The Cabinet that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced last Saturday seeks to balance continuity, provided by his senior colleagues; exposure for younger ministers through a change of portfolios for some; and leadership renewal. Change is palpable in that six of the 15 ministries will see a change in the minister at the helm. Also, seven new People's Action Party MPs have been appointed political office-holders, with the oldest among them made a full minister. Several older ministers, including Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, are staying on to provide continuity.

This is to be expected. A major change midstream in the composition of the team helping to steady the ship of state, while headwinds from the coronavirus pandemic ravage national life, would hardly have enabled the country to navigate the waters.