Another army general parachuted into top job in govt-controlled company

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Rear-admiral and Chief of Naval Staff of Republic of Singapore Navy cannot make it in the private sector.

ComfortDelGro’s taxi, private-hire chief Jackson Chia quits​

Mr Jackson Chia said he is not moving to another job, but will be taking time off to spend more time with family. PHOTO: COMFORTDELGRO

Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent

Jun 25, 2024

SINGAPORE – The chief executive of ComfortDelGro Corp’s newly formed Private Mobility Group (PMG), Mr Jackson Chia, has tendered his resignation.
PMG covers the transport giant’s taxi, private-hire vehicle, car rental and leasing as well as lifestyle businesses. It was formed in June 2021, with Mr Chia as its head.
Mr Chia, who turns 55 in 2024, was previously ComfortDelGro’s group chief sustainability officer.
He joined the Singapore-listed transport group in 2017 after a 28-year career in the Singapore Armed Forces, where he held the rank of rear-admiral and was chief of naval staff of the Republic of Singapore Navy.
When contacted, ComfortDelGro group chief executive Cheng Siak Kian said an announcement will be made on Mr Chia’s successor shortly.
Mr Chia told The Straits Times that “after seven years, it was time to move on”.
He said he is not moving to another job, but will be taking time off to spend more time with family. “There are things which money cannot buy, like time and health,” he said, adding that he is serving notice till September.


Mr Chia is also a director of Vicom, a vehicle inspection subsidiary of ComfortDelGro.
Other recent resignations include Mr Stephen Chow, head of ComfortDelGro’s Zig app business. Mr Clement Chua, who headed the group’s insurance brokerage business, has also quit.
ComfortDelGro’s share price ended one cent lower to $1.35 on June 25 – less than half its value just five years ago.
The company has been facing profit erosion since ride-hailing companies such as Grab, Gojek and Ryde entered the Singapore market a decade ago.
The group reported a net profit of $40.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 – a 23.8 per cent increase over the same period in 2023. Revenue rose 10.8 per cent to $1 billion, from $906.4 million over the same period in 2023.

 

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East-West Line disruption to go into second day, no MRT service between Jurong East and Buona Vista​

About 850 commuters on board a stalled train near Clementi MRT station safely disembarking on the tracks and being guided back to the station platform. PHOTO: SMRT/FACEBOOK

Fatimah Mujibah

Sep 26, 2024

SINGAPORE – There will be no regular train services between Jurong East and Buona Vista on Sept 26, marking a second day of disruptions for commuters on the East-West Line (EWL).
This comes after a power fault halted normal passenger service between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations for most of the day on Sept 25.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement late on Sept 25 that engineers from LTA and train operator SMRT started recovery works in the afternoon, and will continue into the night.
“However, as the damage to the tracks is extensive, more time is required to do the necessary repairs and replacements,” the authority said.
Both SMRT and LTA will check all first-generation Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) trains overnight, before they are put into service, LTA added.
A defective mechanical component of a first-generation KHI train contributed to the power fault on Sept 25.
In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said: “LTA will do a thorough investigation to ascertain what happened and identify areas for improvement.”

Separately, the authority said: “LTA and SMRT will perform a rigorous investigation into the cause of the incident and provide an update in due course.”
There will be free regular bus services between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations on Sept 26, as well as free bridging bus services between Jurong East and Buona Vista stations. Also, there will be a shuttle train service between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and also between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations at 10-minute intervals.
“We are deeply sorry and thank all commuters for their understanding and patience as we do our best to recover train services on the affected stretch of the East-West Line,” SMRT said.

