As part of the Jul. 22 Cabinet reshuffle, Jasmin Lau will be promoted to Acting Minister for Manpower and will relinquish her role as Minister of State for Education.

She will also be promoted from Minister of State to Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information.

The 43-year-old will be taking over the manpower role from Tan See Leng, who helmed the ministry since 2021.

Tan will be appointed Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry).

Lau joins GE2025 debutants David Neo and Jeffrey Siow in Cabinet ministerial positions, the latter of whom were promoted to Ministers for Culture, Community and Youth, and for Transport, respectively.

They have yet to be co-opted into the People's Action Party's Central Executive Committee.

Lau's new appointments, along with those in the new Cabinet, will take effect on Jul. 27, 2026.

'Big shoes to fill': Lau

During the Jul. 22 press conference on the Cabinet reshuffle, Lau thanked Minister for Education Desmond Lee and her colleagues at MOE for their "guidance and partnership" in the past year.

She then turned to MOM and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, noting that she has "big shoes to fill".

"Jobs are on everyone's minds right now, and rightly so," Lau said.

Technology is causing disruption and workers and companies are "trying their best to navigate this change".

On this, Lau said:

"Our responsibility going forward is to help them through this change. This will mean looking at how we uplift our workers in the most vulnerable segments, helping Singaporeans cope with more free work career transitions, and also ensuring that lifelong learning is genuinely accessible and relevant."

Lau also said she will "keep a close eye" on retirement adequacy.

Noting her experience working in MOM from 2008 to 2010, Lau recognised that the workforce landscape has "changed significantly".

"So I do look forward to working with MOM colleagues this round," she added.

Lau also thanked PM Wong for "entrusting [her] with this role" and said that she is "ready to do [her] best".

Extensive civil service career

Lau, who holds a Master's degree in technology and policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has an extensive career in civil service.

She was Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health (MOH) before resigning from the role to run in GE2025 in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

After her successful election in 2025, she was made Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and for Education.

During her time in the roles, Lau spoke often about the impact of AI, such as during this year's Singapore Perspectives forum organised by the Institute of Policy Studies.

She also co-chaired one of the committees during the government's Economic Strategy Review.

K Shanmugam will be appointed as Senior Minister (SM) on Jul. 27.

He will continue to hold his appointments as Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.

Shanmugam is the first senior minister to take on the position while simultaneously overseeing other ministerial portfolios.

The new appointment was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the Cabinet reshuffle on Jul. 22.

New title

Shanmugam entered politics in 1988 and was first appointed a Cabinet minister on May 1, 2008.

He is one of the longest-serving ministers in the Cabinet under the People’s Action Party (PAP).

The lawyer by profession served as the Minister for Law from 2008 to 2025, and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2015.

He took on the Coordinating Minister appointment and relinquished his Law portfolio in the last Cabinet reshuffle in May 21, 2025.

Senior ministers

Shanmugam is the first senior minister to retain other ministerial portfolios while serving in the position.

The only other senior minister in the current Cabinet is former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.

SM Lee was appointed a senior minister after he stepped down as prime minister on May 15, 2024, relinquishing the role to current PM Lawrence Wong.

During a press conference announcing the Cabinet reshuffle, PM Wong said that Shanmugan and SM Lee are the two most experienced members of his team.

"They continue to provide valuable counsel and will help guide and mentor our younger officeholders," he said.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) will be renamed to the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) with effect from Oct. 1, 2026.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new name during the Cabinet reshuffle on Jul. 22.

PM Wong said that energy is becoming increasingly central to Singapore's economic competitiveness, industrial transformation and long-term resilience.

The new name reflects the ministry’s growing focus on energy matters, which are vital to Singapore's economic competitiveness and future, the government said in a press statement.

Led by two ministers

The ministry will also be led by two ministers, PM Wong announced.

Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong, who is the current Minister for Trade and Industry, will continue to oversee trade and broader economic strategy.

Tan See Leng will relinquish his role as Minister for Manpower Jul. 27, and take on a new role as Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry).

PM Wong shared that Tan will oversee energy and industry, adding that he has already been closely involved in these areas as the Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology.

“Now, he will devote his full attention to this portfolio, and relinquish his responsibilities at MOM,” PM Wong said.

