Ng Chee Meng

Ng Chee Meng (born 8 August 1968) is a Singaporean politician, union leader and former lieutenant-general. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) since 2018 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC) since 2025. He was an MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) between 2015 and 2020.

Prior to entering politics, Ng served in the Republic of Singapore Air Force under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) between 1986 and 2015, and held the appointments of Chief of Air Force between 2009 and 2013 and Chief of Defence Force between 2013 and 2015. He joined politics in 2015 and left the SAF to contest the 2015 general election.

During his first stint as an MP, Ng served as Minister for Education (Schools) between 2015 and 2018 and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office between 2018 and 2020. In the 2020 general election, he led the PAP team for Sengkang GRC, which lost to the opposition Workers' Party (WP).

In 2020, Ng was co-opted into the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) despite losing his MP seat that year. During his time outside of political office, he remained the Secretary-General of NTUC and was a key proponent of a deal between Income Insurance and Allianz, which was ultimately called off amid intense public backlash. Ng made a political comeback in the 2025 general election, winning the newly formed Jalan Kayu SMC by only 809 votes against WP candidate Andre Low.

On 22 July 2026, Ng was appointed, effective 27 July, to the Cabinet as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

Education Ng was educated at The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College, and was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Training Award (Graduating) in 1987. He completed a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at the United States Air Force Academy in 1991, and graduated from the Singapore Command and Staff College in 1999. In 2002, he obtained a Master of Arts in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Military career Ng (left) with Itthaporn Subhawong and Gary L. North at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in March 2010

Ng enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in December 1986 and was a fighter pilot in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). During his military career, among the appointments he held were: Commanding Officer, 144 Squadron; Commander, Changi Air Base; Deputy Head, Joint Communications and Information Systems Department; Head, Air Plans; He was succeeded by Hoo Cher Mou on 25 March 2013, after his appointment as Chief of Defence Force on 27 March 2013. He was promoted from the rank of Major-General to Lieutenant-General on 27 June 2013. Ng was the second general from the RSAF to be appointed as Chief of Defence Force, after Bey Soo Khiang in 1995.

Ng chaired the organising committee for the state funeral of Singapore's first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, from 23 to 29 March 2015. He also led the first round of the vigil guard during Lee's lying in state in Parliament House from 25 to 28 March.

Ng retired from the SAF on 18 August 2015 and was succeeded by Perry Lim as Chief of Defence Force. On 22 August 2015, the PAP announced that Ng would be part of the six-member PAP team for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC in the same year's general election. The PAP team won with 72.89% of the vote. Ng was subsequently appointed Acting Minister for Education (Schools), and served as Second Minister for Transport, and Minister for Education (Schools) concurrently from 1 November 2016 to 30 April 2018.

On 23 April 2018, Ng joined the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and was appointed Deputy Secretary-General. He was then appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office on 1 May 2018. On 22 May 2018, Ng was elected Secretary-General of the NTUC by the NTUC Central Committee.

Defeat in Sengkang In the 2020 general election, Ng lost his seat in Parliament after the PAP team he led lost to that of the WP, led by He Ting Ru, in Sengkang GRC by a margin of 4.26%. He also left his positions in the cabinet, but remained Secretary-General of NTUC.

On 19 November 2020, he was co-opted into the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC) despite not being a Member of Parliament (MP). This was thought to be due to his role as the Secretary-General of NTUC, which would allow it to be represented in the CEC. On 27 March 2022, Ng was removed from the PAP team for Sengkang GRC.

On 5 August 2024, Ng, in a joint statement with NTUC president K Thanaletchimi, endorsed a deal to sell a controlling 51% stake in NTUC Enterprise subsidiary Income Insurance to Allianz. The statement mentioned that the NTUC Central Committee, which Ng is part of, supported the deal after "full and serious consideration". The Singapore Government announced on 14 October 2024 that it had blocked the deal. The Central Committee later stated that they were unaware of a controversial plan to reduce Income's share capital and return $1.85 billion in cash to shareholders within the first three years after completion of the transaction.

Return to Parliament In March and April 2025, Ng was spotted in Fernvale and was later seen making walkabouts and assisting Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Gan Thiam Poh in a Meet-the-People Session in Fernvale, an indication that he might run in the newly formed Jalan Kayu SMC in the upcoming 2025 general election. On 19 April, it was announced that Ng would contest said SMC in the upcoming general election. He proceeded to defeat WP candidate Andre Low with 51.47% of the vote, a majority of 809 votes.

This request came amid heightened public scrutiny following allegations about his conduct during a Ministry of Education (MOE) dialogue session in 2017, where he was accused of aggressive and patronising behaviour towards teachers. Ng issued a statement on 6 May, stating that he "sincerely [apologised]" and that he "could have handled the situation better". Simultaneously, photos emerged online showing Ng dining with Su Haijin, one of the individuals who was later convicted in a massive money laundering case involving assets worth S$3 billion. Ng claimed that he had no further interactions with Su after learning about the police investigation. Prior to his request, a petition calling for his exclusion from the Cabinet had been made on Change.org and garnered over 25,000 signatures.

On 22 July 2026, Ng was appointed, effective 27 July, to the Cabinet as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. They have two daughters, Elisabeth and Sara.

Ng has an elder brother, Ng Chee Khern, a former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2006 and 2009, and a younger brother, Ng Chee Peng, a former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2011 and 2014.

Awards and decorations 80x80px Public Administration Medal (Military) (Bronze), in 2005. 80x80px Public Administration Medal (Military) (Gold), in 2011.

Darjah Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (1st Degree) Legion of Honour (Commander)

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