SINGAPORE – Minister of State for Manpower Teo Ser Luck will be stepping down from public office to return to the private sector, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement today (April 27).
The 48-year-old will relinquish his appointments as Mayor of North East CDC and Minister of State for Manpower on May 26 and June 30 respectively.
Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo will take his place as Mayor of North East CDC.
Mr Teo will continue to serve residents of the Sengkang Central division as an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has thanked Mr Teo for his “valuable services to the Government”.
Mr Teo has held office since 2006, when he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary at the former Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. In 2008, he became Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the ministry and at the Ministry of Transport.
At the two ministries, his accomplishments include contributing to the Youth Olympic Games, initiating the cycling plan, and overseeing the installation of lifts for overhead bridges and wheelchair access for public buses.
Mr Teo was appointed Minister of State for Trade and Industry in 2011, then Minister of State for Manpower 2015.
He played an active role in promoting SMEs, including developing their capabilities and setting up SME Centres, the PMO said.
In other changes to Cabinet appointments announced by the PMO, Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Desmond Lee will be promoted to full ministers.
Mrs Teo will be appointed Second Minister in the Ministry of Manpower. She will continue in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Second Minister, and relinquish her appointment in the Ministry of Transport. She will continue to oversee population matters, assisting Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Mr Lee will be appointed Second Minister in his current ministries.
Four Ministers of State will be promoted to Senior Ministers of State in their current ministries: Chee Hong Tat (Ministry of Communications and Information), Dr Janil Puthucheary (Ministry of Communications and Information), Dr Koh Poh Koon (Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Trade and Industry) and Dr Lam Pin Min (Ministry of Health), who will also be appointed as Senior Minister of State for Transport.
Parliamentary Secretaries for Education Low Yen Ling and Muhammad Faishal bin Ibrahim will be promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretaries for their current ministry.
Minister of State for the Ministry of Manpower and the Prime Minister’s Office Sam Tan will take on an additional role as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin will take on an additional role as Parliamentary Secretary for Health.
The Cabinet changes will take effect from May 1.
huizhen@sph.com.sg