In response to questions about the splitting of responsibilities between the two ministers, PM Wong explained that energy is a "very key segment" of the ministry's work, making the scope of work for the ministry larger.

"It's not just a matter of name, but it reflects the central role that energy plays, and because the work of METI is now so large, we think, and I think it's appropriate for two ministers to helm it," he added.

PM Wong further explained that Gan will continue to focus on trade, which he described as "a lot of work".

"Because we have to do lots of travelling — and in today's environment with the sort of geopolitical changes we are experiencing — a lot of negotiations around trade, as you might expect," he said

Separately, as energy and industry are becoming more important, having a co-minister rather than a second minister leading these portfolios felt "appropriate", he said.

He also noted that this is "somewhat unique, but not unusual", citing how there were previously two ministers in the education portfolio from 2015 to 2018.

Why not an energy ministry?

On the rationale for not establishing a separate energy ministry, PM Wong said that while he is not ruling it out in the future, the energy role and work is still "growing" at this juncture.

"It's not stabilised yet, and it's not clear how it will evolve in the next few years, depending on decisions we make, depending on the feasibility studies we are undertaking," he said.

He explained that they might make a move to "restructure" further when it is necessary to do so.

"So I'm not ruling it out, but I think this move is necessary for now, and appropriate for now, given today's circumstance."

Energy is an existential resource

The ministry said in a press release that energy is an "existential resource" for Singapore, just like water.

The ministry also laid out steps they had taken to secure Singapore's energy future in recent years:

a. Constructing a second LNG terminal and centralising gas procurement for the power sector;

b. Ramping up efforts to deploy solar energy across all viable surfaces, including rooftops and reservoirs;

c. Pursuing new partnerships to import low-carbon electricity from our ASEAN neighbours;

d. Studying seriously the viability of various low-carbon energy technologies, especially nuclear energy; and

e. Launching an S$800 million “Decarbonisation Grand Challenge” to fund technological advancements critical to Singapore’s decarbonisation.

This renaming therefore reflects "Singapore’s growing focus on energy, and how it remains vital to our economic growth, climate goals, and national resilience," the ministry said.

It added that there are three critical challenges to address.

Firstly, economic growth depends on continued access to "stable and competitively priced energy", it said.

Secondly, there is also a need to balance this with the transition to a low-carbon economy according to Singapore’s 2050 net-zero ambitions.

The minister said this is a "challenging task", given that Singapore is alternative-energy disadvantaged.

Lastly, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to global energy supplies are a reminder that energy security "cannot be taken for granted", the ministry emphasised.

"METI will work with all Singaporeans and businesses to build a secure, affordable, and sustainable energy system that will power our next phase of growth and development," it said.

Labour chief Ng Chee Meng will be appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, reprising his last-held Cabinet position in 2020.

His appointment, part of the latest Cabinet reshuffle announced on Jul. 22, marks his return to Cabinet and government office.

Ng will be serving alongside Indranee Rajah, who herself took on the post of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in 2018.

He will also continue to serve as the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

Ng's appointment also means that he will be able to sit in on Cabinet meetings.

The new appointments are due to take effect on Jul. 27, 2026.

Jobs and workforce transformation key government priorities: PM Wong

Commenting on Ng's appointment, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that jobs and workforce transformation are "among the government's highest priorities".

"There is important work ahead for both the government and NTUC, as we help our workers navigate these changes," PM Wong remarked.

"I have therefore asked [Ng] to return to Cabinet. He will strengthen the government team as we tackle the challenges ahead."

When asked by the media what has changed since Ng's request not to join Cabinet last year, PM Wong said that he has since "settled in" to Jalan Kayu, having spent the past year working the ground.

He reiterated that jobs and workplace transformation have also "become a much higher priority" for the government, in the face of which Ng's return would be "timely".

"I felt given the concerns of our economic and workforce challenges we face, it was timely for him to return to the government, to return to cabinet, and contribute not just as Secretary-General of NTUC, but as a minister in my team... So I approached him, and he agreed to do so," Wong said.

'Humbled by this appointment'

In a statement, Ng thanked PM Wong for inviting him to serve in Cabinet and said he was "humbled by this appointment and accept it with a strong sense of responsibility".

