Ng Eng Hen
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.
Ng Eng Hen | |
|---|---|
黄永宏 | |
 Ng in 2017 | |
| Minister for Defence | |
| 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) | |
| Assumed office 25 October 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Othman (PAP) |
| 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 – 21 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 Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse(s) | Ivy Lim Swee Lian |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | National University of Singapore |
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 2018, 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 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
- "Biography: Dr Ng Eng Hen". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
- 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.
- "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.
- "Dr. Ng Eng Hen". Prime Minister's Office, Singapore. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017.
- "Second Minister for Defence Visits France". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
- "Bilateral visits since 1977". Embassy of France in Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018.
- 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.
- 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.
- "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.
- Prof Ivy Ng "Senior Management". SingHealth.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ng Eng Hen. |
- Ng Eng Hen on Prime Minister's Office
- Ng Eng Hen on Parliament of Singapore
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| 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 – 2019 |
Incumbent |
| Parliament of Singapore | ||
| 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 |
 Current members of the Cabinet of Singapore | |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Deputy Prime Minister(s) | |
| Senior Minister(s) | |
| Cabinet Minister(s) | |
Effective from 27 July 2020 | |
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