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Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

Many chiobus learning how to make bak chang. :biggrin:

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Lawrence enjoyed a breakfast meeting. :wink:

Lawrence Wong

3 hrs ·
Enjoyed a breakfast meeting with Brunei Darussalam Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Amin Liew Abdullah this morning!
Singapore and Brunei share a very special relationship, which predates the independence of our two countries. We have close cooperation across many domains including in defence, health, tourism and education. Notably, we have the longstanding Currency Interchangeability Agreement and strong people-to-people links built up over the years.
I look forward to building on this firm foundation to strengthen our special relationship for many more decades to come!

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Lawrence had frozen chicken rice for lunch. :biggrin:

Lawrence Wong

3 hrs · Instagram ·
Dropped by Yew Tee Point Koufu foodcourt, and was glad to be able to have some chicken rice for lunch
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It has been a few days since Malaysia suspended its chicken exports. But we continue to have supplies of frozen chicken, and are bringing in chilled chicken from other countries like Australia and Thailand. So long as we continue to diversify our import sources and work closely together, we will be able to get through the occasional disruptions in our food supply.

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Lawrence plants trees on World Environment Day! :biggrin:

Lawrence Wong

1 hr ·
Tree planting to mark World Environment Day today!
With Our Limbang and Villa Verde residents, we planted 16 trees at Pang Sua Park Connector. One of the trees we planted is Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea), also known as Singapore’s sakura because of its pink flowers.
As part of our #SingaporeGreenPlan2030, we will continue to expand our green spaces and protect our nature reserves. Let’s all do our part to make Singapore a greener and more sustainable city!
#CityinNature
#OneMillionTrees

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Lawrence Wong

2 hrs ·

Residents gathered at the Verde Square after the tree planting activity for breakfast. Great to see everyone in person again.

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Lawrence looks forward to his responsibilities. :biggrin:

Lawrence Wong

4 hrs ·
When I was asked by my peers to lead the 4G team, I said that I would be taking on what would possibly be the biggest responsibility of my life.
As I’ve said before, I will do my best and give every ounce of my strength to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. In turn, I seek your support, as I take on my latest appointment as DPM, and take another step forward in embracing my new responsibilities.
I look forward to walking this journey with all of you, and working with everyone — to steer Singapore through the many challenges we are facing today, and to chart our new way forward together for a better tomorrow.
(
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: Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI))

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from straitstimes.com:

Lawrence Wong promoted to Deputy Prime Minister as part of Singapore Cabinet changes​


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SINGAPORE - Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will be promoted to Deputy Prime Minister from June 13, in a move that cements his standing as the successor to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The announcement comes two months after Mr Wong, 49, was endorsed by his peers as the leader of the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation team.

He will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of PM Lee, 70.

Mr Wong will also continue as Minister for Finance, and assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister's Office, taking over this role from Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The Strategy Group oversees key priorities and issues facing Singapore over the medium to long term, such as population and climate change.

Mr Heng, 61, will remain as Deputy Prime Minister.

He will also continue as Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, and oversee the Future Economy Council as well as assist PM Lee in overseeing the National Research Foundation and Productivity Fund Administration Board.

PM Lee said in a Facebook post on Monday (June 6): "The next generation leadership is taking shape. I ask everyone to give your full support to this important transition, to steer Singapore safely out of the pandemic and into a brighter future."

After the announcement, Mr Wong said in a Facebook post that when he was asked by his fellow 4G ministers to lead the team, he knew he would be taking on what would possibly be the biggest responsibility of his life.

Reiterating the commitment he made when he was chosen to lead the team, he said: "As I've said before, I will do my best and give every ounce of my strength to serve Singapore and Singaporeans. In turn, I seek your support, as I take on my latest appointment as DPM, and take another step forward in embracing my new responsibilities.

"I look forward to walking this journey with all of you, and working with everyone - to steer Singapore through the many challenges we are facing today, and to chart our new way forward together for a better tomorrow."

DPM Heng, in a separate Facebook post, pledged to work with Mr Wong.

"We took another important step towards leadership renewal today, with the appointment of Lawrence Wong as DPM," he said.

"Lawrence has our fullest support. I will give my all to help him succeed, while serving alongside him as DPM and as Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies."

The Cabinet changes, announced by the Prime Minister's Office, move Singapore's leadership transition process further along, after it hit a snag when Mr Heng stepped aside as leader of the 4G team in April last year.

