Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai MP (born 18 December 1972) is a Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was appointed as the Minister for Education and the Second Minister for Finance by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He was elected as the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee member and the Advisor to PAP Policy Forum.

Not to be confused with Lawrence Wong (actor).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Wong.
The Honourable

Lawrence Wong

MP
黄循财
Lawrence Wong at the Singapore International Energy Week in 2010
Minister for Education
Assumed office
27 July 2020
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byOng Ye Kung
ConstituencyMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC
Minister for National Development
In office
1 October 2015 – 26 July 2020
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byKhaw Boon Wan
Succeeded byDesmond Lee
ConstituencyMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC
Second Minister for Finance[1]
Assumed office
22 August 2016
Serving with Indranee Rajah[2]
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterHeng Swee Keat
Preceded byPosition established
ConstituencyMarsiling–Yew Tee GRC
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
(Limbang)
Assumed office
11 September 2015
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
In office
1 May 2014[3] – 30 September 2015
Acting: 1 November 2012 - 30 April 2014
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byChan Chun Sing (as Acting Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports)
Succeeded byGrace Fu Hai Yien
ConstituencyWest Coast GRC
Second Minister for Communications and Information
In office
1 May 2014 – 30 September 2015
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterYaacob Ibrahim
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byOffice abolished
ConstituencyWest Coast GRC
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for West Coast GRC
(Boon Lay)
In office
7 May 2011 – 24 August 2015
Personal details
Born
Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai

(1972-12-18) 18 December 1972
Singapore
CitizenshipSingapore
NationalitySingaporean
Political partyPeople's Action Party
EducationVictoria Junior College
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Harvard University[4]

He is currently the co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Task Force in charge of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore alongside Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong. He served as the Minister for National Development from October 2015 to July 2020.

He has previously held appointments in the Ministry for Communications and Information and the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC for Limbang since September 2015 and served as the MP for West Coast GRC for Boon Lay from May 2011 to August 2015.[5] With his election into the 36th Central Executive Committee (CEC), Wong is a member of the fourth-generation (4G) leadership of the PAP.[6][7][8][9]

Education

Wong was educated at the Haig Boys' Primary School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School and Victoria Junior College.[10][11] After graduating from junior college, he earned a Public Service Commission scholarship to study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1993.[12][13] He subsequently obtained a Master of Arts degree in Economics at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.[14]

Career

Wong began his career as a civil servant at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. He served as the Ministry's Assistant Director (Research and Planning) from 1997 to 1999, as a secretary to Ong Teng Cheong (who was Singapore's first elected president). He then moved to the Ministry of Finance, where he served as Assistant Director (Fiscal Policy) from 1999 to 2001, before becoming the Deputy Director (Budget) and Head of Economic Programmes. In 2004, he moved to the Ministry of Health as the Director of Healthcare Finance.

From 2005 to 2008, Wong served as the Principal Private Secretary to Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong.

In 2008, Wong became the Chief Executive of Singapore's Energy Market Authority.[15]

Political career

Wong was elected to Parliament at the 2011 general election representing West Coast Group Representation Constituency. On 21 May 2011, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. Wong was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Monetary Authority of Singapore on 10 June 2011.[16] On 1 August 2012, he was appointed a Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Information, Communications & the Arts and Senior Minister of State for Education.

On 1 November 2012, he was appointed Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information.

Wong led a team to bid for the Singapore Botanic Gardens to be recognised as Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.[17][18][19] Wong also spearheaded the free museum entry policy for all Singaporeans and permanent residents, to all national museums and heritage institutions from 18 May 2013.[20] In 2013, Wong also announced the setting up of a new $100 million National Youth Fund for youth to champion community and social causes.[21]

On 1 May 2014, he was appointed Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) & Second Minister for Communications and Information.[22] He is also a member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee.[23] Wong was also appointed as the Head of the SG50 Programme Office that coordinates the work of five Committees for the nation's Golden Jubilee Year celebrations.[24] Wong is also the Co-Chair for the SG50 Culture and Community Committee.[25]

As the Minister of MCCY, Wong was involved in the transformation of Singapore’s Civic District – the birthplace of modern Singapore, containing many institutions that have witnessed important turning points in Singapore's history.[26][27] In August 2016, the National Arts Council attracted criticisms over the high consultation fees paid for a bin centre, as flagged by the Auditor-General's Office. Lawrence Wong addressed the issue in parliament saying that the project was at acceptable cost due to the need for extensive study of the location and technicality involved with the building of the refuse centre in the Civic District.[28]

Under his charge, Wong also introduced the $200 million Cultural Matching Fund (CMF), a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for cash donations to arts and heritage charities and Institutions of Public Character in Singapore.[29][30][31]

In August 2015, it was reported[32] that Wong would be contesting in the Marsiling–Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency for the Singaporean General Election, 2015. His GRC team won against the Singapore Democratic Party with 68.7% of the votes.

