Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, 44, has been promoted to a full minister, making him one of the fastest-rising politicians in recent history.
Mr Chan, who was the Chief of Army before resigning to enter politics in 2011, will also be Second Minister for Defence. His promotion, announced on Wednesday by the Prime Minister's Office with a slew of other Cabinet appointments, makes him the youngest full minister in Cabinet.
The Tanjong Pagar GRC MP's rise outpaces others like Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who entered politics in 2001 and was appointed a full Minister in 2004.
But among the PAP's fourth-generation leaders drafted into politics in 2011, it was Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, 52, who was appointed a full Minister first after being elected.
Mr Chan told The Straits Times in an e-mail response: "I would like to thank the Prime Minister for this opportunity to serve.
"Will also like to thank colleagues and partners who have constantly supported and guided me in the work to build a better Singapore for our families and children.
"There is much for us to work together in the coming years to realise the direction that PM has charted out in NDR 2013."
The Cabinet promotions saw two PAP backbenchers - Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Low Yen Ling and Jurong GRC MP Desmond Lee - join the Government. Ms Low will be a parliamentary secretary with Mr Chan's Ministry of Social and Family Development, while Mr Lee will be a Minister of State with the Ministry of National Development.
Mr Chan said he is looking forward to working closely with Ms Low to "further our work in building a stronger and more caring society".
Four female politicians were promoted in all, making this the Cabinet with the greatest women representation in Singapore's history.
In addition to Ms Low, Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor was promoted to Senior Minister of State; Minister of State for Finance and Transport Josephine Teo was promoted to Senior Minister of State, and Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Communications and Information Sim Ann was promoted to Minister of State
Finally, Dr Maliki Osman was promoted from Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development to Minister of State, while Acting Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin will relinquish his second appointment as Senior Minister of State for National Development.
The changes take effect on September 1. Ms Low's will take effect on October 1.
