SINGAPORE – Two senior public servants are set to become permanent secretaries, and two current permanent secretaries will change portfolios in the coming months, the Public Service Division (PSD) said in a statement on Aug 1. 

From Sept 1, Mr Kenneth Er will be appointed second permanent secretary for manpower and education, while Ms Ngiam Siew Ying will be second permanent secretary for finance. 

Mr Er, 53, is currently deputy secretary (planning) at the Ministry of National Development (MND), while Ms Ngiam, 49, is currently the chief executive of health technology agency Synapxe.

The two current permanent secretaries who will take on new portfolios are Mr Augustin Lee, 54, and Mr Chng Kai Fong, 46.

Mr Lee will relinquish his current role as second permanent secretary for education on Sept 1, and his role as second permanent secretary (Smart Nation) in the PMO on Oct 1. 

He will be appointed permanent secretary (energy and trade) in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from Sept 1. 

Mr Chng will take over Mr Lee’s Smart Nation portfolio and be concurrently appointed permanent secretary (development) (Smart Nation) (cybersecurity) in the PMO from Oct 1. 

He is currently permanent secretary (information and development) at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).