He added that over the past year, they have built a "capable team" in Jalan Kayu, and thanked his residents for their trust and encouragement.

"As NTUC Secretary-General and a Cabinet Minister, I will continue to champion better wages, welfare and work prospects for workers. Being in Cabinet means I can work even more closely with the government to support workers and Singapore's progress, alongside unions and employers," he added.

In a separate statement, NTUC said that the central committee members had "understood and accepted" his previous decision to focus on Jalan Kayu, but that they are "heartened" to know that he has since accepted the invitation to join the Cabinet.

"We firmly believe that [Ng's] return to Cabinet will strengthen the voice of workers in national policymaking at a time when Singapore is navigating significant economic transformation, technological disruption and workforce change."

Had asked not to be given government position after GE2025

Following his election during GE2025, Ng had asked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong not to appoint him to a position in government, to allow him to focus on his work as Member of Parliament (MP) in Jalan Kayu SMC.

PM Wong said that he would respect Ng's wishes, but that his exclusion from cabinet as the labour chief would be a "temporary arrangement".

He explained that the "NTUC Secretary-General has traditionally held a position in Cabinet" and that he values the link between the government and the trade union.

"I look forward to having the labour chief being part of the Cabinet before too long," PM Wong also said.

A 49-year-old former Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) principal tax investigator was charged with allegedly accessing taxpayer information illegally in response to queries from friends and acquaintances.

Mansur, whose alias is Thio Shuang Liuong, faced 20 charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act and a charge under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) on Jul. 22, CNA reported.

Loh Chee Wee, a 50-year-old director of Transstar Asia, also faced a charge under OSA for allegedly receiving protected information from Mansur.

Between May 2014 and January 2016, Mansur allegedly used his IRAS account to gain unauthorised access to the IRAS computer systems.

He apparently obtained tax information relating to individuals and companies on multiple occasions.

On Jul. 29, 2014, Loh purportedly queried Mansur on whether a company sharing office space with Transstar Asia was being investigated by IRAS.

Mansur allegedly obtained information from the IRAS systems and disclosed it to Loh.

Loh was apparently not authorised to receive such information.

According to CNA, Mansur was unrepresented and told the court he intends to engage a lawyer.

Both men reportedly did not indicate a plea.

Both of their cases were adjourned to Aug. 19.

Under the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, offenders convicted of unauthorised access to computer material are liable to a jail term up to two years, a fine up to S$5,000, or both.

Under OSA, offenders convicted of an offence are liable to a jail term of up to two years and a fine up to S$2,000.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has taken action against eight nightclubs since 2021 and imposed over S$6.8 million in taxes and penalties for improper tax declarations of flower garland sales, according to The Straits Times.

IRAS had in a Jul. 3 article reminded businesses of their tax obligations and said some nightclubs have tried “creative” ways to account for the income from garland sales.

What are flower garlands?

Customers buy garlands as a form of appreciation for club performers, who get a portion of the amount paid.

IRAS said GST applies to the full value of the flower garland sales, not just the portion the nightclub keeps.

Businesses should not under-report their tax obligations and must keep proper records, or else they can be penalised.

15 per cent withholding tax

IRAS also said performers, who are non-residents, are subjected to a 15 per cent withholding tax on the salaries and the money they receive from flower garland sales.

Nightclubs are required to file and pay the withholding tax on this income to IRAS by the 15th of the second month from the date of payment to these non-resident performers.

IRAS added that it conducts regular risk-based tax audits to ensure accurate tax filings in all industries.

Businesses have to verify the completeness and accuracy of their tax reporting and submit their supporting documents when requested by IRAS.

2022 case

In 2022, Soon Kok Khoon was jailed and had to pay S$630,861 for evading taxes and omitting goods and services tax (GST).

He operated Club Posh Entertainment and West Palace Entertainment, where flower garlands cost between S$50 and S$100,000.

He made his staff channel the sales revenue of the GST-registered clubs to two shell entities that were not GST-registered.

Accountants were told to leave out the clubs’ revenue from the sale of flower garlands and the output tax.

Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore K. Shanmugam has provided more details on the circumstances surrounding Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim's resignation.

Faishal, who served as Acting Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, and was Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, announced on Jul. 20 that he was resigning from political office and relinquishing his role as an MP, and a member of the People's Action Party.

In a statement issued the same day, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had received an email from a female member of the public concerning her interactions with Faishal.

The matter was investigated immediately.

The PMO said that after considering the facts and consulting the Attorney-General's Chambers, it was assessed that neither party had committed a criminal offence and hence no criminal action would be taken against either of them.

However, PM Wong said a separate question remained over whether Faishal's conduct met the standards expected of a political office-holder and MP.

Faishal acknowledged that his conduct fell short of those standards.

Woman sent messages and pictures to PM Wong

In a Facebook post on Jul. 22, Shanmugam said Faishal had engaged in a series of online interactions with the woman.

According to him, Faishal explained that he was concerned the woman might react negatively if he abruptly ended communication with her.

"Nevertheless, his responses were, objectively, inappropriate and questionable. They come across as engaging with her. Indeed, that was how the lady interpreted his responses, and said she was encouraged to continue," Shanmugam wrote.

He added that the woman later became upset when Faishal tried to put a stop to the online exchanges.

She subsequently emailed PM Wong, attaching some of the messages and photographs, and alleged that Faishal had harassed her.

Shanmugam said both Faishal and the woman made allegations of harassment against each other, and the matter was referred to the police for investigation.

At that point, the incident "ceased being a purely private, consensual matter between two individuals", he wrote.

As the woman had lodged a complaint against a public office-holder, the PMO had to assess whether Faishal's conduct was appropriate, Shanmugam said, adding that Faishal was given a fair hearing.

"Regardless of his intentions, one has to look at the evidence and facts. Faishal himself reflected on the matter and acknowledged that he should not have allowed his exchanges with the lady to carry on, and he should have established clear boundaries from the start. He also came to the conclusion that his position as MP and Minister was untenable. That is why he decided to resign and PM accepted his resignation."

Shanmugam added that the standards governing such situations had previously been set out by first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong:

"The principle is straightforward. Where a matter remains entirely private and inappropriate conduct stops after counselling, it can remain a private matter. But when the matter enters the public domain through a complaint or otherwise, it must be examined and if there has been impropriety appropriate action must follow."

"A very sad situation"

All in all, this is a very sad situation, Shanmugam wrote.

He described Faishal as a "good, honest, humble, hardworking man, who really cares for the people", adding that he had known him for over two decades:

"He is my friend and comrade."

Having worked closely with Faishal in Nee Soon GRC for 15 years and more recently at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shanmugam said he had come to know him as someone focused on making a difference to the lives of others.

"He is a true gem. His heart is in the right place – to serve the people," he said. "I haven’t come across many people, in or out of government, better than Faishal."

Faishal's contributions were "extensive"

Shanmugam also highlighted three examples of Faishal's contributions to the community:

1. About a decade ago, Faishal started the 100=50 initiative in Nee Soon Central to help lower-income residents purchase groceries at more affordable prices, an initiative Shanmugam said has helped many families over the years.
2. Faishal also took up Chinese calligraphy as a way of bringing people together across communities, personally writing calligraphy pieces of residents during Chinese New Year celebrations.
3. During the Covid-19 pandemic, when multiple cases were detected at a block in Nee Soon Central, Faishal personally visited affected residents to reassure them and address their concerns.

Shanmugam added that Faishal has never hesitated to help residents personally, driving residents with mobility issues to and from their homes on some occasions.

While these were only three examples, he said the examples were not isolated ones and that Faishal's contributions were extensive:

"They are consistent with the way Faishal has approached public service throughout his career. That is the man I have known for more than 15 years."

"I hope that he will recover from this tragic turn in his life and will find ways to contribute in different ways to the community and Singapore," he said.

Related stories

Queenstown grassroots team is working with the relevant agencies and community partners to support the family of the Lengkok Bahru murder victim with funeral arrangements and counselling.

This was shared by Member of Parliament for Queenstown SMC Eric Chua in a Facebook post on Jul. 22.

