File photo of Mr Lui Tuck Yew. (Photo: Jason Quah/TODAY)

SINGAPORE: Former Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has been appointed as Singapore's Ambassador to Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on Thursday (Jun 1). 

Mr Lui was Minister for Transport from 2011 to 2015 and concurrently Second Minister for Defence in 2015. He left politics after deciding not to stand for re-election in 2015. 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the time he would "reluctantly accept" Mr Lui's decision, and that Mr Lui had done "very good work as Minister for Transport".

However, Mr Lui acknowledged facing some "setbacks" during his time in office, which saw a series of MRT network disruptions, including a slew of breakdowns on the North-South Line in December 2011, as well as the simultaneous disruption of both the North-South and East-West Lines in July 2015.

More at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/former-transport-minister-lui-tuck-yew-appointed-singapore-s-8903170