As Primary 6 pupils will sit their English papers in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) on Sept 26, the Ministry of Transport will work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) to “prepare contingencies to minimise the impact on our students”, said Mr Chee, who is in Beijing for the Global Sustainable Transport Forum.
In a media reply, the SEAB said there are existing arrangements for such contingencies and pupils have been briefed.
It said: “SEAB would like to assure examination candidates that they will not be penalised for being late to their examination due to train service disruptions. Candidates will be given the full duration of the paper if they reach the examination centre before the end of the paper.”
In a Facebook post, MOE said pupils who are late due to the train disruption should inform the exam centre and continue to go to their exam venue, or the nearest one. They should also approach staff at the MRT stations’ passenger service centre if they need help with directions.
A parent told The Straits Times that she would accompany her son to school by bus on Sept 26, to make sure he does not get lost. The child, who studies in a primary school in the west, is sitting his PSLE English written examinations, and typically would take the train to school on his own.
LTA said earlier that the eastbound train developed a fault on the EWL near Clementi station at about 9am on Sept 25. SMRT helped passengers to disembark at Clementi station, before withdrawing the train towards Ulu Pandan Depot.
While the train was being withdrawn, a power trip was detected at 9.25am, causing another train on the EWL between Queenstown and Boon Lay stations to stall near Clementi station, LTA said.
SMRT said there were about 850 commuters on board this train, and they safely disembarked on the tracks and were guided back to the Clementi station platform.

SMRT chairman Seah Moon Ming and group chief executive Ngien Hoon Ping explained in a statement that the incident was the result of an unforeseen issue during the withdrawal of an old train, where a defective mechanical component dropped.
That caused the wheels of a bogie – a framework to support a rail car’s traction and braking – to come off the running rail and hit track equipment, including the third rail and point machines, leading to the power fault.
“We fully understand the inconvenience, frustration and delays this disruption has caused, and we deeply regret the impact it has had on your journey,” they added.
The hours-long train disruption affected many commuters, with some telling The Straits Times that they were late for work by more than an hour.

Commuters were advised to use alternative transport arrangements, and check for updates on SMRT’s and LTA’s social media platforms, as well as LTA’s MyTransport app.
From 5pm, SMRT started running separate shuttle train services between Buona Vista and Queenstown stations, and between Jurong East and Boon Lay stations, at intervals of 10 minutes.
Free regular and bridging bus services were available between Boon Lay and Queenstown stations, with commuters advised to take alternative lines.
There was confusion among commuters about where to board the bridging buses in the morning, and which platforms to board the shuttle trains in the evening, according to ST’s interviews at the affected stations.
This is despite ST observing SMRT staff and TransCom police officers assisting affected passengers at the stations. Some commuters also had to contend with trying to board packed bridging buses in the rain at around noon.

In a Facebook post, Acting Transport Minister Amy Khor said she visited the Queenstown station on the evening of Sept 25 and observed SMRT staff proactively guiding commuters towards alternative transport arrangements.
“I also had the chance to speak to affected commuters, and although some felt inconvenienced by the disruption, commuters were generally understanding,” said Dr Khor, who is the Senior Minister of State for Transport, and Sustainability and the Environment.
“I thank commuters for their patience and assured them that SMRT is working closely with LTA to resume normal train services as soon as possible.”


Last week, the Circle Line (CCL) grappled with two consecutive days of disruptions – a power fault that caused delays on Sept 17, and another one caused by a fire in the power system cubicle at Kim Chuan Depot on Sept 18.
The first incident caused about a 30-minute delay during the evening peak-hour commute, where a total of 11 trains stalled in the CCL tunnels during the traction power outage.

In the Sept 18 incident, the power fault was later isolated from the network, as SMRT engineers worked overnight to ensure smooth operations. It is not known if both incidents are linked to each other.
This is not the first time that a train delay coincided with the PSLE. In 2017, commuters on the EWL experienced a three-hour delay, starting at about 6am, due to a train fault. However, no candidate sitting the PSLE papers was affected by the disruption.
MOE also said at the time that students who were affected by the train delay on EWL need not submit an excuse letter and would be given the full paper duration.
In 2023, when a cracked rail was discovered on the CCL, SEAB did not receive any reports of candidates who were unable to take their exam on time because of the disruption.
In the first quarter of 2024, EWL was the second most reliable MRT line, managing 5.05 million train-km between delays of more than five minutes.
Both the EWL and North-South Line had just undergone a $2.6 billion renewal programme in 2023 that upgraded four of its six core systems. These revamps included the replacement of sleepers that hold the running rail in place, changing of the third rail that supplies traction power to trains, upgrading of the signalling system, and renewal of the power system.

