Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai[b] (born 18 December 1972) is a Singaporean politician, economist and former civil servant who has been serving as the fourth prime minister of Singapore since 2024 and the minister for finance since 2021. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Limbang division of Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC since 2015, and previously the Boon Lay division of West Coast GRC between 2011 and 2015. Prior to entering politics, Wong worked at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). He was Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong between 2005 and 2008. He also served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Energy Market Authority (EMA) between 2009 and 2011.[1] Wong made his political debut in the 2011 general election where he contested in West Coast GRC as part of a five-member PAP team and won. Wong subsequently contested in Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC in the 2015 general election, and retained his parliamentary seat in the 2020 general election. Prior to his appointment as Minister of Finance, Wong served as Minister for Culture, Community and Youth between 2012 and 2015, Second Minister of Communications and Information between 2014 and 2015, Minister for National Development between 2015 and 2020,[2] Second Minister of Finance between 2016 and 2021, and Minister for Education between 2020 and 2021. Wong was the co-chair of a multi-ministerial committee set up by the government in January 2020 to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore.[3] As Minister for Finance, he has overseen the gradual increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) which Lee's government has advocated for – 8% in 2023 and 9% in 2024, up from 7% which had been set since 2007. In April 2022, he was chosen as the leader of the PAP's fourth generation team, placing him in line as Lee's apparent successor.[4] Wong assumed the office of Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore on 13 June 2022, serving alongside Heng Swee Keat.[5] On 26 November 2022, Wong was appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Secretary-General of the PAP.[6] Wong was previously Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 2023 to 2024 as well as Deputy Chairman between 2021 and 2023. He assumed Chairmanship of the Investment Strategies Committee of GIC from 7 July 2023 while he assumed Chairmanship of the International Advisory Council (IAC) of the Economic Development Board (EDB) from 8 July 2023 until his subsequent relinquishment to Gan Kim Yong on 1 June 2024.[7][8] Wong was also appointed Deputy Chairman of GIC's Board of Directors on 1 October 2023. On 15 May 2024, Wong was sworn in as the fourth prime minister of Singapore, becoming the first prime minister born after the establishment of modern-day Singapore.