Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has accepted the resignation of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, 87, and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, 69.
Upon leaving Cabinet, they will take on Senior Advisor roles. This is to tap onto their accumulated experience and wisdom, says PM Lee.
Lee Kuan Yew will be appointed Senior Advisor to GIC, while Goh Chok Tong will be appointed Senior Advisor to MAS, and will have the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister. ("Emeritus" means that the person is retired, but retains an honorary title corresponding to the one he held immediately before retirement.)
They will also continue to cultivate their extensive network of ties abroad to Singapore's advantage.
In his comments, at the press conference on the new Cabinet appointments, PM Lee paid tribute to SM and MM saying the two men "have dedicated their lives to Singapore, building up the nation, raising living standards and enabling future generations to enjoy a better life in a transformed Singapore.
"They have now decided that it is time for them to step down, and leave it to me and my team of younger ministers to prepare Singapore for the future."
PM Lee said that, last Saturday, when SM and MM announced that they intended to leave Cabinet, he considered this carefully, before deciding to accept their decision.
PM Lee said that MM's and SM's contributions to Singapore were much too large to list.
He also thanked on behalf of all Singaporeans for all that they have done.
PM added that he now aims to build on what MM had done and help Singapore to shift gears to adapt to a different period.
PM Lee also paid tribute to SM Goh saying he personally owe much to SM, who brought him into politics and guided him for many years.
Upon leaving Cabinet, they will take on Senior Advisor roles. This is to tap onto their accumulated experience and wisdom, says PM Lee.
Lee Kuan Yew will be appointed Senior Advisor to GIC, while Goh Chok Tong will be appointed Senior Advisor to MAS, and will have the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister. ("Emeritus" means that the person is retired, but retains an honorary title corresponding to the one he held immediately before retirement.)
They will also continue to cultivate their extensive network of ties abroad to Singapore's advantage.
In his comments, at the press conference on the new Cabinet appointments, PM Lee paid tribute to SM and MM saying the two men "have dedicated their lives to Singapore, building up the nation, raising living standards and enabling future generations to enjoy a better life in a transformed Singapore.
PM Lee said that, last Saturday, when SM and MM announced that they intended to leave Cabinet, he considered this carefully, before deciding to accept their decision.
PM Lee said that MM's and SM's contributions to Singapore were much too large to list.
He also thanked on behalf of all Singaporeans for all that they have done.
PM added that he now aims to build on what MM had done and help Singapore to shift gears to adapt to a different period.
PM Lee also paid tribute to SM Goh saying he personally owe much to SM, who brought him into politics and guided him for many years.
