Cabinet Reshuffle 2015 - Post-LKY era

[dimsum]

What does Minister in PMO do? Is there a need for two FULL ministers in PMO?

Looks like demotion to me for CCS.

[starlight1968sg]

What are the implications/signals?

[jetsetter]

dimsum:

What does Minister in PMO do? Is there a need for two FULL ministers in PMO?

Looks like demotion to me for CCS.

There are more than 2 Ministers in PMO currently.

Mr Lim Swee Say (Minister, PMO until 3 May 2015)

Mr S Iswaran (Minister, PMO, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry)

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien (Minister, PMO, Minister i/c of MSO, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs)

Mr Chan Chun Sing (Minister, PMO)

Mr Masagos Zulkifli (Minister, PMO, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs)

And other office-holders are:

Mr Heng Chee How (Senior Minister of State, PMO)

Mr Sam Tan (Minister of State, PMO)


+++

There are A LOT OF THINGS to oversee under PMO. These guys provide support to PM by helping to coordinate inter-ministries activities and whole-of-govt policies and chart overall policy direction.

Don't forget there are 2 stat boards: MAS and CSC are under PMO directly.

And many depts like CPIB, PSC, Elections Dept, NPTD, NSCS and NRF.

PM needs these Ministers to cover him from time to time too. Like Grace Fu will take charge of national population and Municipal Services Office (remember her new hat after NDR 2014 to look into the fishball stick along the pavement?).

And by default, another Minister will be the Labour Chief of NTUC like Lim SS will be succeeded by CCS effective 4 May. PM needs eyes and ears among the trade unions, so we won't hv industrial confrontation but collaboration.

PSC already covers a lot of responsibilities from Admin service, Com & Ben, scholarships, PS21.

CSC will take care of all T&D matters within the ENTIRE civil service.

Someone needs to eyeball a VERY IMPT stat board - MAS, like liaise with int'l/fgm financial orgs.

NSCS is somewhat like our \"CIA\"/\"CTU\" - counter terrorism, intelligence...which coordinates efforts of Mindef, SPF and ISD. That's why Benny Lim was pulled over to PMO.

[jetsetter]

Demotion or not I dunno…But it’s a certainly big hat to wear for ex-COD. He’s cut for that kind of job to mingle with blue collar workers and of course increasingly more PMEs these days, coming from a humble background (single parent - mom washer woman).


He can connect with the ground/ working class, I’m sure. U need someone w grit, guts and gumption to tame and woo those trade unionists. More imptly, u need someone who speak their Hokkien language like "kee chiu" does.

[jetsetter]

starlight1968sg:

What are the implications/signals?

1. Seat warming for some (before GE2016) as part of succession planning - old ministers must stay till next GE2016 to support PM
2. \"Shorthanded\" for the time being, hence the double hatting here and there. Need more talent to join the ranks.
3. Too many young ministers. Need time to acclimatise/groom/cultivate relationship with whoever (foreign counterparts)
4. Strategic to promote Masagos as 2nd Malay full minister with the rise of Indonesia. He's from humble background. Very nice chap.

[dimsum]

jetsetter:

dimsum:

What does Minister in PMO do? Is there a need for two FULL ministers in PMO?

Looks like demotion to me for CCS.

There are more than 2 Ministers in PMO currently.

Mr Lim Swee Say (Minister, PMO until 3 May 2015)

Mr S Iswaran (Minister, PMO, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry)

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien (Minister, PMO, Minister i/c of MSO, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs)

Mr Chan Chun Sing (Minister, PMO)

Mr Masagos Zulkifli (Minister, PMO, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs)

.

Thanks for sharing, JS. You are really very familiar with the operations
:evil: So for full Ministers in PMO, am I right that the total number is increased from current 3 to 4?

[dimsum]

jetsetter:

starlight1968sg:

What are the implications/signals?

1. Seat warming for some (before GE2016) as part of succession planning - old ministers must stay till next GE2016 to support PM
2. \"Shorthanded\" for the time being, hence the double hatting here and there. Need more talent to join the ranks.
3. Too many young ministers. Need time to acclimatise/groom/cultivate relationship with whoever (foreign counterparts)
4. Strategic to promote Masagos as 2nd Malay full minister with the rise of Indonesia. He's from humble background. Very nice chap.

Signal: East Coast GRC is in a very dangerous position. Perhaps that is why LSS (whom I thought will retire soon) is now asked to helm MOM?

[janet88]

I like Mr Yaacob Ibrahim. He has this very approachable and friendly look.


With the revamp, some ministers are having heavier responsibilities and the change of portfolio will take time to adjust.

[isetan]

jetsetter:

starlight1968sg:

What are the implications/signals?

1. Seat warming for some (before GE2016) as part of succession planning - old ministers must stay till next GE2016 to support PM
2. \"Shorthanded\" for the time being, hence the double hatting here and there. Need more talent to join the ranks.
3. Too many young ministers. Need time to acclimatise/groom/cultivate relationship with whoever (foreign counterparts)
4. Strategic to promote Masagos as 2nd Malay full minister with the rise of Indonesia. He's from humble background. Very nice chap.

Jet setter,

Item 4. Is there any evidence that there is a rise from Indonesia ?