Ng Eng Hen

<h2 id="early-life-and-education">Early life and education</h2>
A Chinese Singaporean of <a href="/facts/Henghua/bHgMurS9">Henghua</a> descent, Ng and his five siblings lived in a rental flat in <a href="/facts/River_Valley,_Singapore/6TTaSEYh">Zion Road</a> during his childhood. He was educated at <a href="/facts/Anglo-Chinese_School/5c9WgGhR">Anglo-Chinese School</a> and <a href="/facts/National_Junior_College/9W3SYcfB">National Junior College</a> before completing <a href="/facts/Yong_Loo_Lin_School_of_Medicine/n8n0UlP1">medical school</a> at the <a href="/facts/National_University_of_Singapore/vP3kw0ye">National University of Singapore</a>. He also underwent fellowship training in <a href="/facts/Surgical_oncology/Gd6lLbMf">surgical oncology</a> at the <a href="/facts/MD_Anderson_Cancer_Center/K1177Mww">University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a>

<h2 id="career">Career</h2>
Ng was a consultant surgeon at the <a href="/facts/Singapore_General_Hospital/IFaFW2Bf">Singapore General Hospital</a> between 1992 and 1997 before he went into private practice at <a href="/facts/Mount_Elizabeth_Hospital/JLpsAC9I">Mount Elizabeth Hospital</a> as a <a href="/facts/Surgical_oncology/Gd6lLbMf">surgical oncologist</a> between 1997 and 2001.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a>

<h2 id="political-career">Political career</h2>

Ng made his political debut in the <a href="/facts/2001_Singaporean_general_election/jIHrW8eX">2001 general election</a> as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in <a href="/facts/Bishan%E2%80%93Toa_Payoh_GRC/ESa4CRQv">Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Education_(Singapore)/UISgDkQK">Minister of State for Education</a> and <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Manpower_(Singapore)/k7PQ6X6z">Minister of State for Manpower</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a>
In August 2004, Ng was promoted to full Minister and appointed <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Manpower_(Singapore)/k7PQ6X6z">Minister for Manpower</a> and <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Education_(Singapore)/UISgDkQK">Second Minister for Education</a>. In 2005, he relinquished his portfolio as Second Minister for Education and became <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Defence_(Singapore)/8vwJyE9Y">Second Minister for Defence</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Armed_Forces_(France)/lY8Xnw7I">French Ministry of Defence</a> to visit the <a href="/facts/Paris_Air_Show/B6CYMEQr">Paris Air Show</a> and also to visit a permanent <a href="/facts/Republic_of_Singapore_Air_Force/4X5yo8wG">Republic of Singapore Air Force</a> (RSAF) detachment stationed at <a href="/facts/Cazaux_Air_Base/MzJwjcDs">Cazaux Air Base</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
In March 2010, Ng mentioned that the weight of mother-tongue language examinations in the <a href="/facts/Primary_School_Leaving_Examination/hQxSMH9X">Primary School Leaving Examination</a> (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 <a href="/facts/2011_Singaporean_general_election/1WR773K9">2011 general election</a>, Ng was part of a five-member PAP team contesting in <a href="/facts/Bishan%E2%80%93Toa_Payoh_GRC/ESa4CRQv">Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC</a> and won 56.93% of the vote against the <a href="/facts/Singapore_People%27s_Party/6jHGNeRt">Singapore People's Party</a>.
In 2011, Ng stepped down from his role as Minister for Education and was appointed <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Defence_(Singapore)/8vwJyE9Y">Minister for Defence</a>. In <a href="/facts/Parliament_of_Singapore/pmmUFY9M">Parliament</a>, he served as <a href="/facts/Leader_of_the_House_(Singapore)/eGqDFaIW">Deputy Leader of the House</a> between 2007 and 2011 and later as Leader of the House between 2011 and 2015.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>
During <a href="/facts/2015_Singaporean_general_election/KVBXFzcf">2015 general election</a>, Ng lead the five-member PAP team contesting in <a href="/facts/Bishan%E2%80%93Toa_Payoh_GRC/ESa4CRQv">Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC</a> and won 73.59% of the vote against a second challenge by the <a href="/facts/Singapore_People%27s_Party/6jHGNeRt">Singapore People's Party</a>.
In 2018, the French government awarded Ng the <a href="/facts/Legion_of_Honour/XmLQTz71">Legion of Honour</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>
During the <a href="/facts/2020_Singaporean_general_election/GIkjUVRH">2020 general election</a>, Ng was part of a four-member PAP team contesting in <a href="/facts/Bishan%E2%80%93Toa_Payoh_GRC/ESa4CRQv">Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC</a> and won about 67% of the vote against the <a href="/facts/Singapore_People%27s_Party/6jHGNeRt">Singapore People's Party</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a>
On 4 November 2021, Ng described <a href="/facts/Political_status_of_Taiwan/TfltKgId">Taiwan's political status</a> 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."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>
On 17 February 2025, at the <a href="/facts/61st_Munich_Security_Conference/BV3grz6K">61st Munich Security Conference</a>, 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 between <a href="/facts/President_of_the_United_States/oMsfmLb1">President of the United States</a> <a href="/facts/Donald_Trump/pqqKY21P">Donald Trump</a> and other <a href="/facts/NATO/dCeTddMY">NATO</a> members over the <a href="/facts/Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine/kE7cHvoQ">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h2 id="personal-life">Personal life</h2>
Ng is married to Ivy Lim Swee Lian, a <a href="/facts/Paediatrician/hnkMfLeg">paediatrician</a> and <a href="/facts/Geneticist/cCvzvuKU">geneticist</a> who has been serving as the <a href="/facts/Chief_executive_officer/mg4A8y5M">chief executive officer</a> of <a href="/facts/SingHealth/9CaFznIF">SingHealth</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> and the couple have four children.