The Cabinet has traditionally had two deputy prime minsters since the 1980s, with the exception of a short period in the 1990s when PM Lee was the only DPM on board, and since May 2019, when DPM Heng was the only person holding the post.

Besides Mr Wong's promotion, eight office-holders will be promoted or given new portfolios and responsibilities.

Minister of State for National Development, and Communications and Information Tan Kiat How will be promoted to Senior Minister of State.

Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth and Social and Family Development Eric Chua will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary.

Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam will also be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary. She will remain at the Ministry of Health and take up a new appointment in the Ministry of Law, and relinquish her appointment at the Ministry of Communications and Information.

Meanwhile, Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat, who joined the labour movement last year, will relinquish his role as deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and return to Government full-time. He will be given an additional portfolio in the Ministry of Finance.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon will give up his Health portfolio and join the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

Minister of State for Social and Family Development and Education Sun Xueling will relinquish her Education portfolio and join the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sustainability and the Environment Desmond Tan will relinquish both portfolios. He will be appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, and take on Mr Chee's role in the labour movement.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng will take on an additional portfolio in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.

The latest changes come a year after seven 4G ministers were given new roles in a major reshuffle in May 2021.

At that time, Mr Wong was given the key finance portfolio.

In April this year, PM Lee announced that Mr Wong had been selected as leader of the 4G team by his peers and that Cabinet ministers had affirmed the choice.

The decision was then endorsed by all PAP MPs in a party caucus.

Mr Wong was a senior civil servant before contesting the 2011 General Election, and became minister of state for defence and education. He was acting minister for culture, community and youth in 2012, and promoted to full minister in 2014.

He became national development minister in 2015, took on an additional role as second minister for finance in 2016, and was made education minister after the 2020 General Election. He became finance minister in May last year.

Others in the PAP 4G team also expressed support for Mr Wong.

In a Facebook post, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said: "With promotion certainly comes greater responsibilities, and as a team, we are always ready to lean in and support one another."

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin thanked Mr Wong and the other office-holders for "leading and making a difference".
 
Lawrence glad to meet with customs chiefs. :wink:

Lawrence Wong

54 mins ·
Glad to meet with the customs chiefs from all ASEAN countries this morning. Customs work may not always be visible to the public eye. But it helps to keep our trade moving smoothly, which is the lifeblood of our economies. Throughout the pandemic, customs cooperation amongst ASEAN countries has ensured the flow of essential medical supplies and food in the region.
I look forward to closer collaboration amongst our customs authorities, so that we can have more integrated and resilient supply chains in ASEAN, and we can make the region a more attractive destination for trade and investments. This is critical in securing a brighter and more prosperous future for all our peoples in ASEAN!

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from straitstimes.com:

Global uncertainty likely determined nature and extent of Cabinet changes, say observers​

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SINGAPORE - Geopolitical uncertainties, including challenges such as inflation, the Ukraine war and regional trade disruptions, likely precluded major changes to the Cabinet, said observers.

The fact that a significant reshuffle was last made just over a year ago also meant that any changes in ministers helming key portfolios could be disruptive.

Political observers said these considerations could have been why the latest Cabinet changes announced on Monday (June 6) included no other movements involving full ministers.

At the same time, the promotion of Finance Minister Lawrence Wong to Deputy Prime Minister eliminates any ambiguity about the political leadership's succession plans, said Dr Woo Jun Jie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) think-tank.

He said the latest round of Cabinet changes was very much focused on Mr Wong's appointment as DPM, coming on the back of his selection as leader of the People's Action Party's (PAP) fourth-generation team in April.

"For the Government's leadership succession, this serves to further clarify and confirm Mr Wong's position as Singapore's next prime minister," he said.

Former PAP MP Inderjit Singh, who was a backbencher from 1997 to 2015, said: "The key thing right now is to test the 4G (fourth-generation) PM and not so much to test 4G members as ministers. They have already been tested since they came in 2011."

Dr Gillian Koh, deputy director of research at IPS, said it seemed sensible that the key portfolios of defence, foreign affairs and security continue to be helmed by experienced hands, given the current disruptive changes globally.

"Presumably, these are leaders who have close ongoing networks with leaders across the region and globe that will serve Singapore well for the sharing of intelligence and the coordination of responses with the international community," she said.

Dr Woo cited global inflation, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, regional trade disruptions, and emerging strains of Covid-19 as looming challenges, saying that for Singapore, policy experience and stability are critical to handling such external challenges.

"These global and regional instabilities may have made it difficult to consider more substantial changes."

Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Department of Sociology noted that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently said the next PM should decide how his team should be configured.

"Hence, this reshuffle is, in my view, quite minimalist, except to reinforce the plan that Minister Lawrence Wong is the designated heir apparent," he said.

"The movements among the junior office holders are not very significant, except to facilitate their exposures to different portfolios, but no promotions to full ministerial rank."
Former minister of state Teo Ser Luck, who was an MP from 2006 to 2020, said the 4G team is shaping up slowly.

The latest reshuffle will give Mr Wong some time to assess the individual office holders and form his own team in time to come, he said.

"We need a strong team as there are greater economic and social challenges," he added.

Observers interviewed said at least one more round of Cabinet changes can be expected before the next general election, which is due by November 2025.

IPS' Dr Koh said there seems to be a rhythm of announcing Cabinet changes once a year.

Prof Tan from NUS said a probable line-up of the core team around Mr Wong could emerge in the next round of Cabinet changes.

He added that Mr Wong could be leading the PAP into the next general election, given how there would be a need for the 4G team to spell out its tone and priorities in a post-pandemic and uncertain world.

Mr Wong had, at the May Day Rally last month, announced that the 4G team would draw up a road map for Singapore for the next decade and beyond.

He said he and his colleagues will engage the labour unions as well as the people and private sector for their thoughts on the economy, healthcare, housing, education and other areas, as part of an exercise to refresh the social compact.

Mr Wong had added: "We will consider what we need to do differently, but also affirm what is being done well and how we can do it even better."

On Monday, Mr Singh said: "I think the real 4G Cabinet will appear just before the next elections. So we should be looking at two years from now for the 4G to almost take over."

By the next election, the future 4G Cabinet will be seeking a mandate together with the 4G prime minister, he added.
 
from straitstimes.com:

Josephine Teo to take over from Lawrence Wong in helming PAP Community Foundation​


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SINGAPORE - Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo has been appointed the new PAP Community Foundation (PCF) management council chairman, taking over from Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who is slated to become deputy prime minister (DPM).

Mrs Teo will assume her new role on June 13, which is also the day Mr Wong's DPM position takes effect.

PCF, which announced the move on Thursday (June 9), said Mrs Teo will also assume the post of chairman of the PCF Charity Management Committee on June 13.

Mr Wong has been helming the foundation - the People's Action Party's (PAP) social and charitable arm - and the committee since 2016.

Mrs Teo has been in PCF's executive committee for 12 years as a member and its chairman from 2016 to 2020. In October 2020, she was appointed the deputy chairman of the PCF management council.

The PCF statement said that under Mr Wong's leadership, the PCF Sparkletots pre-school operator increased its capacity across age groups and expanded its services in more areas such as Marsiling and Punggol Shore.

During his tenure, PCF also expanded its criteria for the PCF Headstart Fund in 2019 to help more families in need.

The fund, established in 2004, currently supports more than 11,000 beneficiaries such as low-income families and families with children with additional needs.

PCF said Mr Wong also spearheaded several other initiatives that benefited the community, such as the PCF Sparkle Support Package, which extends additional financial help to families with children enrolled in PCF Sparkletots pre-schools.

The foundation also expanded its services in the senior care sector in response to changes in demographic needs, with seven Sparkle Care centres set up since 2015, offering services for day care, rehabilitation and dementia care.

The Senior Care Financial Assistance Scheme was also introduced to support seniors facing financial difficulties in fee payment.

Mr Wong said that during his time with PCF, he had been inspired by many people in the organisation who had gone the extra mile to give children a good start in life and uplift families in need.

He added: "I am confident that PCF will continue to do more to advance the well-being of the community under the capable and experienced leadership of Minister Josephine Teo."

Mrs Teo said that PCF will continue to do its best to provide quality and affordable pre-school education, and uplift the welfare of seniors and the community.
 
Lawrence congratulates Josephine. :biggrin:

Lawrence Wong

4 hrs ·
Congratulations to Josephine Teo who will be taking over from me as the new Chairman of the PAP Community Foundation (PCF)!
Jo is not new to PCF. She has been involved in PCF matters for more than a decade. I’ve worked closely with her during my stint, and I am confident that she will bring PCF to greater heights!
A big thank you to all our PCF management, staff and volunteers for your steadfast contributions all these years, especially over the last two difficult years tackling the pandemic. Working together, I’m confident that PCF will continue to do more to provide quality preschool services for our children, and advance the wellbeing of our community!
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: PCF)

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