 

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New chief executive at the helm of Hindu Endowments Board​

Mr Jeevaganth Arumugam, 57, began his appointment as chief executive of the Hindu Endowments Board in mid-September. PHOTO: HINDU ENDOWMENTS BOARD

Rhea Yasmine

Oct 10, 2024

SINGAPORE - The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) has appointed a new chief executive to take the helm.
In a statement on Oct 9, HEB said Mr Jeevaganth Arumugam, 57, began his appointment in mid-September.
Mr Jeevaganth was previously employed at the the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Armed Forces and the private sector.
He has experience in managing operations, human resource work, and designing and managing programmes.
At HEB, Mr Jeevaganth will focus on strenghtening the board’s operations and its ties with other religious communities in Singapore.
“I am honoured to lead such an important national body and l look forward to working collaboratively with volunteers and stakeholders to strengthen our social compact,” he said.
Mr Jeevaganth holds an engineering degree from the National University of Singapore, as well as two master’s degrees and three post-graduate diplomas in various domains including business administration, career counselling and coaching, and defence technology and systems.

He also founded an endowment for at-risk youth, known as the Youth Avesha Fund.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeevaganth Arumugam to our team,” said HEB chairperson Rajan Krishnan.
Mr Jeevaganth takes over the reins from Mr T. Raja Segar, 61, who had led the board since 2017 and left on March 31 this year. Mr Raja is currently the editor of Tamil-language daily Tamil Murasu, a role he has had since April.
HEB operates four Hindu temple endowments under its administration – namely the Sri Mariamman Temple, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Sri Sivan Temple and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple –- and is involved in initiatives focused on the Hindu community.

 

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The PAP MPs in NTUC's Central Committee: Ng Chee Meng, Heng Chee How, Desmond Tan,
The PAP MPs, former PAP MPs and ministers on the board of directors of NTUC Enterprise: Lim boon Heng, Lim Swee Say, Ng Chee Meng
are all sleeping!

NTUC central committee not aware of capital reduction plan in Allianz-Income deal: Desmond Tan​

NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

Oct 17, 2024

SINGAPORE – The labour movement’s central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
Speaking in Parliament on Oct 16, Mr Tan said the central committee had been briefed by Income Insurance and its parent company, NTUC Enterprise, on the strategic imperatives of the deal, but the capital reduction plan was not highlighted to it.
As Income is a non-listed public company, it would have to comply with the legal responsibility of non-disclosure of commercially sensitive information on Allianz’s plans post-acquisition, he said.
Mr Tan made the point in response to questions from Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai and Nominated MP Raj Joshua Thomas during the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, adding that Income is subject to the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers.
The capital reduction plan is a key factor in the surprising turn of events that saw the Government block the hotly debated $2.2 billion deal between Income and German insurer Allianz that was first made public in July.
Allianz had made an offer to buy a controlling stake of at least 51 per cent in Income.
On Oct 14 in Parliament, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said in a ministerial statement that the Government had decided it would not be in the public interest for the transaction to proceed in its current form.

While the Government does not have concerns over Allianz’s standing or suitability to acquire a majority stake in Income, the concerns lie in the terms and structure of this specific transaction, particularly in the context of Income’s corporatisation exercise, he said.
Mr Tong added that before the deal was raised in Parliament in August, his ministry had not seen the plan for Income to return some $1.85 billion in cash to its shareholders within the first three years after completion of the transaction.
During the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill on Oct 16, Mr Tan explained why NTUC had supported the proposed deal.

When NTUC was briefed on the proposal, it was difficult for the unions to learn that Income was planning to sell a majority stake to Allianz, given the company’s history as the labour movement’s first social enterprise, said Mr Tan, who is Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
But NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing amid a more competitive and tightly regulated insurance landscape, he noted.
“The NTUC central committee agreed with the strategic intent and approached it in good faith,” he said.
He also clarified that NTUC, as a major shareholder of NTUC Enterprise, does not get involved in the day-to-day running of operations.

