Key Takeaways From PM Wong's Cabinet Reshuffle

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 21 unveiled his refreshed Cabinet after the 2025 General Election.

- Hariz Baharudin

He will appoint three new coordinating ministers who, along with Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, will form the core of his team.

They are: Mr. K. Shanmugam, who will be Coordinating Minister for National Security; Mr. Chan Chun Sing, who will be Coordinating Minister for Public Services; and Mr. Ong Ye Kung, who will be Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

With this reshuffle, all ministries will have new office-holders, PM Wong noted at a press conference.

Here are five key highlights from the reshuffle:

New Office-Holders in Every Ministry

PM Wong announced that every ministry will see changes in the latest Cabinet reshuffle, as part of efforts to give political office-holders broader exposure and opportunities to learn.

He noted that rotating ministers across portfolios allows them to be tested in different domains and to better understand the challenges facing Singapore.

Six out of 15 ministries will be helmed by new ministers.

Among the changes, Mr. Edwin Tong will take over as Minister for Law, Mr. Chee Hong Tat will lead the Ministry of National Development, Mr. Chan Chun Sing will helm the Ministry of Defence, and Mr. Desmond Lee will be appointed Minister for Education.

The reshuffle will also introduce new political office-holders into key roles.

Former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow, a newly elected MP, will be appointed Acting Minister for Transport. One of the roles Mr. Siow held during his public service career was director for land transport at the Transport Ministry.

Another newcomer, former Chief of Army David Neo, will take on the role of Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth. Mr. Neo had previously helmed the Silver Generation Office under the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).

Three New Coordinating Ministers

PM Wong has appointed three new coordinating ministers—Mr. Shanmugam, Mr. Chan, and Mr. Ong.