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Ng Eng Hen

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The Honourable
Ng Eng Hen
黄永宏
Ng in 2024
Minister for Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2011
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Lawrence Wong
Second MinisterChan Chun Sing (2013–2015)
Lui Tuck Yew (2015)
Ong Ye Kung (2016–2018)
Preceded byTeo Chee Hean
Leader of the House
In office
31 May 2011 – 30 September 2015
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
DeputyHeng Chee How
Preceded byMah Bow Tan
Succeeded byGrace Fu
Minister for Education
In office
1 April 2008 – 20 May 2011
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byTharman Shanmugaratnam
Succeeded byHeng Swee Keat
Second Minister for Defence
In office
1 July 2005 – 20 May 2011
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterTeo Chee Hean
Preceded byTeo Chee Hean
Succeeded byChan Chun Sing (2013)
Minister for Manpower
In office
12 August 2004 – 31 March 2008
Acting: 12 May 2003 - 11 August 2004
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byLee Boon Yang
Succeeded byGan Kim Yong
Second Minister for Education
In office
12 August 2004 – 30 June 2005
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
MinisterTharman Shanmugaratnam
Succeeded byIndranee Rajah
Member of Parliament
for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
(Toa Payoh Central)
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 October 2001
Preceded byHo Tat Kin
Personal details
Born
Ng Eng Hen

(1958-12-10) 10 December 1958 (age 66)[1]
Colony of Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
SpouseIvy Lim Swee Lian
Children4
Alma materNational University of Singapore (MBBS)
Signature
In this Chinese name, the family name is Ng.

Ng Eng Hen (Chinese: 黄永宏; pinyin: Huáng Yǒnghóng, Hinghwa Romanized: Ńg Ṳ̂ng-héng; born 10 December 1958)[1] is a Singaporean politician and former oncologist who has been serving as Minister for Defence since 2011. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Toa Payoh Central division of Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC since 2001.

Prior to entering politics, Ng was a consultant surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and later a private surgical oncologist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

He made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won by an uncontested walkover. Ng was later elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) and has been winning subsequent general elections since.

Before becoming the Minister of Defence, Ng has been Second Minister for Education between 2004 and 2005, Minister for Manpower between 2004 and 2008, Second Minister for Defence between 2005 and 2011 and Leader of the House between 2011 and 2015. Ng is also the Chairman of SAFRA Board of Governors.

Early life and education

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A Chinese Singaporean of Henghua descent, Ng and his five siblings lived in a rental flat in Zion Road during his childhood. He was educated at Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College before completing medical school at the National University of Singapore. He also underwent fellowship training in surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.[2]

Career

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Ng was a consultant surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital between 1992 and 1997 before he went into private practice at Mount Elizabeth Hospital as a surgical oncologist between 1997 and 2001.[3]

Political career

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Ng in November 2005

Ng made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won by an uncontested walkover and Ng was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Toa Payoh Central ward of Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC. Since 2001, he has been the Member of Parliament for that ward, having successfully retained his seat in subsequent general elections. He is also an adviser to the Bishan–Toa Payoh Town Council and Bishan–Toa Payoh grassroots organisations.

In 2002, Ng was appointed Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Manpower.[4]

In August 2004, Ng was promoted to full Minister and appointed Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Education. In 2005, he relinquished his portfolio as Second Minister for Education and became Second Minister for Defence.[5] In April 2008, he stepped down from his post as Minister for Manpower and took up the portfolio of Minister for Education.

Ng was also Chairman of the Jobs Task Force at the Ministry of Manpower, and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Low Wage Workers.

In June 2007, Ng was invited by the French Ministry of Defence to visit the Paris Air Show and also to visit a permanent Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) detachment stationed at Cazaux Air Base.[6][7]

In March 2010, Ng mentioned that the weight of mother-tongue language examinations in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) might be reduced in order to benefit some students who are weak in their mother-tongue due to the emphasis on the English language in the Singapore education system. This sparked a debate among Singaporeans who support emphasis on mother-tongue languages in education. Ng subsequently assured Singaporeans that the weight of mother-tongue language in the PSLE would not be reduced.

During the 2011 general election, Ng was part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won 56.93% of the vote against the Singapore People's Party.

In 2011, Ng stepped down from his role as Minister for Education and was appointed Minister for Defence. In Parliament, he served as Deputy Leader of the House between 2007 and 2011 and later as Leader of the House between 2011 and 2015.[5]

During 2015 general election, Ng lead the five-member PAP team contesting in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won 73.59% of the vote against a second challenge by the Singapore People's Party.

In 2018, the French government awarded Ng the Legion of Honour.[8][9]

During the 2020 general election, Ng was part of a four-member PAP team contesting in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won about 67% of the vote against the Singapore People's Party.[10]

On 4 November 2021, Ng described Taiwan's political status as an issue that for the People's Republic of China, "goes to the heart of the political legitimacy of the leader, of the party of the party and it's a deep red line. I can think of no scenario which there are winners if there is an actual physical confrontation over Taiwan ... So, I would advise us to stay very far away from that."[11]

Personal life

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Ng is married to Ivy Ng Swee Lian, a paediatrician and geneticist who has been serving as the chief executive officer of SingHealth[12] and the couple have four children.

References

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  1. ^ a b "PMO | Dr NG Eng Hen". 20 November 2018.
  2. ^ Ng Eng Hen (7 March 2011). "Social Mobility — The Singapore Story: Past, Present and Future". Ministry of Education, Singapore. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Introducing New Ministers: Ng Eng Hen" (PDF). Singapore. Singapore Embassy, Washington, D.C. January 2003. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2007.
  4. ^ "Dr. Ng Eng Hen". Prime Minister's Office, Singapore. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Biography: Dr Ng Eng Hen". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Second Minister for Defence Visits France". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Bilateral visits since 1977". Embassy of France in Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
  8. ^ Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur "Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen conferred title of Officer in French Legion of Honour". The Straits Times. 20 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Le ministre singapourien de la Défense décoré de la Légion d'Honneur". Le Petit Journal Singapour (in French). Singapore. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
  10. ^ hermesauto (2020-07-11). "GE2020 official results: PAP wins Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in 3rd successive challenge by SPP". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  11. ^ Ma, Xinru; Kang, David C. (2024). Beyond Power Transitions: The Lessons of East Asian History and the Future of U.S.-China Relations. Columbia Studies in International Order and Politics. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-231-55597-5.
  12. ^ Prof Ivy Ng "Senior Management". SingHealth.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ng Eng Hen.
Political offices
Preceded by
None
 Second Minister for Education
2002 - 2003 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Second Minister for Defence
2003 – 2011 		Succeeded by
None
Preceded by Minister for Manpower
2003 – 2008
Acting: 2003–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Education
2008 – 2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Defence
2011 – present 		Incumbent
Parliament of Singapore
Preceded by
Ibrahim Othman
 Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
(Toa Payoh Central)
2001 – present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Leader of the House
2011 – 2015 		Succeeded by
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