It delegates to the board of NTUC Enterprise the responsibility of making decisions pertaining to all businesses.
Mr Tan also noted that Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat had acknowledged that NTUC had acted in good faith and in the interest of workers and members.
“If you look at it, the Government and NTUC share the same strategic intent and broader objectives for Income and the co-op movement,” said Mr Tan.
“But as far as the specifics of this transaction are concerned, there is now perhaps a difference in view,” he added, referring to the concerns Mr Tong had raised about the deal.
He added that NTUC has reviewed the matter and accepts the Government’s considerations and decisions on the proposed transaction.
“We note that the Government remains open to any arrangement that Income may wish to pursue, whether with Allianz or any other partners, so long as the concerns highlighted are fully addressed.”
Mr Tan added that Income has committed to study carefully the implications of the ministerial statement by Mr Tong and the amendments of the Insurance Act, and will work closely with the relevant stakeholders to decide on the next course of action.
“The labour movement – which includes NTUC Enterprise and NTUC – is united in (its) purpose and we will continue to do right by our people, and what is necessary for the longer-term interest to serve workers and the people of Singapore,” he said.
In a Facebook post on the evening of Oct 16, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the decision to halt the Allianz-Income deal and its implications were of key concern to the labour movement and union leaders who had supported the deal.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Mr Tong and Mr Chee held an “honest and productive engagement” with NTUC and union leaders to clarify issues after the Parliament sitting.
“NTUC respects and accepts the Government’s decision that the transaction cannot proceed in its current form,” he said.

 

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[True Believer]

Is it any wonder that SG is the most expensive country in the entire world?

 

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GE2025: Military officers bring leadership to political arena but have to learn ground dynamics, say analysts​

There have been historically close links between Singapore’s military and its ruling party, with senior officers continuing to serve in public life after retiring, said experts.

(from left) Former Foreign Minister George Yeo, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing and labour chief Ng Chee Meng, were all generals in the military before joining politics. (Photos: CNA/Syamil Sapari, TODAY/Nuria Ling, CNA/Lim Li Ting,…see more

26 Mar 2025

SINGAPORE: Earlier in March, Singapore’s Chief of Army handed over command to his successor.

It’s a routine move that takes place every few years – except the timing has fuelled murmurings that Major-General David Neo could resign from service, enter politics and contest the imminent General Election (GE2025).

Back when the change was announced in late February, the defence ministry said MG Neo would remain in MINDEF “to complete transition and other administrative matters”. CNA has contacted him for comment.

He would not be the first senior military officer to walk that path, with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in particular having long sourced political talent from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

At the last election in 2020, former brigadier-generals Gan Siow Huang and Desmond Tan were fielded as PAP candidates, and have since become political office holders.

Labour chief and former minister Ng Chee Meng’s Sengkang GRC team lost to the Workers’ Party at that same polls. Five years prior, Mr Ng had resigned as Chief of Defence Force to contest GE2015, and won as part of the PAP's Pasir Ris-Punggol team.

He was spotted at a community event in the new Jalan Kayu SMC on Mar 16, as well as the week before at a Meet-The-People Session also in the area – leading to speculation he could run for the single-seat ward in elections expected to take place in the coming months.

Former military officers-turned-lawmakers told CNA that attributes picked up from soldiering, such as leadership, adaptability and the ability to operate under pressure, served them well in the political arena.

Yet observers noted that such individuals have also had to acclimatise to the less hierarchical setting of civilian life, while quickly getting to grips with parliamentary processes, grassroots structures and being in touch with the ground.

Former minister and brigadier-general George Yeo told CNA that in Singapore, defence remains “inseparable” from statehood and independence – a dynamic unchanged since the 1990s. The SAF and National Service (NS) are thus core institutions of the country.

Observers noted the historically close links between Singapore’s military and its ruling party.

“The first generation of leaders like Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee started governing Singapore at a time when coups were very rampant in post-colonial societies in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa,” said Dr Terence Lee, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) think-tank.

To ensure stable civil-military relations in newly independent Singapore, the leadership made sure there was civilian control over the military, by not making the armed forces an organisation isolated from the wider population.

“In certain countries, the armed forces see themselves as separate and different from society,” said Dr Lee, who specialises in the study of civil-military relations.

For instance, officers in the United States, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia train at specialised, degree-granting institutions devoted to inculcating a strong military ethos and a deep sense of esprit de corps.

