SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has agreed to continue serving as Senior Minister in the upcoming new Cabinet, which would only see major changes after the next General Election (GE), said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“For this moment, though, there should not be any major changes because our system works on the basis of continuity and progressive change,” Mr Wong told reporters on Tuesday (April 16).

Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, was speaking to the media for the first time since the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday announced that he will officially be taking over the country’s leadership reins from Mr Lee in a month’s time on May 15.

Mr Wong on Tuesday said that a new Cabinet will be sworn in together with him that day, and the actual lineup will be unveiled a few days before, with a few possible promotions to be expected, including that of backbencher Members of Parliament (MPs).

‘NEVER BEEN THE CASE’ OLDER MINISTERS STEP DOWN WITH PM

Mr Wong said on Tuesday that “it has never been the case” in Singapore where all older ministers step down at the same time whenever there is a leadership transition.