| Cabinet Name: | Third Lee Hsien Loong Cabinet |
| Jurisdiction: | Singapore |
| Cabinet Number: | 15th |
| Flag: | Flag of Singapore.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Incumbent: | 2011-2015 |
| Date Formed: | 21 May 2011 |
| Date Dissolved: | 30 September 2015 |
| Government Head: | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Deputy Government Head: | Teo Chee Hean (1 April 2009 – 30 April 2019) Tharman Shanmugaratnam (21 May 2011 – 1 May 2019) |
| State Head: | S. R. Nathan (1 September 1999 – 31 August 2011) Tony Tan (since 1 September 2011) |
| Political Party: | People's Action Party |
| Legislature Status: | Supermajority |
| Election: | 7 May 2011 |
| Legislature Term: | 12th |
| Budget: | 2012 |
| Previous: | 2nd 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.
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]
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]
| Portfolio | Member of Parliament | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Ministers of State | ||
| Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources | ||
| Prime Minister's Office | Heng Chee How | |
| Ministers of State | ||
| Ministry of Trade and Industry Ministry of National Development | ||
| Ministry of Health | Amy Khor Lean Suan | |
| Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Masagos Zulkifli | |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry | Teo Ser Luck | |
| Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports | Halimah Yacob | |
| Ministry of Finance Ministry of Transport | Josephine Teo | |
| Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Concurrently Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports) | Chan Chun Sing | |
| Ministry of Defence Ministry of Education | Lawrence Wong | |
| Ministry of National Development Ministry of Manpower | Tan Chuan-Jin | |
| Senior Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Manpower | Hawazi Daipi | |
| Ministry of Defence Ministry of National Development | Mohamad Maliki Osman | |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports | Sam Tan Chin Siong | |
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Law | Sim Ann | |
| Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| None | ||
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]
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]
| Portfolio | Member of Parliament | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Ministers of State | ||
| Prime Minister's Office | Heng Chee How | |
| Ministry of Communications and Information (from 1 November 2012) | Lawrence Wong | |
| Ministry of Defence | Chan Chun Sing | |
| Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Masagos Zulkifli | |
| Ministry of Law (from 1 November 2012) Ministry of Education (from 1 November 2012) | Indranee Rajah | |
| Ministry of National Development | Tan Chuan-Jin | |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry Ministry of National Development | Lee Yi Shyan | |
| Ministers of State | ||
| Ministry of Social and Family Development (from 1 November 2012) | Halimah Yacob | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Manpower | Amy Khor Lean Suan | |
| Ministry of Transport Ministry of Finance | Josephine Teo | |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry | Teo Ser Luck | |
| Senior Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| Ministry of Defence Ministry of National Development | Mohamad Maliki Osman | |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Sam Tan Chin Siong | |
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Manpower | Hawazi Daipi | |
| Ministry of Communications and Information (from 1 November 2012) Ministry of Education (from 1 November 2012) | Sim Ann | |
| Parliamentary Secretary | ||
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Transport | Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim | |
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:
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]
| Portfolio | Member of Parliament |
|---|---|
| Senior Ministers of State | |
| Prime Minister's Office | Heng Chee How |
| Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Masagos Zulkifli |
| Ministry of Law Ministry of Education | Indranee Rajah |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry Ministry of National Development | Lee Yi Shyan |
| Ministry of Communications and Information | Lawrence Wong |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Manpower | Amy Khor Lean Suan |
| Ministry of Transport Ministry of Finance | Josephine Teo |
| Ministers of State | |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry | Teo Ser Luck |
| Ministry of Communications and Information Ministry of Education | Sim Ann |
| Ministry of Defence | Mohamad Maliki Osman |
| Ministry of National Development | Desmond Lee |
| Senior Parliamentary Secretaries | |
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Manpower | Hawazi Daipi |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Sam Tan Chin Siong |
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Transport | Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim |
| Ministry of Social and Family Development | Low Yen Ling |
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.[16]
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.[16]
| Portfolio | Member of Parliament |
|---|---|
| Senior Ministers of State | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Manpower | Amy Khor Lean Suan |
| Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Masagos Zulkifli |
| Ministry of Law Ministry of Education | Indranee Rajah |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry Ministry of National Development | Lee Yi Shyan |
| Ministry of Transport Ministry of Finance | Josephine Teo |
| Prime Minister's Office | Heng Chee How |
| Ministers of State | |
| Ministry of Communications and Information Ministry of Education | Sim Ann |
| Ministry of Defence Ministry of National Development | Mohamad Maliki Osman |
| Ministry of Health (from 1 August 2014) | Lam Pin Min |
| Ministry of National Development | Desmond Lee |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry | Teo Ser Luck |
| Prime Minister's Office Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Sam Tan Chin Siong |
| Senior Parliamentary Secretaries | |
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Manpower | Hawazi Daipi |
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Transport | Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim |
| Ministry of Social and Family Development Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Low Yen Ling |
Source: .
