Indranee Rajah

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Indranee Rajah

| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ta|இந்திராணி ராஜா}}}}

| honorific-suffix = SC

| image = Indranee_Rajah_at_Built_Environment_(BCA)_Leaders_Retreat_2025_20250611_165823.jpg

| caption = Indranee in 2025

| office = Leader of the House

| term_start = 24 August 2020

| term_end =

| primeminister = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong

| deputy = Zaqy Mohamad

| predecessor = Grace Fu

| successor =

| office1 = Minister in the Prime Minister's Office

| alongside1 = Ng Chee Meng (2018–2020)
Tan See Leng (2020–2021)
Maliki Osman (2020–2025)

| primeminister1 = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong

| term_start1 = 1 May 2018

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Chan Chun Sing
(2015–2018)
Josephine Teo
(2017–2018)

| successor1 =

| office2 = Second Minister for National Development

| primeminister2 = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong

| minister2 = Desmond Lee (2020-2025)
Chee Hong Tat (2025–present)

| term_start2 = 27 July 2020

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = Desmond Lee

| successor2 =

| office3 = Second Minister for Finance

| alongside3 = Lawrence Wong (until 2021)
Chee Hong Tat (2024–2025)

| term_start3 = 1 May 2018

| term_end3 =

| primeminister3 = Lee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong

| minister3 = Heng Swee Keat
(2018–2021)
Lawrence Wong
(2021–present)

| office4 = Second Minister for Education

| primeminister4 = Lee Hsien Loong

| minister4 = Ong Ye Kung

| term_start4 = 1 May 2018

| term_end4 = 26 July 2020

| predecessor4 = Ng Eng Hen (2005)

| successor4 = Maliki Osman

| office5 = Second Minister for Law

| term_start5 = 1 May 2018

| term_end5 = 30 June 2018

| primeminister5 = Lee Hsien Loong

| minister5 = K. Shanmugam

| predecessor5 = S. Jayakumar (1988)

| successor5 = Edwin Tong (2020)

| office9 = Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore

| term_start9 = 8 November 2006

| term_end9 = 18 April 2011

| 1blankname9 = Speaker

| 1namedata9 = Abdullah Tarmugi

| alongside9 = Matthias Yao

| predecessor9 = S. Iswaran

| successor9 = Seah Kian Peng

| constituency_MP10 = Pasir Ris–Changi GRC

| term_start10 = 4 May 2025

| term_end10 =

| predecessor10 = Constituency established

| successor10 =

| majority10 = 31,955 (35.36%)

| constituency_MP11 = Tanjong Pagar GRC

| term_start11 = 4 November 2001

| term_end11 = 15 April 2025

| predecessor11 = PAP held

| successor11 = PAP held

| majority11 = {{plainlist|

2001: N/A (walkover)
2006: N/A (walkover)
2011: N/A (walkover)
2015: N/A (walkover)
2020: 32,470 (26.26%)

}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|04|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = State of Singapore

| party = People's Action Party

| education = National University of Singapore (LLB)

}}

Indranee Thurai Rajah {{postnominals|list=SC}} ({{langx|ta|இந்திராணி ராஜா|translit=Intirāṇi Rājā}}; born 12 April 1963){{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/indranee-rajah|title=PARL | MP|website=www.parliament.gov.sg}}{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/indranee-rajah?viewcv=Indranee%20Rajah|title=Parliament of Singapore : MP Indranee Rajah's CV|access-date=7 August 2024|website=Parliament of Singapore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801190203/http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/indranee-rajah?viewcv=Indranee%20Rajah|archive-date=1 August 2013}} is a Singaporean politician and lawyer who has been serving as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance since 2018 and Second Minister for National Development and Leader of the House since 2020. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), she was the Member of Parliament (MP), part of the PAP team, representing the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC) between 2001 and 2025 and then as the MP, part of the PAP team, representing Pasir Ris–Changi GRC (GRC) since 2025.

Prior to entering politics, Indranee was a lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Drew & Napier. She was appointed Senior Counsel in January 2003. Indranee made her political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a six-member PAP team contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won. She was subsequently elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tanglin–Cairnhill ward of Tanjong Pagar GRC. After the death of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on 23 March 2015, Indranee also served as the grassroot advisor for the Tiong Bahru ward until the 2015 general election as no by-elections were called due to it being a group representation constituency.

Education

Indranee attended Marymount Convent Primary School, Marymount Convent Secondary School{{cite news|last=Long|first=Susan|date=28 March 2014|title=Life lessons from my mother|publisher=Council for Third Age (C3A)|url=http://www.c3a.org.sg/Learning_contect.do?id=2725|url-status=dead|access-date=17 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331225545/http://www.c3a.org.sg/Learning_contect.do?id=2725|archive-date=31 March 2016}} and Raffles Institution before graduating from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Laws with honours degree in 1986.

Law career

Indranee began her legal career in 1987 with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. She joined Drew & Napier in 1988 and became a director of the firm in 1991. She was a litigator and had an active court practice as an advocate and solicitor, specialising in cross-border dispute resolution. She was appointed Senior Counsel by Chief Justice Yong Pung How in January 2003.

Political career

Indranee served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament between 2006 and 2011.

