Gan Kim Yong

The Honourable Gan Kim Yong
颜金勇
Gan in 2022
Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 May 2024 Serving with Heng Swee Keat
Prime Minister	Lawrence Wong
Preceded by	Lawrence Wong Heng Swee Keat
Minister for Trade and Industry
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 May 2021
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong
Second Minister	Tan See Leng
Preceded by	Chan Chun Sing
Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 May 2024
Prime Minister	Lawrence Wong
Deputy Chairman	Chee Hong Tat (from 23 August)
Preceded by	Lawrence Wong
6th Chairman of the People's Action Party
In office 23 November 2018 – 26 November 2022
Preceded by	Khaw Boon Wan
Succeeded by	Heng Swee Keat
Minister for Health
In office 21 May 2011 – 14 May 2021
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Second Minister	Masagos Zulkifli (2020–2021)
Preceded by	Khaw Boon Wan
Succeeded by	Ong Ye Kung
Party Whip of the People's Action Party
In office 21 May 2011 – 27 September 2015
Preceded by	Lim Swee Say
Succeeded by	Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Manpower
In office 1 April 2009 – 20 May 2011 Acting: 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by	Ng Eng Hen
Succeeded by	Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC (Chua Chu Kang)
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2011
Preceded by	Constituency established
Majority	17,520 (17.28%)
Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang SMC
In office 6 May 2006 – 7 May 2011
Preceded by	Low Seow Chay
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC (Zhenghua)
In office 25 October 2001 – 6 May 2006
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Liang Eng Hwa
Personal details
Born	Gan Kim Yong (1959-02-09) 9 February 1959 (age 65)[1] Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Cambridge (MA)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Gan.

Gan Kim Yong^[a] (born 9 February 1959) is a Singaporean politician who has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore since 2024 and Minister for Trade and Industry since 2021. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Choa Chu Kang division of Choa Chu Kang GRC since 2011.

Prior to entering politics, Gan worked in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He joined NatSteel in 1989 and became the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of NatSteel in 2005. Gan made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.

Gan previously served as Minister for Manpower between 2008 and 2011, Minister for Health between 2011 and 2021, Chairman of the People's Action Party between 2018 and 2022 and Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 3 July 2023 to 14 May 2024. The Monetary Authority of Singapore announced Gan as the new Chairman of MAS from 15 May 2024, the same day Wong relinquished his position as chairman and became Prime Minister, who also appointed Gan as his Deputy Prime Minister in his cabinet whilst retaining his Trade and Industry portfolio. On 12 June 2024, it was announced that Gan had become the new chairman of the Economic Development Board's International Advisory Council since 1 June 2024, taking over from Wong who previously assumed the chairmanship from July 2023 following Tharman's resignation. On 24 September 2024, it was announced that Gan would be joining the GIC as a Director from 1 October.

Education

Gan was educated at Catholic High School and National Junior College before he received an Overseas Merit Scholarship from the Singapore Government to study at the University of Cambridge, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in electrical engineering in 1981.^[2]

He subsequently received a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge in 1985.^[3]

Career

Gan began his career in the Civil Service, working at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). He left the Civil Service for the private sector in 1989 and joined NatSteel. In 1996, he became Executive Vice President of NatSteel and CEO of NatSteel Resorts International and NatSteel Properties. In 2005, he became President and CEO of NatSteel.

Political career

Gan made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover. Gan was subsequently elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Zhenghua ward of Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC. In 2005, he was appointed as Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Manpower.

During the 2006 general election, Gan replaced Low Seow Chay as the PAP candidate contesting in Chua Chu Kang SMC and won 60.37% of the vote. On 1 April 2008, he was appointed as Acting Minister for Manpower and later promoted to full Minister on 1 April 2009.

During the 2011 general election, Gan led the five-member PAP team contesting in the newly-formed Chua Chu Kang GRC and won 61.20% of the vote. He continued serving as the Member of Parliament representing the Chua Chu Kang ward of Chua Chu Kang GRC. On 21 May 2011, he relinquished his portfolio as Minister for Manpower and took up a new portfolio as Minister for Health.

