<div>Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings said on Saturday Chief Executive Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has decided to extend her three-month sabbatical until October.</div><div> </div><div>Temasek did not give a reason for the decision by Ho, which comes amid media speculation that elections could take place in the city-state this year.</div><div> </div><div>Ho, 62, took leave in mid-April after the death of her father-in-law, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister. Her leave had been due to end this month.</div><div> </div><div>"She will continue with her board duties and specific stewardship duties," the Temasek statement said.</div><div> </div><div>Temasek is a major global investor with stakes in Standard Chartered, Chinese banks and Singapore's biggest companies. It reported this month the value of its portfolio had jumped by almost a fifth to a record S$266 billion ($197 billion) in the year to March 31, 2015.</div><div> </div><div>It had said Ho would take a three-month sabbatical but the move was not linked to any plans for her to retire from the post she has held for more than a decade. There has been some speculation about the timing of her departure.</div><div> </div><div>Officials said at the state investor's annual review they expected Ho to return to work this month.</div><div> </div><div>Temasek president Lee Theng Kiat, who has temporarily taken over Ho's duties, will continue to cover the company's normal business, the statement said.</div><div> </div><div>Singapore media and online blogs have speculated that the next general election could be held some time after celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Singapore's independence in August.</div><div> </div><div>On Friday, an electoral boundaries review committee released its report on redrawing Singapore's constituencies, signalling that elections are around the corner.</div><div> </div><div>(Reuters)</div>
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