Mr Gan Kim Yong is all set to become the Deputy Prime Minister. The development came as incoming Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday, May 13.
Mr Gan, 65, will continue to serve as Trade and Industry Minister and will be the Acting Prime Minister in the absence of the Prime Minister.
Taking over as the chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, he will assume responsibility for the Strategy Group within the Prime Minister’s Office.
He will take charge of the new roles on Wednesday after Mr Wong takes over the leadership reins from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Top 5 facts to know about Mr Gan Kim Yong
1. Mr Gan Kim Yong is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as the Minister for Trade and Industry since 2021. A member of the governing People’s Action Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Choa Chu Kang division of Choa Chu Kang GRC since 2011.
2. Before entering politics, Mr Gan worked in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He joined NatSteel in 1989 and became its chief executive officer and president in 2005.
3. He made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.
4. Mr Gan served as Minister for Manpower between 2008 and 2011, Minister for Health between 2011 and 2021, and Chairman of the People’s Action Party between 2018 and 2022.
5. He was educated at Catholic High School and National Junior College. Mr Gan received an Overseas Merit Scholarship from the Singapore Government to study at the University of Cambridge, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in electrical engineering in 1981. In 1985, he completed Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge.
