Which school in Singapore has produced the most number of office-holders in the 2015 Singapore Cabinet? How many doctors and lawyers are there in the mix? How many made the jump from military service to political office? Who is the youngest and who is the oldest person in Government?
On Monday (Sept 28), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed his new Cabinet following the Sept 11 election, in which the ruling People’s Action Party won a 69.9 per cent of the votes.
He introduced a new Coordinating Minister role which will be undertaken by his two deputies – Mr Teo Chee Hean (National Security) and Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Economic and Social Policies) – as well as veteran minister Khaw Boon Wan, who will be Transport minister as well as co-ordinate issues related to Infrastructure.
Mr Lee also put younger faces in key posts, including first-time MPs Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung who will both be Acting Minister in the Education portfolio.
Among them are several former principal private secretaries (PPS):
- Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Transport and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, was PPS to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (1992 to 1995).
- Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance, was PPS to then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1997 to 2000).
- Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, was PPS to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2005 to 2008).
- Mr Chee Hong Tat, Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health, was PPS to Mr Lee Kuan Yew (2008 to 2011).
- Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence, was PPS to PM Lee Hsien Loong (2002 to 2005).
There are also several former military men:
- PM Lee was a Brigadier-General in the army.
- Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, was the Chief of Navy.
- Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and Government Whip, was the Chief of Army.
- Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development, was a Brigadier-General in the army.
- Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister of Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport, was Chief of Defence Force.
Here is a look at the Singapore Government by the numbers.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