In Singapore, however, men and women training to be officers also pick up professional and technical expertise on top of soldiering skills.

And after retiring from the SAF, it is “common” for them to continue serving in public life, said Dr Lee.

National University of Singapore associate professor of political science Bilveer Singh said the transition from senior military officer to politics has been “viable and encouraged” since the 1980s.

He cited early examples such as current Senior Ministers Lee Hsien Loong and Teo Chee Hean as well as Mr Yeo, who were all given scholarships by the SAF.

Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Lee Hsien Loong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam pictured in 2018 at the opening of the second session of the 13th Parliament. (File photo: Jeremy Long)
The latter wrote in his biography that SAF scholarships were not just an “HR (human resource) scheme to recruit talent” but an integral part of state formation in Singapore.

“The meritocracy was proven in their pathway to the scholarship. The notion was that because of merit, these guys are among the creme de la creme of society,” said Assoc Prof Singh.

“And in the Singapore context, being a small place, it doesn't mean that once you’re in the military, you’re forever in the military. You can be deployed for the greater good of society, which means in politics and the civil service.”
SM Lee was a former brigadier-general who left the army for politics in 1984. In late 1990, he became deputy prime minister, and in 2004 he took over as Singapore’s third prime minister. He stepped down last year after 20 years at the helm.

SM Teo was a former two-star rear-admiral and Chief of Navy, before joining politics in 1992. By 1995, he was a political office holder; and became a full minister the next year. He is currently also Coordinating Minister for National Security.

Former major-general and Chief of Army Chan Chun Sing resigned from the military and entered politics in 2011. He was made Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports immediately after the polls that year. By September 2013, he was a full minister.

Other current political office holders include Singapore’s first female general Gan Siow Huang, who was a brigadier-general in the air force until her political debut in 2020. She was made minister of state after that election.

Another former brigadier-general is Senior Minister of State Desmond Tan. He left the SAF after 28 years, becoming chief executive director of the People’s Association from 2017 to 2020, before entering politics. He was made a Minister of State after the election, and promoted in May last year.

Prominent names in the past include Mr Yeo who entered politics in 1988 after resigning as brigadier-general in the military. He went on to helm various ministries including health, trade and industry and foreign affairs, before exiting politics in 2011 after his team lost in Aljunied GRC.

Ambassador to the United States Lui Tuck Yew is also a former two-star rear-admiral and Chief of Navy who was a full minister from 2010 to 2015 before he stepped down from politics.

Then there’s former parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, an army brigadier-general before joining politics in 2011. He was a full minister from 2014 to 2017, before becoming Speaker. He resigned in 2023 over an extramarital affair.

Apart from the highest echelons of the military, there have been several senior officers who also made the transition to politics.

Former fighter pilot Shawn Huang spent 19 years in the air force and rose to lieutenant-colonel, before leaving for Temasek International ahead of the 2020 polls. In May last year, he was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary.

Among the current backbenchers, South East District Mayor Mohd Fahmi Aliman was an army colonel who served in the SAF for 26 years. He left in 2019, joining the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and then the National Trades Union Congress, before contesting the 2020 general election.
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Moving from the military domain to that of civilian politics is not unique to Singapore.

The US, like Singapore, is replete with contemporary and historical examples, said RSIS’ Dr Lee. For instance, military four-star generals James Mattis and Llyod Austin both retired and went on to serve as Secretary of Defence under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden respectively.

Observers who spoke to CNA said there was strong consensus among HR practitioners and academics that retired military officers have unique skill sets.

This includes experience leading large and complex organisations; knowing how to motivate and unify others towards common goals; fostering camaraderie and working across different teams.

On a more operational level, their military background also lends to capabilities spanning strategic planning, thinking and analysis; making critical decisions quickly and effectively under pressure; and adapting to changing environments.

Discipline and ethical behaviour instilled by the military are also attributes “readily transferable to the civilian world”, said Dr Lee.

He added that senior officers are also familiar with the public policy process, by virtue of close interactions with political leaders like the defence minister and senior civil servants such as permanent secretaries.

Assoc Prof Singh said senior military officers possess a different level of understanding of Singapore’s strategic needs, compared to say the average civilian who has undergone NS.

