Third Lee Hsien Loong Cabinet
15th Cabinet of Singapore
2011-2015
Date formed	21 May 2011
Date dissolved	30 September 2015
People and organisations
Head of state	S. R. Nathan (1 September 1999 – 31 August 2011) Tony Tan (since 1 September 2011)
Head of government	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy head of government	Teo Chee Hean (1 April 2009 – 30 April 2019) Tharman Shanmugaratnam (21 May 2011 – 1 May 2019)
Member party	People's Action Party
Status in legislature	Supermajority 81 / 99
Opposition party	Workers' Party
Opposition leader	Low Thia Khiang
History
Election(s)	7 May 2011
Legislature term(s)	12th
Budget(s)	2012
Predecessor	2nd Lee Cabinet
Successor	4th Lee Cabinet

The Third Cabinet of Lee Hsien Loong of the Government of Singapore came into existence on 21 May 2011 following the 2011 general election. While many of its members were retained from the previous government, Heng Swee Keat and Chan Chun Sing, who had both just been elected, were given ministerial appointments.

With effect from 1 August 2012, Grace Fu became only the second woman in Singapore's history to be made a full minister by being appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. (The first was Lim Hwee Hua.) From 1 November, Chan Chun Sing assumed the designation of Acting Minister for Social and Family Development, while Lawrence Wong was brought into the Cabinet for the first time as Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

Initial composition

Cabinet

At the 2011 general election, Senior Minister Shunmugam Jayakumar did not contest his seat as part of the East Coast Group Representation Constituency and thus retired from the Cabinet.^[1] Foreign Minister George Yeo and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua contested Aljunied GRC unsuccessfully, and were defeated by a team from the Workers' Party of Singapore.^[2]

Following the election, on 14 May 2011, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong tendered their resignations from the Cabinet, stating that they wished to give the Prime Minister a "fresh clean slate" in forming the Government and enable him to "have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation".^[3] Goh was given the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister; the same title was offered to Lee but he declined. Lee and Goh were appointed as senior advisers to the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) respectively.^[4]

Four days later, on 18 May, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a new Cabinet line-up. In addition to Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong, George Yeo and Lim Hwee Hua, four other ministers retired: Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan, Lim Boon Heng and Raymond Lim.^[5] Two ministers, Lim Hng Kiang and Lim Swee Say, retained their respective Trade and Industry and Prime Minister's Office portfolios, while existing ministers were appointed to new positions in the remaining 11 ministries. Tharman Shanmugaratnam was promoted to Deputy Prime Minister and appointed Minister for Manpower in addition to his portfolio of Minister for Finance, replacing Wong Kan Seng. S. Iswaran, formerly Senior Minister of State for Education and for Trade and Industry, was elevated to the Cabinet as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and for Trade and Industry. Heng Swee Keat and Chan Chun Sing, both elected to Parliament for the first time, were respectively assigned the posts of Minister for Education, and Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Minister of State for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.^[6] Heng was the first new MP directly appointed a full minister since 1984.^[7]

With effect from 21 May 2011, the Cabinet of Singapore consisted of the following persons:^[8]

Portfolio	Minister	Portrait
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Home Affairs Minister in Charge of the Civil Service Co-ordinating Minister for National Security	Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Finance Minister for Manpower	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Law	K. Shanmugam
Minister for Defence	Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Trade and Industry	Lim Hng Kiang
Minister for National Development	Khaw Boon Wan
Minister for Health	Gan Kim Yong
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources	Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Education	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs	Yaacob Ibrahim
Minister for Transport Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Lui Tuck Yew
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Lim Swee Say
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Trade and Industry	S. Iswaran
Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports	Chan Chun Sing

Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries

Where Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries were concerned, new appointments were made following the 2011 general election, including the appointment of three newly elected MPs: Sim Ann, Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong. Backbenchers Halimah Yacob and Josephine Teo were made Ministers of State.^[9] With effect from 21 May 2011 the following Members of Parliament were appointed as Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries:^[8]

Reshuffles

As of 1 August and 1 November 2012

On 31 July 2012, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced several changes to his Cabinet and other appointments. With effect from 1 August, Grace Fu was promoted to Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, the second woman to be appointed a full minister in Singapore.^[10] Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Lui Tuck Yew relinquished their respective appointments as Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs to Tan Chuan-Jin and Grace Fu, while Yaacob Ibrahim became Minister for Communications and Information. With effect from 1 November, Chan Chun Sing was redesignated Acting Minister for Social and Family Development, while Lawrence Wong was brought into the Cabinet for the first time as Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.^[11]

Thus, as of 1 November 2012, the composition of the Cabinet was as follows:^[12]

Portfolio	Minister	Portrait
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Minister for Home Affairs	Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Finance	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Lim Swee Say
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Trade and Industry	S. Iswaran
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Grace Fu Hai Yien
Minister for Communications and Information Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs	Yaacob Ibrahim
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (from 1 November 2012) Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (not a Cabinet appointment)	Lawrence Wong
Minister for Defence	Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Education	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources	Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Law	K. Shanmugam
Minister for Health	Gan Kim Yong
Acting Minister for Manpower Senior Minister of State for National Development (not a Cabinet appointment)	Tan Chuan-Jin
Minister for National Development	Khaw Boon Wan
Acting Minister for Social and Family Development (from 1 November 2012) Senior Minister of State for Defence (not a Cabinet appointment)	Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Trade and Industry	Lim Hng Kiang
Minister for Transport	Lui Tuck Yew

