Grace Fu first female full minister to helm a ministry

SINGAPORE — On Thursday (Oct 1), a piece of history will be written when Ms Grace Fu is sworn in as Singapore’s first female full minister to helm a ministry.

Ms Fu, 51, who was appointed Minister in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in 2012, will take over the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) from Mr Lawrence Wong, who will move to the National Development Ministry.

Ms Fu said she was humbled by the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s confidence in her. On her priorities at MCCY, Ms Fu said that she would engage the various stakeholders “to build an even more engaged and committed community in Singapore”.

Ms Fu also notched another first: It was announced that she has been appointed by the Prime Minister as the Leader of the House, making her the first woman to hold that role in Singapore’s history. With Mr Lee intending to nominate Madam Halimah Yacob again as Speaker of Parliament when Parliament convenes again in January, the two most senior positions in the House will be occupied by women.

Ms Fu takes over from Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen as Leader of the House, who is responsible for the arrangement of government business and the legislative programme of Parliament. The Leader also proposes appropriate actions to be taken on any procedural matters arising in Parliament, and moves procedural motions relating to the business of the House during sittings, such as to extend the times of sittings beyond the usual time as set out in the Standing Orders.

During her stint in PMO, Ms Fu was also Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, as well as for Foreign Affairs.

Before her, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua was a Minister in PMO and also Second Minister for Finance and Transport. In 1991, Dr Seet Ai Mee rose to become Acting Minister for Community Development, but she lost her Parliamentary seat shortly after in a General Election held the same year.