Following Singapore’s 2025 General Election, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a new Cabinet. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth will be helmed by a new acting Minister, one Senior Minister of State, two new Ministers of State, and one new Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Long-time supporter of the Singapore Co-operative Movement, former MCCY Minister of State Alvin Tan, will move to a new Ministry.
Following the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Minister of State Alvin Tan, 44, will no longer be helming the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) portfolio. During his time with MCCY, Mr Tan was a familiar and welcome presence at co-operative events, where he engaged with leaders, members, and youths to better understand the role of co-operatives in building a more inclusive society.
“Leaving MCCY after five years is bittersweet for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the work here,” he said in a Facebook post.
“From my work with youths, strengthening our racial and religious harmony, building our charity and co-operative sectors, to supporting our arts, heritage and sports sectors, I leave with wonderful memories and I hope a lasting impact,” Mr Tan added.
Two new Ministers of State have been appointed to helm the MCCY portfolio.
Former Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr Baey Yam Keng, 54, has been promoted to Minister of State and returns to MCCY, where he previously served from 2012 to 2020. He will be joined by newly minted Member of Parliament Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, 50, a former chief of the Agency of Integrated Care and an ex-brigadier-general in the Singapore Armed Forces.
Top public servant Mr David Neo has also been appointed Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, taking over the portfolio from Mr Edwin Tong, who now helms the Ministry of Transport and continues as Second Minister for Law.
Meanwhile, Ms Goh Hanyan, 39, is set to be sworn in as Senior Parliament Secretary in October this year.
As the co-operative movement enters its next chapter, we look back at some of the moments where MOS Alvin Tan was part of our journey.
Annual Co-operative Leaders’ Conference 2021 – Phygital
Caption: MOS Alvin Tan was a special guest at ACLC 2021, also Singapore National Co-operative Federation’s first phygital leadership conference amid Covid-19.
Mental Wellness Workshop with A Good Space Co-operative (2022)
Caption: MOS Alvin Tan interacted with fellow co-operators at the at a mental wellness workshop organised by SNCF and A Good Space Co-operative. This was a time when Covid-19 gathering regulations were lifted.
ACLC 2022 in Kota Kinabalu - Online
Forward Singapore Exercise at NTU’s Hive (2023)
Caption: MOS Alvin Tan spoke at an intimate panel discussion on how the co-operative model can empower communities. He was joined by 30 students and young co-op workers at a SCM Forward Singapore dialogue in early January 2023.
MOU Signing at Co-operative Movement Night 2023
Caption: 2023 was a year that marked co-ops’ commitment to sustainability. MOS Alvin Tan witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding signing between SNCF and the Singapore University of Social Services. | From left to right: SUSS President Professor Tan Tai Yong, SUSS’ Professor Ang Hak Seng, SNCF’s CEO Ang Hin Kee, MOS Alvin Tan, and SNCF’s Chairperson Tng Ah Yiam.
With the Emerging Leaders at the Co-operative Movement Night 2023
Caption: MOS Alvin Tan also took a group photo with the very first batch of prospective co-operative leaders from the Emerging Leaders Programme.
Singapore Co-operative Forum 2024 with Mr Lim Swee Say
Caption: Themed "Do Today for Tomorrow's Needs", the Singapore Co-operative Forum 2024 saw thought leader and former manpower minister Mr Lim Swee Say sharing key insights for succession planning and good leadership. MOS Alvin Tan, alongside other co-operators, was also in attendance.
Hustle with Heart Dialogue with Youths (2025)
Caption: MOS Alvin Tan with youths from the Singapore Co-operative Movement, National Youth Council, NTUC Youth, and People’s Association Youth Movement at the “Hustle with Heart” dialogue that was organised by SNCF in early May 2025.
Honourable Mentions
Offering co-ops more flexibility to tap on their reserves (April 2024)
Image Credit: Mediacorp
Second reading of the Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill in Parliament: the Government has proposed to give co-ops some flexibility to tap their reserves to pay dividends to their members, subject to the Registrar’s approval. Another amendment to facilitate co-ops’ operations is to remove the requirement to obtain the Registrar's approval for the issuance of bonds and debentures.
Waiver of First-Tier CCF Contributions ahead of Movement’s Centennial Celebrations (March 2025)
Image Credit: MCCY
Following recommendations by the SNCF and the Registry of Co-operative Societies, the Government have green lit the waiver of the first-tier CCF Contributions, MOS Alvin said, during Budget 2025. This is against the backdrop of a slew of support packages given for individuals and businesses, including a 50 per cent corporate tax rebate for the Year of Assessment 2025 and minimum cash grant of $2,000 for active companies with at least one local employee in 2024, capped at $40,000.
On behalf of the Singapore Co-operative Movement, we thank MOS Alvin Tan for his unwavering strong support for co-operatives, and we wish him the very best in his new appointment.