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ng Eng Hen.

<ul><li><a href="https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/Dr-NG-Eng-Hen">Ng Eng Hen</a> on Prime Minister's Office</li>
<li><a href="https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/ng-eng-hen">Ng Eng Hen</a> on <a href="/facts/Parliament_of_Singapore/pmmUFY9M">Parliament of Singapore</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?73183">Appearances</a> on <a href="/facts/C-SPAN/MdgMU5eM">C-SPAN</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"PMO | Dr NG Eng Hen". 20 November 2018. <a href="https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/Dr-NG-Eng-Hen" target="_blank">https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/Dr-NG-Eng-Hen</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn: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. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141019055437/http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2011/03/07/fy-2011-committee-of-supply-de-1.php" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20141019055437/http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2011/03/07/fy-2011-committee-of-supply-de-1.php</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn: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. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071008150648/http://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/jan2003.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20071008150648/http://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/jan2003.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Dr. Ng Eng Hen". Prime Minister's Office, Singapore. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. <a href="http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-ng-eng-hen" target="_blank">http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-ng-eng-hen</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Biography: Dr Ng Eng Hen". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. <a href="https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/political-office-holders/01-minister" target="_blank">https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/political-office-holders/01-minister</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"Second Minister for Defence Visits France". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. <a href="https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2007/june/2007jun15-news-releases-01388/" target="_blank">https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2007/june/2007jun15-news-releases-01388/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Bilateral visits since 1977". Embassy of France in Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. <a href="https://sg.ambafrance.org/Bilateral-visits-since-1977" target="_blank">https://sg.ambafrance.org/Bilateral-visits-since-1977</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">"Biography: Dr Ng Eng Hen". Ministry of Defence, Singapore. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. <a href="https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/political-office-holders/01-minister" target="_blank">https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/about-us/leadership-biographies/biographies-detail/political-office-holders/01-minister</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">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. <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/defence-minister-ng-eng-hen-conferred-title-of-officer-in-french-legion-of-honour" target="_blank">https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/defence-minister-ng-eng-hen-conferred-title-of-officer-in-french-legion-of-honour</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">"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. <a href="https://lepetitjournal.com/singapour/le-ministre-singapourien-de-la-defense-decore-de-la-legion-dhonneur-223804" target="_blank">https://lepetitjournal.com/singapour/le-ministre-singapourien-de-la-defense-decore-de-la-legion-dhonneur-223804</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">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. <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapolitics/ge2020-results-pap-wins-bishan-toa-payoh-grc-in-third-successive-challenge-by" target="_blank">https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/singapolitics/ge2020-results-pap-wins-bishan-toa-payoh-grc-in-third-successive-challenge-by</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">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. <a href="978-0-231-55597-5" target="_blank">978-0-231-55597-5</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Bloomberg (2025-02-18). "US akin to 'landlord seeking rent': Singapore official". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2025-02-24. <a href="https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2025/02/18/2003832082" target="_blank">https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2025/02/18/2003832082</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Prof Ivy Ng "Senior Management". SingHealth. <a href="http://www.singhealth.com.sg/ABOUTSINGHEALTH/CORPORATEOVERVIEW/OURLEADERSHIP/SENIORMANAGEMENT/Pages/Home.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.singhealth.com.sg/ABOUTSINGHEALTH/CORPORATEOVERVIEW/OURLEADERSHIP/SENIORMANAGEMENT/Pages/Home.aspx</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Ng Eng Hen open-in-new

Ng Eng Hen