Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam has been appointed as Senior Minister while continuing in his current role, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced as part of changes to the Cabinet.
“He (Mr Shanmugam) and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong are the two most experienced members of my team. They will continue to provide valuable counsel, and help guide and mentor our younger officeholders,” Prime Minister Wong said in a statement on July 22.
“We are continuing our leadership transition with younger and newer members of the team ready to take on larger responsibilities,” he explained.
In other changes, Mr Jeffrey Siow, Mr David Neo, and Ms Sim Ann will be promoted to Ministers while Ms Jasmin Lau and Mr Goh Pei Ming will be promoted to Senior Ministers of State.
Dr Tan See Leng will relinquish his current role of Minister for Manpower to take on the role of Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry).
Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, while remaining as Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. He will, however, relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
In other appointments, Mr Foo Cexiang will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, while Mr Shawn Loh will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
The appointments are effective from Monday July 27, 2026.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad was earlier appointed Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs on 20 July. He will remain Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, and relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
The Prime Minister also announced the renaming of the Ministry of Trade and Industry as the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry. “The new name reflects its growing focus on energy matters, which are vital to Singapore’s economic competitiveness and future,” he said.
The name change will take effect from Oct 1, 2026.
Prime Minister Wong also said: “There are also changes to be made due to recent resignations.”
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim resigned on July 20 after a “lapse in judgment” in his interactions with a female member of the public that fell short of the standards expected of him. Mr Zaqy took over the position on the same day.
Another officeholder, Mr Koh Poh Koon, had also in June stepped down from his roles as Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health, citing the need to focus on his family.
