Attention on Singapore cabinet reveal sidetracked by ministers' photos with Fujian gang member
As the dust of Singapore's 14th
general election settles, attention has shifted to the next big reveal: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's first cabinet, which could be in the coming week if previous timelines are any indication.
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But over the past week, any post-election talk or discussion on what the cabinet could look like has been overshadowed by the publication of two
viral photos of a convicted so-called Fujian gang leader with potential ministers. The denials by the ministers of any association with the money-launderer have been swift and firm.
Before the distraction came to the forefront, Wong had spent much of his campaign last week urging Singaporeans to give him the strongest team to tackle the global uncertainties ahead.
Voters had
responded positively , voting in all members of the previous cabinet, including an ousted minister who lost at the polls in 2020, and newcomers whom analysts expect to play major roles in Wong's government.
In the lead-up to the poll, three senior ministers – former deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat who was once touted to be prime minister, long-serving defence minister Ng Eng Hen and senior minister Teo Chee Hean – retired.
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At a press conference on Sunday with local media soon after the election results, Wong brushed off a question on whether those flanking him on the panel early that morning were his core team.
Those present were Grace Fu, K Shanmugam, Desmond Lee, Gan Kim Yong, Chan Chun Sing, Masagos Zulkifli, Ong Ye Kung, and Chan Hui Yuh. Chan Hui Yuh was not elected after losing in the Workers' Party (WP) stronghold Aljunied, while the rest had been cabinet ministers in the last 14th parliament.
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