THE number of Senior Ministers of State has gone up from three to eight with yesterday's Cabinet reshuffle - the largest number ever.

Political observers view the increase as a sign that further leadership renewal is on the cards.

Some of the five Ministers of State to be promoted to Senior Ministers of State from next Tuesday are 'on track' to being full ministers, observers say, citing Ms Grace Fu and Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew.

Former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin observed that 'in the past, we did not see so many Senior Ministers of State'. The previous high was in 2001, when there were five of them: Mr David Lim, Mr Matthias Yao, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Mr Khaw Boon Wan and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Mr Khaw and Mr Tharman have since been promoted to ministers, Prof Ho remains a Senior Minister of State, Mr Yao is now South East District Mayor, and Mr Lim has left politics.

On Ms Fu and RADM Lui, who entered politics in 2006, Mr Zulkifli said: 'The new MPs, who have been brought in and moved up, have done well to get more responsibilities and promotions.'

Both will take on second portfolios. Ms Fu will add Education to her current National Development role, while RADM Lui will be Senior Minister of State for both Information, Communications and the Arts, and Education.

In line with what political observers term the PAP Government's 'systematic' approach to leadership renewal, Mr Gan Kim Yong will be appointed Acting Minister for Manpower from Tuesday, 21/2 years after he first became Minister of State.

Mr Gan will also be promoted to Senior Minister of State from next Tuesday, together with Mrs Lim Hwee Hua and Mr S. Iswaran.

The remaining three Senior Ministers of State are Prof Ho Peng Kee, Dr Balaji Sadasivan and Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, who were promoted in 2001, 2004 and 2006 respectively.

Political watcher Viswa Sadasivan believes the latest changes set the stage for a more significant reshuffle that could possibly see a new deputy prime minister being appointed.

'This exercise is to put the pieces in place, to get them ready to move up,' he said.

'The more senior ministers, who have served for a very long time, are looking to step down, but the next line of leaders are not yet ready.'

zakirh@sph.com.sg