# Ng Chee Meng
**Ng Chee Meng** is a Singaporean politician and former military officer who serves as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). He previously served as Chief of Defence Force of the [Singapore Armed Forces](https://www.edgepedia.org/singapore-armed-forces) from 2013 to 2015 and held Cabinet posts as Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport from 2016 to 2018.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) • [2](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current roles | Minister, Prime Minister's Office (appointed 27 July 2026); Secretary-General of the NTUC[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) |
| Military career | 29 years in the Singapore Armed Forces, culminating as Chief of Defence Force (2013–2015)[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) • [2](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/) |
| Air Force command | Chief of Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, 2009–2013[2](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/) |
| Cabinet posts | Acting Minister for Education (Schools) from 1 October 2015; Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport from 1 November 2016 to 30 April 2018[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) |
| Parliamentary seats | MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC 2015–2020; MP for Jalan Kayu SMC from May 2025[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) • [3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991) |
| GE2025 result | Won Jalan Kayu SMC with 51.47% of the vote against the Workers' Party's Andre Low[3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991) |
| Education | Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering; Master of Arts in International Relations[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) |
## Military career
Ng joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1986 and served in the [Republic of Singapore Air Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-singapore-air-force). His appointments included Head of the Air Plans Department, Commander of Changi Air Base, and Director of Joint Operations.[4](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/2013mar27-news-releases-02213/) He was appointed Chief of Air Force on 10 December 2009, serving until 2013.[4](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/2013mar27-news-releases-02213/) • [2](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/)
**Chief of Defence Force.** On 27 March 2013, Ng received the SAF's symbol of command from the outgoing Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong, at a Change of Command Parade at the SAFTI Military Institute, witnessed by Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen.[4](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/2013mar27-news-releases-02213/) MINDEF credited his air force tenure with high operational readiness, the transformation of the 3rd Generation Air Force, and a strong safety record.[4](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/2013mar27-news-releases-02213/) He served as Chief of Defence Force until 2015, when he was succeeded by Major-General Perry Lim.[2](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/) • [5](https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_20150731001_2.pdf) His career in the SAF spanned 29 years.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/)
## Political career
Ng entered politics with the [People's Action Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/peoples-action-party) and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency in the 2015 general election, serving from 2015 to 2020.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) He was first appointed to the Cabinet on 1 October 2015 as Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport. On 1 November 2016 he became Minister for Education (Schools) with the concurrent appointment of Second Minister for Transport, holding both until 30 April 2018.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/)
He then served as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office from May 2018 to July 2020.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) In the 2020 general election his four-member PAP team lost the newly created Sengkang Group Representation Constituency to the [Workers' Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/workers-party-singapore), ending his parliamentary seat.[3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991)
## Labour movement
Ng joined the NTUC in April 2018 and was subsequently elected Secretary-General, leading Singapore's Labour Movement with a focus on workers' wages, welfare, and work prospects, and on strengthening tripartite collaboration between government, employers, and unions.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) Under his leadership the NTUC broadened its outreach to young workers, freelancers and self-employed persons, and professionals, managers and executives.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/) He remained Secretary-General after the 2020 electoral defeat and was co-opted into the PAP's 38th central executive committee in December 2024.[3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991)
## Return to Parliament
In the 2025 general election, held on 3 May 2025, Ng contested the new Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency for the PAP and won with 51.47% of the vote against Workers' Party candidate Andre Low, one of the tightest contests of the election.[3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991) It was his third time standing in a general election, and the win returned him to Parliament after his 2020 loss.[3](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991) Six of the seven NTUC-backed unionist candidates were elected in that election.[6](https://www.cde.org.sg/news/GE2025-Ng-Chee-Meng-returns-to-Parliament-A-total-of-6-unionists-elected/) On 27 July 2026 he was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.[1](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/)
## References
1. [Mr NG Chee Meng, Prime Minister's Office Singapore](https://www.pmo.gov.sg/about-us/the-cabinet/mr-ng-chee-meng/)
2. [Past leadership, Ministry of Defence Singapore](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/leadership-biographies/past-leadership/)
3. [GE2025: PAP's Ng Chee Meng takes Jalan Kayu SMC, beating WP's Andre Low by a slim margin, CNA](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2025-ng-chee-meng-jalan-kayu-smc-wp-andre-low-5106991)
4. [New Chief of Defence Force for the SAF, Ministry of Defence Singapore, 27 March 2013](https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/2013mar27-news-releases-02213/)
5. [Change in Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Army, MINDEF press release, National Archives of Singapore](https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/MINDEF_20150731001_2.pdf)
6. [General Election 2025: Ng Chee Meng returns to Parliament; A total of 6 unionists elected, NTUC](https://www.cde.org.sg/news/GE2025-Ng-Chee-Meng-returns-to-Parliament-A-total-of-6-unionists-elected/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › Southeast Asian politicians*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license