Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
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| Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore | |
|---|---|
| Timbalan Perdana Menteri Republik Singapura 新加坡共和国副总理 சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசின் துணைப் பிரதமர் | |
| Style | Mr Deputy Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Abbreviation | DPM |
| Appointer | Prime Minister |
| Term length | At the Prime Minister's pleasure |
| Inaugural holder | Toh Chin Chye |
| Formation | 3 June 1959 |
| Salary | S$1,870,000 annually (including S$192,500 MP salary) |
| Website | www |
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 Singapore portal
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The deputy prime minister of Singapore is the deputy head of government of the Republic of Singapore. The incumbent deputy prime minister is Heng Swee Keat.
History[]
The role of deputy prime minister is the second highest post and senior Cabinet minister in Singapore.
The office of deputy prime minister dates back to 1959 and was appointed at first by the Governor of Singapore then the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (vice-regal head of state), when Singapore achieved self-governance as the State of Singapore within the British Empire. The title of deputy prime minister remained unchanged after the merger with the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak and North Borneo, while Singapore was a constituent state in Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, and after independence in 1965. Toh Chin Chye was the first deputy prime minister of Singapore between 1959 and 1968 and retired on 2 August 1968.
Since the mid-1980s, Singapore has usually had two deputy prime ministers at a time. The holder will sometimes assume the role of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent from Singapore.
Heng was widely believed to be poised to succeed Lee Hsien Loong as the next prime minister following his appointment as deputy prime minister in May 2019 and election. Heng subsequently withdrew himself from the nomination in April 2021.[1][2]
List of deputy prime ministers[]
| Portrait | Name
(Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | Head of government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | Prime Minister | |||
| Toh Chin Chye 杜进才 டோ சின் ச்யே (10 December 1921 – 3 February 2012) MP for Rochor SMC until 1988 |
5 June 1959 | 2 August 1968 | 9 years, 58 days |  People's Action Party
|
Lee Kuan Yew | |
| No Deputy Prime Minister from 2 August 1968 to 1 March 1973 | ||||||
| Goh Keng Swee 吴庆瑞 கோ கேங் சுவீ (6 October 1918 – 14 May 2010) MP for Kreta Ayer SMC until 1984 |
1 March 1973 | 1 January 1985 | 11 years, 306 days | People's Action Party
|
Lee Kuan Yew | |
| S. Rajaratnam சின்னத்தம்பி இராசரத்தினம் 信那谈比·拉惹勒南 (25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006) MP for Kampong Glam SMC until 1988 |
1 June 1980 | 1 January 1985 | 4 years, 214 days | |||
 |
Goh Chok Tong 吴作栋 கோ சொக் தொங் (20 May 1941-) MP for Marine Parade SMC until 1988 MP for Marine Parade GRC from 1988 |
2 January 1985 | 28 November 1990 | 5 years, 330 days | ||
 |
Ong Teng Cheong 王鼎昌 ஓங் டெங் சியோங் (22 January 1936 – 8 February 2002) MP for Kim Keat SMC until 1991 MP for Toa Payoh GRC from 1991 |
2 January 1985 | 1 September 1993 | 8 years, 242 days | Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok Tong | |
 |
Lee Hsien Loong 李显龙 லீ சியன் லூங் (10 February 1952-) MP for Teck Ghee SMC until 1991 MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC from 1991 |
28 November 1990 | 12 August 2004 | 13 years, 258 days | Goh Chok Tong | |
 |
Tony Tan Keng Yam 陈庆炎 டோனி டேன் கெங் யம் (7 February 1940-) MP for Sembawang SMC till 1988 MP for Sembawang GRC from 1988 |
1 August 1995 | 1 September 2005 | 10 years, 31 days | Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong | |
 |
S. Jayakumar ஜெயகுமார் 尚穆根·贾古玛 (12 August 1939-) MP for Bedok SMC till 1988 MP for Bedok GRC till 1997 MP for East Coast GRC from 1997 |
12 August 2004 | 1 April 2009 | 4 years, 232 days | Lee Hsien Loong | |
 |
Wong Kan Seng 黄根成 வோங் கான் செங் (8 September 1946-) MP for Kuo Chuan SMC till 1988 MP for Toa Payoh GRC till 1991 MP for Thomson GRC till 1996 MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC from 1997 |
1 September 2005 | 21 May 2011 | 5 years, 262 days | ||
 |
Teo Chee Hean 张志贤 தியோ சீ ஹியன் (27 December 1954-) MP for Marine Parade GRC till 1997 MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from 1997 |
1 April 2009 | 30 April 2019 | 10 years, 30 days | ||
 |
Tharman Shanmugaratnam தர்மன் சண்முகரத்தினம் 尚达曼 (25 February 1957-) MP for Jurong GRC from 2011 |
21 May 2011 | 30 April 2019 | 7 years, 345 days | ||
 |
Heng Swee Keat 王瑞杰 ஹெங் சுவீ கியட் (15 April 1961-) MP for Tampines GRC until 2020 MP for East Coast GRC from 2020 |
1 May 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 282 days | ||
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ Ang, Hwee Min (8 April 2021). "DPM Heng Swee Keat steps aside as leader of PAP 4G team, PM Lee accepts decision". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Heng Swee Keat to be promoted to DPM in Cabinet reshuffle". Channel NewsAsia. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
External links[]
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