In his post, he added that they will also be holding an interfaith community prayer and remembrance gathering tonight (Jul. 22) at the multipurpose hall at 55A Lengkok Bahru.

"We will be holding an Interfaith Community Prayer and Remembrance Gathering and everyone is welcome to join us as we remember the deceased, pray for the family, and stand together as one community," he said in his post.

He added that they will also be organising a community fundraiser to support the victim's family during this difficult period.

Murder

On Jul. 20, a 59-year-old man died after allegedly fighting with his neighbour at Block 55 Lengkok Bahru.

The police had arrived to find the victim lying motionless at the 16th floor lift lobby.

He was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen, and died after he was taken to the hospital.

Ng Swee Seng, 59, the neighbour charged with allegedly murdering the victim, reportedly had a long-standing dispute with him.

Related stories

An 11-year-old boy in China's Hebei Province drowned at a sports centre after being partially sucked into the circulating drain outlet in the pool's shallow water area.

The incident occurred at about 4:50pm on Jul. 6, 2026, and the boy was accompanied by his mother.

Struggled underwater

According to 163.com, the boy was sucked into the side wall water pump's circulating drain outlet in the shallow water area of ​​the swimming pool.

He was reportedly unable to break free, causing his left arm and shoulder joint to be completely sucked in, and his head pulled underwater.

This made it impossible for him to breathe, thepaper.cn reported, adding that he then struggled underwater for about three to five minutes.

The drain outlet that sucked him in was 15cm wide and was located about 80cm below the water's surface, according to 163.com.

There were reportedly no lifeguards on site, with only one female staff member who was allegedly looking at her phone and not paying attention to the pool's surface.

Unable to rescue boy

About three minutes after the boy began drowning, another child in the same pool noticed and ran to inform those in the waiting area, thepaper.cn reported.

At 4:56pm, the boy's mother and a swimming coach rushed to the pool, where the coach jumped in to attempt a rescue.

However, due to the suction force of the pool's drainage outlet, three adults were unable to remove the boy's arm from the outlet.

The coach then rushed to the electrical room and pulled the emergency switch to cut off the power.

They managed to remove the boy's arm from the circulating drain pipe and lift him out of the pool.

However, his face was bluish-purple with no breathing or vital signs, thepaper.cn reported.

Sent to hospital, died

The boy was given first aid and sent to the hospital, where he arrived about 20 minutes after drowning.

Despite about an hour of intensive resuscitation efforts, the boy was declared dead.

Following the boy's death, his father reported the incident to the police.

Investigation as a major accident due to negligence

According to thepaper.cn, personnel from the Emergency Management Bureau and the Education and Sports Bureau conducted an investigation at the location on the afternoon of Jul. 8.

This reportedly took place after multiple complaints from the family.

On Jul. 10, the family was told to return to the accident site at 8:30am, where the Gaobeidian Municipal Emergency Management Bureau, along with safety experts, conducted an on-site investigation.

Though the family requested a report as soon as possible, they were allegedly told it would be issued within 60 days.

On Jul. 14, the police opened a case for investigation as a major accident due to negligence, 163.com reported.

The pool has since been closed, with the police and emergency management departments investigating.

In the financial year 2025/2026, registered charity Pro Bono SG helped and engaged over 16,000 individuals and social impact organisations.

This was made possible by the S$6 million raised through grants and donations to support all its legal aid programmes and four centres across Singapore.

Of the S$6 million raised, close to S$3 million was donated by individuals and organisations.

The achievement was highlighted at the Pro Bono SG Awards 2026 on Jul. 21 attended by Minister for Law Edwin Tong.

In his speech, he said: "A first-class legal system is only truly first-class when it is accessible to everyone in society, not just those who can afford it."

"That is the gap that everyone in this room is working hard at closing, one case at a time," he said.

Tong was referring to the legal work carried out by over 800 active volunteer lawyers and 470 student volunteers.

New initiatives announced

Pro Bono SG also announced new initiatives, including expanded Help Centre services at the State Courts, where the charity assisted in over 1,000 applications and conducted 295 lawyer consultations on-site.

The charity is also working with partners to operationalise the Inclusive Justice Law Centre in the second half of 2026.

This will improve access to legal assistance for persons with disabilities and their caregivers.