Wong was also the Chairman of the Steering Committee[33] for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Singapore's performance of 259 medals was its best ever showing in Southeast Asian Games history.[34] Wong had also announced several key initiatives to get more Singaporeans involved in sports.[35] This includes a national movement called ActiveSG, which gives all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents ActiveSG$100 to sign up for sports programmes, and enter into swimming pools and gyms at the various Sports Centres island-wide.[36]

Wong also chairs the Singapore High Performance Sports Steering Committee, which provides strategic guidance on identifying and nurturing high performing sporting talents.[37] Wong said that the accomplishments of Singapore athletes at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games indicate that Singapore's investment in sports is paying off.[38]

On 28 September 2015, it was announced that Wong will be the Minister of National Development from 1 October 2015.[4] He also chairs the steering committee for the development of Jurong Lake Gardens.[39]

During the National Day Rally on 21 August 2016, it was announced that Wong will also be appointed Second Minister for Finance.[40] On 29 August 2016, Wong stepped down from the board of Monetary Authority of Singapore, replaced by Ong Ye Kung.[16]

On 27 January 2020, it was announced that Wong, along with Minister for Health, Gan Kim Yong, will co-chair COVID-19 Multi-Ministerial Task Force (MTF) to combat the COVID-19 situation.

On 26 March 2020, while paying tribute to frontline workers in Singapore helping in the country's fight against the COVID-19 virus, he turned emotional and teared while delivering his address. He thanked healthcare workers, as well as those working in cleaning, transport and security sectors for providing much-needed services to keep Singapore going during this difficult time.[41]

He also published the PAP's study and findings of the 2020 General Elections in a press conference published widely in the media.

On 25 July 2020, 15 days after the 2020 General Elections, and the resulting Cabinet reshuffling it was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that he will succeed Ong Ye Kung as the Education Minister in the new Cabinet line-up.[42][43]

Personal life

Wong's father was a sales executive and his mother was a teacher at his primary school. His elder brother is an aerospace engineer. Wong was previously divorced[44][45] and has since remarried.[46][47] He is a Singaporean of Hainanese descent.[48]

Filmography

Television dramas
Year Network Title Notes
2014 MediaCorp Channel 8 World at Your Feet Guest-of-honour for the futsal competition.
Special screen appearance featured in two episodes.

References
  1. "Live updates: National Day Rally 2016". Channel NewsAsia. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. Yuen Sin (24 April 2018). "Cabinet reshuffle: Indranee Rajah promoted, new Cabinet now has 3 women ministers". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  3. "Tan and Wong promoted to full Minister". Channel NewsAsia. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  4. "Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  5. "Member's CV: Lawrence Wong". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  6. Au-Yong, Rachel (2015-09-29). "Lawrence Wong to lead National Development". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  7. Han, Fook Kwang (2015-10-04). "Room to speculate over succession - for once". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
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  10. "VJC News". Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  11. ""I ran my first marathon in 1997. I have done two" – an interview with Lawrence Wong (Part 8)". Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  12. ""Inspiring Excellence, Celebrating Distinction, Raising Competencies in the Financial Sector" - Speech by Mr Lawrence Wong, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth; Board Member, Monetary Authority of Singapore at the FICS Distinction Evening on 28 May 2013". www.mas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  13. "Traditional degree route not a must before going out to work: Lawrence Wong". The Straits Times. 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  14. "Lawrence Wong". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  15. "Appointment to MAS Board of Directors". Monetary Authority of Singapore. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  16. "Changes to MAS board of directors: Lawrence Wong steps down, Ong Ye Kung appointed". Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  17. "Singapore optimistic about World Heritage bid for Botanic Gardens: Lawrence Wong". Channel News Asia. Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  18. "UNESCO delegates laud S'pore's nomination of Botanic Gardens as World Heritage Site". TODAY. TODAY. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
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  27. "A S$740 million plan to restore and revive heritage-rich Civic District". Channel News Asia. MediaCorp Pte Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  28. Yong, Charissa (2016-08-15). "Consultant's study on bin centre part of extensive feasibility study". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
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  30. "$200m Arts Fund To Help Drive Sustainability". ST Jobs. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  31. ""Community node" at Jurong library aims to bring arts to youth in heartland". Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  32. "Lawrence Wong and Halimah Yacob to co-anchor Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC". Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  33. "Steering Committee". SEA Games 2015. SingTel. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
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  39. Yeo, Sam Jo (2015-10-25). "Jurong Lake Gardens to have community gardening and cycling tracks". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
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  41. hermesauto (2020-03-25). "Parliament: Teary-eyed Lawrence Wong pays tribute to front-line workers and other unsung heroes in coronavirus fight". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  42. "PM Lee announces new Cabinet; 6 office holders promoted, 3 retirements". CNA. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
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  47. Istana Bukit Serene, Johor, Malaysia (2018-06-15). "Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar receives the audience of Singapore Ministers in conjunction with eid mubarak celebration". Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar (Facebook). The Sultan Of Johor. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  48. MCCY - Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Speeches by Mr Lawrence Wong (6 November 2013). "Speech by Mr Lawrence Wong at the Hainan Culture and Heritage Centre's anniversary dinner cum book launch". MCCY - Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
New office		 Minister for Culture, Community and Youth
2012 – 2015		 Succeeded by
Grace Fu
Preceded by
Khaw Boon Wan		 Minister for National Development
2015 – 2020		 Succeeded by
Desmond Lee
Preceded by
New office		 Second Minister for Finance
2016 – present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Ong Ye Kung		 Minister for Education
2020 – present		 Incumbent
Parliament of Singapore
Preceded by
Ho Geok Choo		 Member of Parliament for
West Coast GRC (Boon Lay)
2011 – 2015		 Succeeded by
Patrick Tay
New constituency Member of Parliament for
Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC (Limbang)
2015 – present		 Incumbent
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