During the 2015 general election, Gan led the four-member PAP team contesting in Chua Chu Kang GRC and won 76.89% of the vote. On 23 November 2018, Gan succeeded Khaw Boon Wan as Chairman of the People's Action Party.^[4][5]

In February 2018, Gan was appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to serve on the Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases, which aims to identify innovative ways to curb diseases that are not transmitted from person to person, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, and extend life expectancy.^[6]

During the 2020 general election, Gan led the five-member PAP team contesting in Chua Chu Kang GRC and won about 59% of the vote. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Gan and Lawrence Wong were appointed co-chairs of a multi-ministerial committee set up by the government on 22 January 2020 to manage the situation.^[7] Following a Cabinet reshuffle, on 15 May 2021, Gan became Minister for Trade and Industry.

On 15 May 2024, Gan was promoted to the position of Deputy Prime Minister after a cabinet reshuffle.^[8] Gan also took over as Chairman of MAS on the same day, with his appointment announced by the Monetary Authority of Singapore on 13 May 2024.^[9] He was also appointed as "Acting Prime Minister in the Prime Minister's Absence" as well as tasked with overseeing the strategy group in the Prime Minister's Office. On 12 June 2024, it was announced that Gan had become the new chairman of the Economic Development Board's International Advisory Council since 1 June 2024, taking over from Lawrence Wong who previously assumed the chairmanship following Tharman's resignation.^[10][11] On 24 September, it was announced that Gan would join the GIC as a Director from 1 October.^[12]

Personal life

Gan is married to Esther Gan with two daughters.^[13] A Christian, he adheres to Presbyterianism, and is an elder at the Chen Li Presbyterian Church.^[14]

Notes

1. Chinese: 颜金勇; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gân Kim-ióng; pinyin: Yán Jīnyǒng

References

1. "MP | Parliament of Singapore".
2. "Speech by Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State For Education & Manpower, at the Engineering Fiesta Opening Ceremony, 24th November 2005, 9.10am at the National Library at Bras Basah". Ministry of Education (Singapore). 24 November 2005. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
3. approver (20 November 2018). "PMO | Mr GAN Kim Yong". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
4. "PAP's new CEC". PAP.org.sg. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
5. "DPMs Tharman, Teo Chee Hean and 3 senior PAP members step down from Central Executive Committee". PAP.org.sg. 21 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
6. Hussain, Amir (17 February 2018). "Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong appointed to World Health Organisation commission". The Straits Times.
7. "Wuhan virus task force: Singapore's high-powered members". The Straits Times. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
8. "Gan Kim Yong to become deputy prime minister in Cabinet reshuffle". AsiaOne. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
9. "Maintenance".
10. Pei, Mia (12 June 2024). "Gan Kim Yong takes over as EDB's International Advisory Council chairman". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
11. "EDB appoints new Chairman to its International Advisory Council (IAC)". EDB Singapore. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
12. https://www.straitstimes.com/business/dpm-gan-kim-yong-appointed-director-of-gic-board
13. "Mr GAN Kim Yong". Prime Minister's Office, Singapore. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
14. "Ministers Urged Seminary to be Continually Involved in Globalised Society". The Christian Post. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010.

External links

• Gan Kim Yong on Prime Minister's Office
• Gan Kim Yong on Parliament of Singapore

Political offices
Preceded by Ng Eng Hen	Minister for Manpower 2009 – 2011 Acting: 2008 – 2009	Succeeded by Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Preceded by Khaw Boon Wan	Minister for Health 2011 – 2021	Succeeded by Ong Ye Kung
Preceded by Chan Chun Sing	Minister of Trade and Industry 2021 – present	Incumbent
Parliament of Singapore
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC (Zhenghua) 2001 – 2006	Succeeded by Liang Eng Hwa
Preceded by Low Seow Chay	Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang SMC 2006 – 2011	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC (Chua Chu Kang) 2011 – present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Khaw Boon Wan	Chairman of the People's Action Party 2018 – 2022	Succeeded by Heng Swee Keat