SINGAPORE: Cedric Foo will relinquish his post as Minister of
State for Defence and National Development at the end of the
month.
He has requested to return to the private sector and Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong has agreed to his request.
Mr Foo will remain as Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC and
Chairman of SPRING Singapore.
Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, will be
concurrently appointed as Minister of State for National
Development from May, while continuing as Central CDC Mayor.
In a statement, the Prime Minister thanked Mr Foo for his
contributions as a Minister of State over the last three
years.
The statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that while in
the Defence Ministry, Mr Foo had led the productivity and
innovation movement and paid special attention to the career needs
of SAF Warrant Officers and Specialists.
As the president of SAFRA and chairman of ACCORD, Mr Foo had worked
closely with NSmen and their employers, community groups and the
public to strengthen commitment to Total Defence.
The statement added that while in the National Development
Ministry, Mr Foo had co-ordinated the work of the Town Councils to
ensure that HDB estates were well managed and maintained, and
developed the programme to restructure HDB retail shops.
Mr Foo also helped to revamp and grow the construction industry,
and to promote the building and consultancy expertise
overseas.
Mr Foo joined politics during the last general election in
2001.
He rose up the ranks and was appointed Minister of State three
years ago, at the same time as other new MPs like Dr Ng Eng Hen, Dr
Vivian Balakrishnan and Mr Raymond Lim. - CNA/ir