The following changes to the Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries were also made with effect from 1 August 2012 (or 1 November, if so indicated):^[12]

As of 1 September 2013

On 28 August 2013, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced several changes to his Cabinet and other appointments. With effect from 1 September, Chan Chun Sing was promoted to the full Minister and will continue to helm the Ministry of Social and Family Development.^[13] Mr. Chan was also appointed the second minister for the Ministry of Defence. Tan Chuan-Jin relinquished his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development while maintaining his post as an acting Manpower minister.^[14][15]

Thus, as of 1 September 2013, the composition of the Cabinet was as follows:^[16]

Portfolio	Minister	Portrait
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Minister for Home Affairs	Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Finance	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Lim Swee Say
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Trade and Industry	S. Iswaran
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Grace Fu Hai Yien
Minister for Communications and Information Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs	Yaacob Ibrahim
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (not a Cabinet appointment)	Lawrence Wong
Minister for Defence	Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Education	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources	Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Law	K. Shanmugam
Minister for Health	Gan Kim Yong
Acting Minister for Manpower	Tan Chuan-Jin
Minister for National Development	Khaw Boon Wan
Minister for Social and Family Development Second Minister for Defence	Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Trade and Industry	Lim Hng Kiang
Minister for Transport	Lui Tuck Yew

Changes to the Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries were also made with effect from 1 September 2013. Amy Khor and Josephine Teo were promoted to Senior Minister of State while Mohamad Maliki Osman, Sim Ann and Desmond Lee were given the post of Minister of State in their respective ministries. Low Yen Ling was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development from 1 October 2013 onwards.^[14][15]

As of 1 May 2014

Changes to the Cabinet and other appointments were announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 29 April 2014. With effect from 1 May, Tan Chuan-Jin and Lawrence Wong were promoted to full ministers of the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth respectively. Tan relinquished his appointment as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development.^[17]

Composition of the Cabinet as at 1 May 2014

Portfolio	Minister	Portrait
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Minister for Home Affairs	Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Finance	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Lim Swee Say
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Trade and Industry	S. Iswaran
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Grace Fu Hai Yien
Minister for Communications and Information Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs	Yaacob Ibrahim
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Second Minister for Communications and Information	Lawrence Wong
Minister for Defence	Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Education	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources	Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Law	K. Shanmugam
Minister for Health	Gan Kim Yong
Minister for Manpower	Tan Chuan-Jin
Minister for National Development	Khaw Boon Wan
Minister for Social and Family Development Second Minister for Defence	Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Trade and Industry	Lim Hng Kiang
Minister for Transport	Lui Tuck Yew

Changes to the Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries were also made with effect from 1 May 2014. Sam Tan relinquished his appointment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon being promoted to Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office and for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Dr. Lam Pin Min was appointed Minister of State for Health with effect from 1 August, while Low Yen Ling was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth in addition to her current portfolio in the Ministry of Social and Family Development from 1 May.^[17]

Source: Press Statement from the Prime Minister on Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments, Prime Minister's Office, 29 April 2014, archived from the original on 14 July 2014.

As of 9 April and 4 May 2015

Changes to the Cabinet and other appointments were announced on 8 April 2015. With effect from 9 April, Chan Chun Sing relinquished his posts of Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence to become a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. Tan Chuan-Jin became Minister for Social and Family Development and will relinquish his post of Minister for Manpower on 4 May. Lim Swee Say will take over as Manpower Minister on that date. Lui Tuck Yew, currently Minister for Transport, took on the additional post of Second Minister for Defence as of 9 April. Masagos Zulkifli was promoted to full minister as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. This is the first time there are two Malay full ministers in the Cabinet, the other being Yaacob Ibrahim.^[18]

Composition of the Cabinet as of 9 April and 4 May 2015

Portfolio	Minister	Portrait
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister Co-ordinating Minister for National Security Minister for Home Affairs	Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Finance	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Chan Chun Sing
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Grace Fu Hai Yien
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Trade and Industry	S. Iswaran
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Second Minister for Home Affairs Second Minister for Foreign Affairs	Masagos Zulkifli
Minister for Communications and Information Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs	Yaacob Ibrahim
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Second Minister for Communications and Information	Lawrence Wong
Minister for Defence	Ng Eng Hen
Minister for Education	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources	Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Law	K. Shanmugam
Minister for Health	Gan Kim Yong
Minister for Manpower (from 4 May 2015) Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (until 4 May 2015)	Lim Swee Say
Minister for National Development	Khaw Boon Wan
Minister for Social and Family Development Minister for Manpower (until 4 May 2015)	Tan Chuan-Jin
Minister for Trade and Industry	Lim Hng Kiang
Minister for Transport Second Minister for Defence	Lui Tuck Yew

Source: Press Statement from the Prime Minister on Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments, Prime Minister's Office, 8 April 2015, archived from the original on 10 April 2015.

As Masagos Zulkifli was also promoted to Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, he has ceased to be a Senior Minister of State in these ministries.^[18]

Sources: Press Statement from the Prime Minister on Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments, Prime Minister's Office, 29 April 2014, archived from the original on 14 July 2014; Press Statement from the Prime Minister on Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments, Prime Minister's Office, 8 April 2015, archived from the original on 10 April 2015.

Summary