“Everything is a security issue in Singapore, and the best people to understand, encapsulate and operationalise it are the generals,” he said.

NTUC LearningHub chairman Lim Swee Say, who was also an SAF overseas scholar, told CNA his time in the military was valuable.

Then-East Coast GRC MP Lim Swee Say and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat speaking to residents during a ministerial community walkabout in Bedok on Jul 27, 2019. (File photo: Brandon Tanoto)
The former manpower minister and labour chief last held the rank of major and headed a department developing computerised information systems for military operations.

He left for the National Computer Board and then the Economic Development Board, before entering politics in 1997. He became a full minister in 2001, up till 2020 when he retired.

“Leadership is about setting goals, formulating strategies, guiding and motivating everyone in the team, and aligning collective efforts of all to jointly achieve our shared outcomes,” he said. “Many of the soft skills and hard know-how are common, relevant and applicable to both military and civilian settings.”

Yet having a military CV can come with potential pitfalls as well, observers noted.

“The civilian world is more collaborative and less hierarchical,” said Dr Lee. “An authoritative leadership style developed in the military may clash with the expectations of teamwork and individual empowerment in civilian settings.”

Assoc Prof Singh also pointed to the learning curve involved in becoming a lawmaker in Singapore, be it grassroots familiarity, parliamentary processes or international relations and beyond.

“It does not mean because you're a military general, that you will become a political general tomorrow,” he said. “No guarantee.”

How well former military officers adapt would depend on how open-minded they are; whether they’re prepared to put aside any pride; and how well they accept the constant spotlight.

“The shift is more difficult nowadays because of social media and because of the transparency,” said Assoc Prof Singh. “Don't forget the army life is still very private, but the political life is 101 per cent public.”

In terms of appealing to voters, their military affiliation is less important than their actions and behaviour on the ground, said the political scientist.

“The senior military officers’ personality and temperament, along with the public belief in their sincerity to serve constituents, will be the key factor.”

Softer aspects such as emotional intelligence will also matter in trying to leave an impression, especially for a younger electorate interested and invested in a greater myriad of issues, Assoc Prof Singh added.

Former minister Yeo told CNA that it was a years-long effort for him to understand more about the lives and hopes and fears of Singaporeans from different backgrounds.

“It is necessary to be familiar with social and political structures, but that is not enough,” he said. “In politics, one needs to empathise with all segments of society … That learning requires not only an active mind but a willing heart.”

Outside of the ruling party, Singapore’s opposition has never had Members of Parliament of high-ranking military background.

Former air force lieutenant-colonel Francis Yuen is perhaps most notable for becoming secretary-general of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) between 2021 and 2023, succeeding party founder and former PAP MP Tan Cheng Bock.

He contested the 2020 GE, as did another former lieutenant-colonel in the PSP's ranks: Nadarajah Loganathan, who exited the party’s highest decision-making body after its latest election on Mar 20.

Also not re-elected to PSP's central executive committee was former assistant secretary-general and former SAF colonel Ang Yong Guan, who had contested the last three polls under the banners of the Singapore Democratic Party, SingFirst and PSP respectively.

The PSP also counts former brigadier-general Lee Hsien Yang, son of Singapore’s founding prime minister, as a member. He joined the party in June 2020, ahead of the general election that year, though he did not eventually stand in the contest.

FILE PHOTO: Lee Hsien Yang of the Progress Singapore Party meets residents ahead of the general election in Singapore June 30, 2020. REUTERS/Dawn Chua/File Photo
Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser, an adjunct principal research fellow with the Institute of Policy Studies, said having some former senior military officers join the opposition suggests “a plurality of political ideology” in the ranks.

Still, they remain a distinct minority.

Military officers would view entering politics as “an extension of their calling and duty to the nation, because of the ethos of service imbued in them through their career”, said RSIS senior fellow Alan Chong.

In that vein, “joining the ruling party brings a better chance of making it into Cabinet and being able to shape policies directly", he added.

"Being in the opposition is not consistent with this framework, at least currently."

In Singapore’s history, only one former military officer has ever gone on to become a full defence minister: SM Teo, who held the portfolio from 2003 to 2011.

