Ng Eng Hen | |
|---|---|
黄永宏 | |
.jpg) Ng in 2024 | |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 21 May 2011 – 22 May 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong |
| Second Minister | Chan Chun Sing (2013–2015) Lui Tuck Yew (2015) Ong Ye Kung (2016–2018) |
| Preceded by | Teo Chee Hean |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Second Minister for Defence | |
| In office 1 July 2005 – 20 May 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Teo Chee Hean |
| Preceded by | Teo Chee Hean |
| Succeeded by | Chan Chun Sing (2013) |
| Minister for Manpower | |
| In office 12 August 2004 – 31 March 2008 Acting: 12 May 2003 - 11 August 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | Lee Boon Yang |
| Succeeded by | Gan Kim Yong |
| Second Minister for Education | |
| In office 12 August 2004 – 30 June 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Tharman Shanmugaratnam |
| Succeeded by | Indranee Rajah |
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forBishan–Toa Payoh GRC (Toa Payoh Central) | |
| In office 25 October 2001 – 15 April 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Ho Tat Kin |
| Succeeded by | Cai Yinzhou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ng Eng Hen (1958-12-10)10 December 1958 (age 66)[1] |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | Ivy Lim Swee Lian |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | National University of Singapore (MBBS) |
| Signature |  |
Ng Eng Hen[a] (born 10 December 1958)[1] is a Singaporean former politician and oncologist who previously served asMinister for Defence from 2011 to 2025. A member of the governingPeople's Action Party (PAP), he was theMember of Parliament (MP) representing theToa Payoh Central division ofBishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency from 2001 to 2025.
Prior to joining politics, Ng was a consultant surgeon at theSingapore General Hospital (SGH) and later a privatesurgical oncologist atMount Elizabeth Hospital. He made his political debut in the2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting inBishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won by an uncontested walkover. Ng was later elected as an MP and has been winning subsequent general elections since.
Before becoming the Minister of Defence, Ng had beenSecond Minister for Education between 2004 and 2005,Minister for Manpower between 2004 and 2008,Second Minister for Defence between 2005 and 2011 andLeader of the House between 2011 and 2015. Ng is also the Chairman of SAFRA Board of Governors.
A Chinese Singaporean ofHenghua descent, Ng and his five siblings lived in a rental flat inZion Road during his childhood. He was educated atAnglo-Chinese School andNational Junior College before completingmedical school at theNational University of Singapore. He also underwent fellowship training insurgical oncology at theUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.[2]
Ng was a consultant surgeon at theSingapore General Hospital between 1992 and 1997 before he went into private practice atMount Elizabeth Hospital as asurgical oncologist between 1997 and 2001.[3]
Ng made his political debut in the2001 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting inBishan–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 appointedMinister of State for Education andMinister of State for Manpower.[4] In August 2004, Ng was promoted to full Minister and appointedMinister for Manpower andSecond Minister for Education. In 2005, he relinquished his portfolio as Second Minister for Education and becameSecond 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 theFrench Ministry of Defence to visit theParis Air Show and also to visit a permanentRepublic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) detachment stationed atCazaux Air Base.[6][7]
In March 2010, Ng mentioned that the weight of mother-tongue language examinations in thePrimary 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 the2011 general election, Ng was part of a five-member PAP team contesting inBishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won 56.93% of the vote against theSingapore People's Party.
In 2011, Ng stepped down from his role as Minister for Education and was appointedMinister for Defence. InParliament, he served asDeputy Leader of the House between 2007 and 2011 and later as Leader of the House between 2011 and 2015.[5] During2015 general election, Ng lead the five-member PAP team contesting inBishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won 73.59% of the vote against a second challenge by theSingapore People's Party.
In 2018, the French government awarded Ng theLegion of Honour.[8][9] During the2020 general election, Ng was part of a four-member PAP team contesting inBishan–Toa Payoh GRC and won about 67% of the vote against theSingapore People's Party.[10]
On 4 November 2021, Ng describedTaiwan'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] On 17 February 2025, at the61st Munich Security Conference, Ng stated that the Asian perspectives of the U.S. have shifted from being perceived as a force of "moral legitimacy” to "a landlord seeking rent." His remarks came following tensions betweenPresident of the United StatesDonald Trump and otherNATO members over theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[12]
On 18 April 2025, Ng announced he would not contest thegeneral election held in May that year and his retirement from politics.[13]
Ng is married to Ivy Ng Swee Lian, apaediatrician andgeneticist who has been serving as a senior advisor toSingHealth Board. The couple have four children.
| 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 2011–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Parliament of Singapore | ||
| Preceded by Ho Tat Kin | Member of Parliament for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC (Toa Payoh Central) 2001–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the House 2011–2015 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
