Commenting on the recent promotions of several Ministers announced on Friday (Apr 27), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today told state media TodayOnline that he will give Singaporeans more Ministers in the next Cabinet shuffle next year:
“This one (reshuffle) is not a full set of changes, I expect to do a much bigger change next year. And then there will be more ministers, more changes by that time and then more new ministers will be helming their own ministries.”
The existing ruling party administration currently cost S$53 million a year excluding MP salaries at S$180,000 per year each, and having more Ministers will likely worsen the tax burden of Singaporeans. An entry-level Minister at MR4 grade cost a minimum of S$1.1 million, and even a junior Minister of State comes at a hefty tag of S$770,000 a year.
Read: Singapore’s total Ministerial salaries cost $53 million a year, most expensive in the world
Unlike his predecessors’ leadership under his father and former PM Goh Chok Tong, several ministries are now seeing multiple ministers holding the same portfolio. For example, the Education Ministry has two Ministers – Ng Chee Meng and Ong Ye Kung, while the Trade and Industry Ministry also has two – Lim Hng Kiang and S Iswaran. Foreign Affairs, Transport and National Development have also a “Second Minister” portfolio created, under Lee Hsien Loong’s administration.