On 31 July 2012, Indranee was designated as Senior Minister of State for Law and Senior Minister of State for Education before being appointed on 1 November 2012.{{cite news|title=Singapore reshuffles Cabinet|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1216875/1/.html|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|access-date=31 July 2012|archive-date=18 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318053849/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1216875/1/.html|url-status=live}}

Indranee led a 12-member committee in 2013 to provide a strategic direction for the planned third law school in Singapore, including its admissions criteria, curriculum development and educational philosophy.{{cite news|author=Sandra Davie|title=Top legal minds to help shape 3rd law school|url=http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/slw/headlinesnews/33698-top-legal-minds-to-help-shape-3rd-law-school.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021417/http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/slw/headlinesnews/33698-top-legal-minds-to-help-shape-3rd-law-school.html|archive-date=3 December 2013 |newspaper=The Straits Times (reproduced on Singapore Law Watch)|date=28 November 2013}} On 16 February 2016, the committee which includes the Ministry of Law and Singapore University of Social Sciences, held a joint press conference to announce the opening of the SUSS School of Law.{{cite news |title=Singapore's 3rd law school to focus on mid-career professionals |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-3rd-law/2519108.html |access-date=14 April 2017 |website=SUSS |archive-date=15 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415012652/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-3rd-law/2519108.html |url-status=live }}

Indranee relinquished her position as Senior Minister of State for Education, before being appointed as Senior Minister of State for Finance on 1 October 2015.{{cite web | url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/prime-minister-lee-hsien/2154802.html | title=Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet | publisher=Channel NewsAsia | date=28 September 2015 | access-date=28 September 2015 | archive-date=21 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143256/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-announces-singapore-s-new-cabinet-8239284 | url-status=live }}

On 9 March 2018, Indranee criticised Workers' Party Member of Parliament Sylvia Lim on Facebook after the latter voiced her suspicion on the government's intention to raise the GST in order to extract an apology. The public criticised Indranee and other PAP members for hounding Lim and being narrow-minded, and supported Lim for asking a legitimate question on behalf of her constituents.{{Cite web |url=http://redwiretimes.com/kua-politics/indranee-rajah-faces-backlash-for-renewed-attack-on-sylvia-lim-over-gst-hike-test-balloons-suspicion/ |title=Indranee Rajah Faces Backlash for Renewed Attack on Sylvia Lim over GST Hike "Test Balloons" Suspicion |date=9 March 2018 |access-date=10 March 2018 |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311063632/http://redwiretimes.com/kua-politics/indranee-rajah-faces-backlash-for-renewed-attack-on-sylvia-lim-over-gst-hike-test-balloons-suspicion/ |url-status=live }}

On 1 May 2018, Indranee was appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Education. She was succeeded by Edwin Tong as Second Minister for Law on 30 June 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/newsroom/changes-cabinet-and-other-appointments-apr-2018 | title=Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments (Apr 2018) | publisher=Prime Minister's Office | date=24 April 2018 | access-date=24 April 2018 | archive-date=24 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424180740/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/newsroom/changes-cabinet-and-other-appointments-apr-2018 | url-status=live }}

On 20 August 2020, Indranee was appointed as Leader of the House for the 14th Parliament.{{cite news |title=Indranee Rajah named Leader of the House, Tan Chuan-Jin to be nominated again as Speaker of Parliament: PMO |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/indranee-rajah-named-leader-house-tan-chuan-jin-be-nominated-again-speaker-parliament-pmo |access-date=20 August 2020 |publisher=TODAYonline |archive-date=26 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826045804/https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/indranee-rajah-named-leader-house-tan-chuan-jin-be-nominated-again-speaker-parliament-pmo |url-status=live }}

On 21 April 2025, PAP announced Indranee to leave Tanjong Pagar GRC to lead a team comprising Sharael Taha, Desmond Tan and Valerie Lee to contest Pasir Ris–Changi GRC.{{Cite news |last=Chua |first=Nadine |last2=Yong |first2=Clement |last3=Abdullah |first3=Zhaki |date=2025-04-21 |title=GE2025: Indranee Rajah to helm PAP’s Pasir Ris-Changi GRC team, Teo Chee Hean will not contest there |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-indranee-rajah-to-helm-paps-pasir-ris-changi-grc-team-teo-chee-hean-will-not-contest-there |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}

Personal life

Indranee is the daughter of A. T. Rajah, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and former President of the Singapore National Olympic Council.{{cite news|title=A.T. RAJAH (A NAME IN POLICE AND ATHLETICS) DIES IN HOSPITAL|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680916-1.2.56.aspx|work=The Straits Times|publisher=Courtesy of NewspaperSG|date=16 September 1968|page=9|access-date=13 October 2016|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013154337/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19680916-1.2.56.aspx|url-status=live}} Her father was a Tamil Hindu and her mother, an ethnic Chinese, was Anglican, and she was raised in her mother's faith.

References

External links

[https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/Ms-Indranee-THURAI-RAJAH Indranee Rajah] on Prime Minister's Office
[https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/indranee-rajah Indranee Rajah] on Parliament of Singapore

{{s-ttl | title = Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office

| years = 2018 – present

| alongside = Ng Chee Meng (until 2020)
Maliki Osman, Tan See Leng (since 2020)}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for
Tanjong Pagar GRC

| years = 2001–2025

| alongside =

}}

{{s-aft | after = Chan Chun Sing

| after2 = Joan Pereira

| after3 = Alvin Tan

| after4 = Foo Cexiang

| after5 = Rachel Ong