Age: 45

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs

He will take on the role of Minister of State for Home Affairs and remain Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, while relinquishing his role as Minister of State for Social and Family Development.

He is a lawyer.

He has been an MP in Chua Chu Kang GRC since 00.

Dinesh​ Vasu Dash

Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth; Minister of State for Manpower

Age: 51

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Culture, Community and Youth, Manpower

Dinesh is the Mayor of the South East District.

He was previously chief executive of the Agency for Integrated Care.

He was also director of the Health Ministry's crisis strategy and operations group during the Covid-19 pandemic and a brigadier-general in the Singapore Armed Forces before that.

Foo Cexiang

Minister of State for Manpower, Minister of State for Trade and Industry (from Sept 1)

Age: 41

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Manpower, Trade and Industry

Foo is vice-president for port ecosystem development at port operator PSA Singapore.

A civil servant for over a decade, the first-term MP in Tanjong Pagar GRC was a director at the Transport Ministry, where he oversaw private and future mobility.

Shawn Loh

Minister of State for Education, Minister of State for Health (from Jan 1, 07)

Age: 39

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Education, Health

Loh is group managing director of Singapore-based investment company Commonwealth Capital Group.

Before that, the first-term MP in Jalan Besar GRC was a director at the Finance Ministry. He was the Budget director in 04 and 05, and has been vocal in Parliament on issues such as wealth tax, social inequality and the rising cost of living.

Eric Chua

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Law; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development

Age: 47

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Law, Social and Family Development

He was elected MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC in GE00.

Before joining politics, he was director of the SGSecure Programme Office under the Home Affairs Ministry. He previously served with the SCDF and was commander of the 3rd SCDF Division.

Shawn Huang

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance

Age: 44

Years In Politics: 6

Ministry: Manpower, Finance

He was elected MP for Jurong GRC in GE00.

He is a director for enterprise development in Temasek.

A former fighter pilot, he was the commanding officer of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 140 Squadron.

Goh Hanyan

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment

Age: 40

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Community, Culture and Youth, Sustainability and the Environment

Goh was a director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office and the national artificial intelligence group for policy and strategy at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.

She was involved in grassroots work, which included helping with the Breakfast with Love programme in Jalan Besar GRC’s Kampong Glam division.

Syed Harun Alhabsyi

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development

Age: 41

Years In Politics: 1

Ministry: Education, National Development

Harun is a psychiatrist who runs his own clinic, the Starfish Clinic of Psychiatry & Mental Wellness.

He was appointed Nominated MP in July 03 but resigned on Feb 14, 05 - about a year before the end of his term - to join the PAP.

source: The Straits Times https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2026/07/2026-cabinet-reshuffle/index.html