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.[17]
Source: .
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.[17]
| Portfolio | Member of Parliament |
|---|---|
| Senior Ministers of State | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Manpower | Amy Khor Lean Suan |
| Ministry of Law Ministry of Education | Indranee Rajah |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry Ministry of National Development | Lee Yi Shyan |
| Ministry of Transport Ministry of Finance | Josephine Teo |
| Prime Minister's Office | Heng Chee How |
| Ministers of State | |
| Ministry of Communications and Information Ministry of Education | Sim Ann |
| Ministry of Defence Ministry of National Development | Mohamad Maliki Osman |
| Ministry of Health | Lam Pin Min |
| Ministry of National Development | Desmond Lee |
| Ministry of Trade and Industry | Teo Ser Luck |
| Prime Minister's Office Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Sam Tan Chin Siong |
| Senior Parliamentary Secretaries | |
| Ministry of Education Ministry of Manpower | Hawazi Daipi |
| Parliamentary Secretary | |
| Ministry of Health Ministry of Transport | Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim |
| Ministry of Social and Family Development Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth | Low Yen Ling |
Sources: ; .
| Width= 20% | Name | Width= 10% | 21.5.2011 | Width= 10% | 1.8.2012 | Width= 10% | 1.11.2012 | Width= 10% | 1.9.2013 | Width= 10% | 1.5.2014 | Width= 10% | 9.4.2015 | Width= 10% | 4.5.2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet Ministers | |||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister Min, Home Affairs | |||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister Min, Finance Min, Manpower | Deputy Prime Minister Min, Finance | ||||||||||||||
| Min, Trade & Industry | |||||||||||||||
| Min, PMO | Min, Manpower | ||||||||||||||
| Min, Information, Communications & the Arts | Min, Communications & Information | ||||||||||||||
| Min, National Development | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Defence | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Environment & Water Resources | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Foreign Affairs Min, Law | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Health | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Transport 2M, Foreign Affairs | Min, Transport | Min, Transport 2M, Defence | |||||||||||||
| Min, PMO 2M, Home Affairs 2M, Trade & Industry | |||||||||||||||
| Min, Education | |||||||||||||||
| SMS, Information, Communications & the Arts SMS, Environment & Water Resources | Min, PMO 2M, Environment & Water Resources 2M, Foreign Affairs | ||||||||||||||
| Ag Min, Community Development, Youth & Sports MOS, Information, Communications & the Arts | Ag Min, Community Development, Youth & Sports SMS, Defence | Ag Min, Social & Family Development SMS, Defence | Min, Social & Family Development 2M, Defence | Min, PMO | |||||||||||
| MOS, National Development MOS, Manpower | Ag Min, Manpower SMS, National Development | Ag Min, Manpower | Min, Manpower | Min, Manpower Min, Social & Family Development | Min, Social & Family Development | ||||||||||
| MOS, Defence MOS, Education | SMS, Information, Communications & the Arts SMS, Education | Ag Min, Culture, Community & Youth SMS, Communications & Information | Min, Culture, Community & Youth 2M, Communications & Information | ||||||||||||
| MOS, Home Affairs MOS, Foreign Affairs | SMS, Home Affairs SMS, Foreign Affairs | Min, PMO 2M, Home Affairs 2M, Foreign Affairs | |||||||||||||
| Senior/ Ministers of State and Senior/ Parliamentary Secretaries | |||||||||||||||
| SMS, PMO | |||||||||||||||
| MOS, Trade & Industry MOS, National Development | SMS, Trade & Industry SMS, National Development | ||||||||||||||
| - | SMS, Law SMS, Education | ||||||||||||||
| MOS, Health | MOS, Health MOS, Manpower | SMS, Health SMS, Manpower | |||||||||||||
| MOS, Finance MOS, Transport | SMS, Finance SMS, Transport | ||||||||||||||
| MOS, Trade & Industry | |||||||||||||||
| MOS, Community Development, Youth & Sports | MOS, Social & Family Development | - | |||||||||||||
| SPS, Defence SPS, National Development | MOS, Defence MOS, National Development | ||||||||||||||
| SPS, Education SPS, Law | SPS, Education SPS, Communications & Information | MOS, Education MOS, Communications and Information | |||||||||||||
| - | MOS, National Development | ||||||||||||||
| SPS, Foreign Affairs SPS, Community Development, Youth & Sports | SPS, Foreign Affairs SPS, Culture, Community & Youth | MOS, PMO MOS, Culture, Community & Youth | |||||||||||||
| - | MOS, Health | ||||||||||||||
| SPS, Education SPS, Manpower | |||||||||||||||
| - | PS, Health PS, Transport | ||||||||||||||
| - | PS, Social & Family Development | PS, Social & Family Development PS, Culture, Community & Youth | |||||||||||||