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[SINGAPORE] There will not be a second deputy prime minister to replace retiring DPM Heng Swee Keat, in a Cabinet reshuffle featuring nine new officeholders but only six changes to full ministerial portfolios.

Nor has labour chief Ng Chee Meng been given a government role, despite making it back to Parliament – though the lack of a labour chief in Cabinet is a “temporary arrangement”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

DPM Gan Kim Yong remains PM Wong’s only deputy. But together with three coordinating ministers, there will be “four senior leaders” in Cabinet, said PM Wong.

If both he and DPM Gan are absent, one of the coordinating ministers will be appointed as acting prime minister.

Noting that this is a Cabinet in transition, PM Wong said he expects “to make further adjustments in one or two years’ time” as more junior officeholders step up.

But in this critical period, Singapore needs “experienced hands at the helm”, he said at Wednesday’s (May 21) press conference on the line-up, which largely takes effect from May 23.

In a changed world, the priority is to secure Singapore’s position in advancing its interests overseas and steer the country through economic uncertainties, said PM Wong.

“With that in mind, I’ve kept most of the experienced ministers in core areas like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the economic ministers.”

PM Wong himself remains finance minister, while DPM Gan remains minister for trade and industry.

New ministerial portfolios

This is PM Wong’s second Cabinet since taking over the helm in May 2024. Shortly after becoming prime minister, he appointed Gan as DPM and promoted some junior officeholders, but did not make changes to ministers’ portfolios.

In Wednesday’s reshuffle, four ministers gained new portfolios, while two first-time officeholders were appointed as acting ministers.

Chan Chun Sing will take over as minister for defence. He succeeds former minister Ng Eng Hen, who – like DPM Heng – retired before GE2025.

He will also become coordinating minister for public services. In this role, Chan said he will work to ensure no gaps in the delivery of public services, whether physical or digital.

Replacing Chan at the Ministry of Education is Desmond Lee, who will relinquish his current role as minister for national development to Chee Hong Tat. Lee remains minister-in-charge of social services integration.

Chee will relinquish his roles as minister for transport and second minister for finance.

First-term Member of Parliament Jeffrey Siow will be acting transport minister. He was previously a second permanent secretary at the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, before stepping down to enter politics.

Former army chief and fellow first-timer David Neo will be acting minister for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

He replaces Edwin Tong, who will become minister for law and second minister for home affairs.

Current law minister K Shanmugam will relinquish that portfolio but remain minister for home affairs. He will also be appointed coordinating minister for national security, which PM Wong described as “a critical role with far-reaching responsibilities” amid evolving security threats.

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung will retain his portfolio and be appointed coordinating minister for social policies.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Ong said that his priorities as coordinating minister will be carrying on the Forward Singapore policy agenda; ensuring continued social mobility; and tackling ageing issues.

Tan See Leng will relinquish his role as second minister for trade and industry but become minister-in-charge of energy, as well as science and technology. He remains minister for manpower.

The following ministers also retain their current portfolios:

• Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo

• Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli

• Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan

• Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu

The swearing-in ceremony for ministers, senior ministers of state and ministers of state will be on May 23, with senior parliamentary secretaries sworn in at another time.

First-timer officeholders

Neo and Siow are among nine first-time political officeholders in this Cabinet: two seasoned politicians and seven who entered politics in this year’s general election.

Desmond Choo, who became an MP in 2015, will become minister of state for defence.

He first ran as a People’s Action Party candidate in GE2011, but was defeated by the Workers’ Party in Hougang SMC. He lost again in the 2012 by-election for the seat, then entered politics as part of the PAP’s Tampines GRC team in 2015.

From Feb 1, 2026, second-term MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim will become minister of state for foreign affairs, as well as social and family development. He was first elected as an MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC in GE2020.

Of the first-time MPs, three will become ministers of state:

• Dinesh Vasu Dash for culture, community and youth, as well as manpower

• Jasmin Lau for digital development and information, as well as education

• Goh Pei Ming for home affairs, as well as social and family development

The remaining two will be senior parliamentary secretaries:

• Goh Hanyan for culture, community and youth as well as sustainability and the environment

• Syed Harun Alhabsyi for education as well as national development

Promotions and portfolio changes

The new Cabinet sees three promotions to senior minister of state, and one to minister of state.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim will be promoted to senior minister of state of that ministry, while relinquishing his national development portfolio.

He will also be appointed acting minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs, taking over from Masagos.

Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai will be promoted to senior minister of state in the same portfolios.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Sun Xueling will be promoted to senior minister of state for national development and transport. She will relinquish her two current appointments.

Five senior ministers of state also saw changes to their portfolios.

• Sim Ann will gain the home affairs portfolio; retain foreign affairs; and relinquish national development

• Janil Puthucheary will gain the portfolios of education as well as sustainability and the environment, and relinquish those of digital development and information as well as health

• Koh Poh Koon will gain the health portfolio; retain manpower; and relinquish sustainability and the environment

• Zaqy Mohamad will gain the sustainability and the environment portfolio; retain defence; and relinquish manpower

• Tan Kiat How will gain the health portfolio; retain digital development and information; and relinquish national development

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng will be promoted to minister of state for that ministry, as well as for culture, community and youth. He will relinquish his sustainability and the environment portfolio.

There were also portfolio changes for two ministers of state:

• Gan Siow Huang will gain the foreign affairs as well as trade and industry portfolios; and relinquish her appointments in education and manpower

• Alvin Tan will take on the national development portfolio; retain trade and industry; and relinquish culture, community and youth

Two senior parliamentary secretaries also have new portfolios:

• Eric Chua will gain the law portfolio; retain the social and family development one; and relinquish culture, community and youth

• Shawn Huang will gain manpower; retain finance; and relinquish education

“With this reshuffle, all ministries will have new officeholders, be it ministers, ministers of state or parliamentary secretaries,” said PM Wong.

“I’m doing this to give younger leaders more experience and exposure across the different areas of government, so as to prepare them for greater responsibilities in the future.”