A senior Singaporean politician has been appointed to the board of the Asian city-state’s financial regulator.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has appointed Ong Ye Kung, the acting minister for education and a senior minister of state for defence. Ong’s term of appointment will run until 31st May 2019, according to the MAS.   

Before taking on his governmental jobs, Ong was the director of group strategy at Keppel Corporation, a local firm that specialises in marine, property and infrastructural businesses. Before this, he was the deputy secretary-general of Singapore's National Trades Union Congress.

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai, the minister for national development, has stepped down from the board, having joined in June 2011.