Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the fourth round of Cabinet changes since the General Election in 2011, promoting Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lawrence Wong to full minister.
Mr Lee said both had performed well since taking office, and had mastered their portfolios, adding: "They have also worked hard on the ground, winning the respect and trust of Singaporeans." Mr Tan is now Acting Manpower Minister, while Mr Wong is Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth. They will retain their portfolios.
Announcing the changes in a press statement on Tuesday, Mr Lee said that as Singapore goes through an important transition, the major policy shifts being made "require good political leadership, close coordination across ministries, effective ground implementation, and strong support from Singaporeans".
He noted a few areas - manpower, sports, culture, youth, and health - that the Government was focusing on.
Along with these promotions, other Cabinet appointments were also announced to boost the teams in charge of the social sector and health.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth Sam Tan, will be promoted to Minister of State. He will be appointed to the Prime Minister's Office to help coordinate social policies across multiple ministries, and especially implementation on the ground.
He will relinquish his appointments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Mayor of Central Singapore District to focus on these new tasks.
Ms Denise Phua will take over as Mayor in the next term.
Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min will be appointed an additional Minister of State for Health, joining Dr Amy Khor, who has been made co-chair of the Pioneer Generation Taskforce.
Dr Khor will relinquish her appointment as Mayor of Southwest CDC after this term, a role which Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development Low Yen Ling will take over. Ms Low will also assume the appointment of parliamentary secretary at MCCY.
The changes take effect on Thursday. Ms Phua's, Dr Khor's and Ms Low's will take effect on May 27, while Dr Lam's will take effect on Aug 1.
