Senior Minister of Singapore Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Senior Minister of the Republic of Singapore
Incumbent Teo Chee Hean since 1 May 2019 Lee Hsien Loong since 15 May 2024
Prime Minister's Office
Style	Senior Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	SM
Appointer	Prime Minister of Singapore
Term length	At the Prime Minister's pleasure
Formation	2 January 1985; 40 years ago (1985-01-02)

The Senior Minister of Singapore is an important role in the government of Singapore. This position is part of the Cabinet of Singapore, which is like a team of top ministers who help run the country. People who become Senior Ministers have usually been a Prime Minister or a Deputy Prime Minister before.

The Senior Minister works closely with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). They are ranked just after the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in terms of importance. Senior Ministers often provide advice and guidance to the current leaders.

History of the Senior Minister Role
People Who Have Served as Senior Minister
See also

History of the Senior Minister Role

The role of Senior Minister was created to allow experienced leaders to continue serving the country. It lets them share their knowledge and help guide new leaders.

Early Senior Ministers

S. Rajaratnam was Singapore's first Senior Minister. He started in this new role in 1985 and retired in 1988. Before that, he was the Deputy Prime Minister.

In 1990, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, became Senior Minister. He took on this role after Goh Chok Tong became the new Prime Minister. Lee Kuan Yew was considered very important, even more so than the Deputy Prime Ministers at the time.

Changes in Leadership and Roles

When Lee Hsien Loong became Prime Minister in 2004, Goh Chok Tong was appointed Senior Minister. At this time, Goh Chok Tong was ranked second in importance. Lee Kuan Yew, who was also still serving, took on a new role called Minister Mentor, ranking third.

S. Jayakumar also served as Senior Minister from 2009 until he retired from politics in 2011. He had previously been a Deputy Prime Minister.

The Role Becomes Vacant and Returns

After the 2011 general election, both Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong left the Cabinet. Goh Chok Tong was given the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister. Lee Kuan Yew chose not to take a similar title and continued to serve as a Member of Parliament until he passed away in 2015.

For about eight years, from 2011 to 2019, there was no Senior Minister. Then, in 2019, Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam were appointed Senior Ministers. They had both served as Deputy Prime Ministers before taking on this new role.

In 2023, Tharman Shanmugaratnam decided to run for president. He resigned from his government positions in July 2023 to do so, as the presidency is a non-political role.

Most recently, on 15 May 2024, Lee Hsien Loong became Senior Minister. This happened after he handed over the role of Prime Minister to Lawrence Wong.

People Who Have Served as Senior Minister

The Senior Minister is chosen as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. Currently, the Senior Ministers are Teo Chee Hean, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC, and Lee Hsien Loong, who is an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC. Both are from the People's Action Party.

Here is a list of the people who have held the position of Senior Minister:

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office		Cabinet
	S. Rajaratnam MP for Kampong Glam (1915–2006)	2 January 1985	13 September 1988	PAP	Lee K. VII
Vacant 13 September 1988–28 November 1990					Lee K. VIII
	Lee Kuan Yew MP for Tanjong Pagar SMC (until 1991) MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC (from 1991) (1923–2015)	28 November 1990	12 August 2004	PAP	Goh I Goh II Goh III Goh IV
	Goh Chok Tong MP for Marine Parade GRC (born 1941)	12 August 2004	21 May 2011	PAP	Lee H. I Lee H. II
	S. Jayakumar MP for East Coast GRC (born 1939)	1 April 2009	21 May 2011	PAP	Lee H. II
Vacant 21 May 2011–1 May 2019					Lee H. III Lee H. IV
	Tharman Shanmugaratnam MP for Jurong GRC (born 1957)	1 May 2019	7 July 2023	PAP	Lee H. IV Lee H. V
	Teo Chee Hean MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC (born 1954)	1 May 2019	Incumbent	PAP	Lee H. IV Lee H. V Wong I
	Lee Hsien Loong MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC (born 1952)	15 May 2024	Incumbent	PAP	Wong I