Crop of new office-holders largest since 2001; reshuffle provides for minority succession in Cabinet

In 2001, seven new MPs took political office in a fresh injection of talent by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

- Goh Yan Han, Ng Wei Kai

Among them were high-fliers in their 40s from the public and private sectors, such as now President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and former defence minister Ng Eng Hen.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Mr Raymond Lim and Mr Cedric Foo rounded out the group — all but two of whom would go on to hold positions in Cabinet.

Their youth, career success and immediate appointment to office led this group to be dubbed the "Super Seven".

In 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has done something similar — putting seven newly elected MPs in office in a Cabinet reshuffle on May 21.

Two will be acting ministers: Former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow, 46, will take the transport portfolio, while former army chief David Neo, 47, will join the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

They will concurrently be senior ministers of state.

Three others will be ministers of state: Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, 50, Ms Jasmin Lau, 41, and Mr Goh Pei Ming, 43.

Another two will be senior parliamentary secretaries: Ms Goh Hanyan, 39, and Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, 39.

PM Wong also solidified his fourth-generation (4G) team, appointing four senior leaders instead of the traditional two deputies, and increasing the total number of political office-holders to 40 from 37.

PARALLELS TO 2001'S "SUPER SEVEN"?

The year 2025 saw the largest number of new MPs appointed to political office following an election since 2001.

In comparison, six new MPs became political office-holders in 2020 and five each in 2015, 2011 and 2006. Before 2001, the numbers were lower two new MPs took office in 1997 and three in 1991.