Singapore cabinet reshuffle: continuity in focus, veteran Gan Kim Yong to be Lawrence Wong’s deputy
- Gan may have been chosen as deputy prime minister due to close working ties with Wong as co-chair in the Covid-19 government task force, analyst says
- Outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to play a big role as senior minister and guide Wong after May 15
Wong will retain his position as finance minister even after taking over, while Gan Kim Yong, who co-chaired the republic’s multi-ministry Covid task force, will become deputy prime minister, alongside Heng Swee Keat.
Wong said on Monday there were minimal shifts in this cabinet reshuffle to “avoid any disruptions”.
“All the ministers already have a full plate of work to see through and some have also rolled out new programmes in their ministries, so to avoid any disruptions, I have decided to keep them in their present roles until the end of the term and that means I will retain my portfolio in finance even after becoming prime minister,” he told a press briefing.
“After the pandemic, we carried out a process to choose my successor. On 14 April 2022, the PAP Members of Parliament met and unanimously endorsed Mr Lawrence Wong as the person to succeed me. Now, two years on, he is ready to lead Singapore,” he wrote.