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The Honourable Dr.
Ng Eng Hen
MP
黄永宏
NgEngHen2017
Ng in 2017
Minister for Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2011
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by Teo Chee Hean
Constituency Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
(Toa Payoh Central)
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 October 2001
Preceded by Ibrahim Othman (PAP)
Majority 32,259 (34.52%)
Leader of the House

In office
31 May 2011 – 30 September 2015
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Heng Chee How
Preceded by Mah Bow Tan
Succeeded by Grace Fu
Constituency Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Minister for Education

In office
1 April 2008 – 20 May 2011
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Succeeded by Heng Swee Keat
Constituency Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Minister for Manpower

In office
12 August 2004 – April 2007
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by Lee Boon Yang
Succeeded by Gan Kim Yong
Constituency Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Second Minister for Defence

In office
July 2005 – 21 May 2011
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by Teo Chee Hean
Succeeded by None
Constituency Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
Personal details
Born Ng Eng Hen
10 December 1958(1958-12-10) (age 66)
Singapore
Political party People's Action Party
Spouse(s) Ivy Lim Swee Lian
Children 4
Alma mater National University of Singapore
Signature Ng Eng Hen signature

Ng Eng Hen (born 10 December 1958) is a Singaporean politician and former surgical oncologist. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was appointed as the Minister for Defence since 2011 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Bishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for Toa Payoh Central Division since 2001. He has served as Deputy Leader of the House from 1 April 2007 to 30 May 2011 and as Leader of the House from 31 May 2011 to 30 September 2015.[1]

Early life and education[]

Ng is one of six children and lived in a rental flat in Zion Road during his childhood. He attended Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College, before going on to medical school at the National University of Singapore and fellowship training in surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.[2]

Career[]

Ng was a consultant surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital from 1992 to 1997, and maintained a private practice in Mount Elizabeth Hospital as a surgical oncologist from 1997 to 2001.[3]

Political career[]

In 2001, Ng was elected a Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh Group GRC. In 2002, he was made a Minister of State at the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower.[4]

In August 2004, Ng became the Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Education. In 2005, his Second Minister's portfolio was switched from Education to Defence.[1]

In April 2008, Ng was made the Minister for Education and relinquished the post of Minister for Manpower.

Ng has also served as 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 travelled to France at the invitation of 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 in France.[5][6]

In March 2010, Ng mentioned that the weight of mother-tongue language examinations in the Singapore 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.

In 2011, Ng was appointed as Minister for Defence. He was also appointed as Leader of the House in Parliament.

In 2017, Ng appeared in a Channel 8 drama, When Duty Calls in episode 20 where he delivered his speech on National Service.

Ng and team remained representatives for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC in the 2020 Singaporean general election, garnering 67.26% of the valid votes.[7]

Ng Eng Hen

Ng in November 2005

Ng was currently an adviser to the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council and the grassroots organisations.

Awards[]

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

Private life[]

Ng is married to Ivy Lim Swee Lian, a paediatrician and geneticist who is the CEO of SingHealth.[10] They have four children, born between 1984 and 1994.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Biography: Dr Ng Eng Hen". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/political-office-holders/01-minister. 
  2. Ng Eng Hen (7 March 2011). "Social Mobility — The Singapore Story: Past, Present and Future". Ministry of Education, Singapore. http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2011/03/07/fy-2011-committee-of-supply-de-1.php. 
  3. "Introducing New Ministers: Ng Eng Hen". Singapore Embassy, Washington, D.C.. January 2003. p. 4. http://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/jan2003.pdf. 
  4. "Dr. Ng Eng Hen". Prime Minister's Office, Singapore. 2018-11-20. http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-ng-eng-hen. 
  5. "Second Minister for Defence Visits France". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 15 June 2007. https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2007/june/2007jun15-news-releases-01388/. 
  6. "Bilateral visits since 1977". Embassy of France in Singapore. https://sg.ambafrance.org/Bilateral-visits-since-1977. 
  7. hermesauto (2020-07-11). "GE2020 official results: PAP wins Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in 3rd successive challenge by SPP" (in en). https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapolitics/ge2020-results-pap-wins-bishan-toa-payoh-grc-in-third-successive-challenge-by. 
  8. Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur "Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen conferred French Legion of Honour award". Singapore: Channel News Asia. 20 February 2018. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/defence-minister-ng-eng-hen-conferred-french-legion-of-honour-9973070. 
  9. "Le ministre singapourien de la Défense décoré de la Légion d'Honneur" (in fr). Singapore. 20 February 2018. https://lepetitjournal.com/singapour/le-ministre-singapourien-de-la-defense-decore-de-la-legion-dhonneur-223804. 
  10. Prof Ivy Ng "Senior Management". SingHealth. http://www.singhealth.com.sg/ABOUTSINGHEALTH/CORPORATEOVERVIEW/OURLEADERSHIP/SENIORMANAGEMENT/Pages/Home.aspx. 

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
None
Second Minister for Education
2002 - 2003
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
Teo Chee Hean
Second Minister for Defence
2003 – 2011
Succeeded by
None
Preceded by
Lee Boon Yang
Minister for Manpower
2003 – 2008
Acting: 2003–2004
Succeeded by
Gan Kim Yong
Preceded by
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Minister for Education
2008 – 2011
Succeeded by
Heng Swee Keat
Preceded by
Teo Chee Hean
Minister for Defence
2011 – present
Incumbent
Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by
Ibrahim Othman
Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
(Toa Payoh Central)

2001 – present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Mah Bow Tan
Leader of the House
2011 – 2015
Succeeded by
Grace Fu
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