Singapore’s Cabinet reshuffle sees top leadership changes, including at MOM

Gan Kim Yong remains DPM, while K Shanmugam, Chan Chun Sing, and Ong Ye Kung take on newly created Coordinating Minister roles.

With effect from 23 May 2025 (Friday), Singapore’s new Cabinet under Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will see several key leadership shifts including the appointment of three new Coordinating Ministers, and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong continuing in a broader role.

Unveiling the Cabinet on Wednesday (21 May), PM Wong said these moves are part of the government’s strategy to strengthen its focus across four national priorities: the economy, national security, public services, and social policies.

The Cabinet refresh included a few appointments at, and departures from, the Ministry of Manpower:

• Zaqy Mohamad will move to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment as Senior Minister of State, while continuing in the Ministry of Defence. He will relinquish his role in Ministry of Manpower.
• Dr Koh Poh Koon will become Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, and will continue in the Ministry of Manpower, but stepping away from Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
• Dr Tan See Leng will take on the new title of Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, alongside his current role as Minister for Manpower.
• Gan Siow Huang will assume the role of Minister of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry and step down from her previous appointments in Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower.
• Dinesh Vasu Dash, one of the new faces in Cabinet, will serve as Minister of State in Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower, and will also be appointed Mayor of Southeast District.

DPM and Coordinating Ministers: Who’s taking charge of what?

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong remains in his role and will continue to lead Singapore’s economic strategies. He chairs the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce and oversees the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister’s Office. His responsibilities will expand further, as he takes on oversight of national efforts on climate change and population issues.

Three senior ministers have been appointed as Coordinating Ministers, each tasked with driving progress in a specific area:

• K Shanmugam will take over from Teo Chee Hean as Coordinating Minister for National Security. Shanmugam, brings deep experience in portfolio, including foreign affairs and home affairs.
• Chan Chun Sing will be appointed Coordinating Minister for Public Services, focusing on better integration and accessibility of services for citizens.
• Ong Ye Kung takes on the role of Coordinating Minister for Social Policies while remaining as Minister for Health. He will be focusing on reviewing and strengthening Singapore’s social safety nets, design policies and manage trade-offs carefully.

For more on the ministerial appointments across these four priority areas read here.

Retirements and promotions

Six officeholders will be retiring: Former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Teo Chee Hean, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Dr Maliki Osman, Heng Chee How, and Dr Amy Khor.

Promotions announced include:

• Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, Murali Pillai, and Sun Xueling to Senior Ministers of State.
• Baey Yam Keng to Minister of State. He will also become Mayor of Northeast District.
• Desmond Lee will be the new Minister for Education, relinquishing his National Development appointment.
• Edwin Tong takes over K Shanmugam as Minister of Law and is appointed Second Minister for Home Affairs, while stepping down from Culture, Community and Youth.
• Chee Hong Tat becomes Minister for National Development, stepping away from Transport and Finance.

The swearing-in ceremony for Ministers, Senior Ministers of State, and Ministers of State will take place on 23 May 2025, with Senior Parliamentary Secretaries to be sworn in at a later date.

For the full list of Cabinet appointments and changes, check out the Prime Minister’s Office announcement.

Lead image / Ong Ye Kung Facebook