Mr Yeo did write in his biography, however, that founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had suggested he take up the defence portfolio. But he turned it down, citing how he had already spent many years in defence and thought he could learn much more in other ministries. He told CNA he was interested in the finance and foreign affairs portfolios instead.

Since 2011, Dr Ng Eng Hen, a former oncologist, has been Singapore’s defence minister.

FILE - Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, center, attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nov. 16, 2023. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Observers noted a lack of a clear understudy or successor to Dr Ng, who turns 66 this year.

Current Education Minister and former Chief of Army Chan Chun Sing was appointed Second Minister for Defence in 2013. He relinquished it in 2015.

The Second Minister role then briefly went to Mr Lui during his stint in the Cabinet.

RSIS' Dr Chong argued that specific military expertise was not a requirement for the role

“When it comes to the training and doctrinal side, you always have on hand advice from your sitting generals and admirals, so the defence minister is not at a loss of expertise,” he said.

But Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst with Solaris Strategies Singapore, maintained that a former general would be a fitting candidate with their knowledge of defence and security matters, coupled with regimental leadership experience.

Assoc Prof Tan said that apart from being tuned to the SAF's capabilities, the defence minister needs to be well-versed in geopolitics and cultural sensitivities.

Asked who could take over from the current defence minister, Assoc Prof Singh pointed to Education Minister Chan or labour chief Ng – provided the latter returns to contest in this year’s election, and wins.

The academic noted that it would simply be beneficial to have someone already familiar with the ins and outs of the defence portfolio to step up and take it on.

“If you make someone with a non-military background the defence minister, he will have to learn the ropes all over again,” he said.

 

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GE2025: Ex-army chief David Neo spotted with PAP’s Tampines team again​

(From left) Former Chief of Army David Neo and Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli posing for photos with a resident at Our Tampines Hub on April 12.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

David Sun
Apr 12, 2025

SINGAPORE - Former Chief of Army David Neo has joined the PAP’s Tampines GRC team in the lead-up to the election, with the constituency’s anchor minister Masagos Zulkifli saying he hopes the line-up there will be confirmed soon.

Mr Neo, 47, has been introduced to various parts of Tampines and has been following the incumbents on house visits, said Mr Masagos, who is Social and Family Development Minister.

He has also been joining the team in many events around Tampines.

“We are happy that he’s making his rounds and getting himself familiar with them,” Mr Masagos.

“Today, I’m happy to have David Neo joining our team. We hope that the final confirmation of the team will be made soon.”

Mr Masagos made these comments on the sidelines of the Irama Aidilfitri 2025 Concert at Our Tampines Hub on April 12.

He was joined by Tampines GRC MPs Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng; and Mayor of North East District Desmond Choo.


Also present was the team’s other new face, Dr Charlene Chen, 43, an assistant professor of marketing at the Nanyang Technological University.

Dr Chen was introduced to Tampines residents in June 2024, and is the second grassroots adviser in the Tampines East ward.

There has been much speculation about who the PAP would field in Tampines, after the departure of former MP Cheng Li Hui and the carving out of the Tampines Changkat single seat.

Ms Cheng, who oversaw the Tampines East ward, resigned in 2023 over an extramarital affair with then Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin.

Mr Masagos took over her duties at the ward, and introduced residents to Dr Chen in 2024.

A former Buona Vista grassroots volunteer, Dr Chen has been helming Meet-the-People sessions for residents in Tampines East since late 2024.

(From left) Former Chief of Army David Neo and Dr Charlene Chen with Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli and his fellow Tampines GRC MPs Koh Poh Koon, Baey Yam Keng and Desmond Choo.ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Mr Neo is a newer face in Tampines, having handed over the reins as army chief only on March 21.

He appeared in an April 5 Instagram post with Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng, and was on April 8 spotted with Tampines grassroots volunteers at new Housing Board Build-To-Order projects in Tampines North.

He joined the Singapore Army in 1996 and served as army chief from March 2022.

Tampines is set to be hotly contested at the polls, with up to three opposition parties expected to vie with the PAP for the five-member Tampines GRC and the Tampines Changkat single seat.

Shortly after the electoral boundaries were redrawn on March 11, the opposition National Solidarity Party and People’s Power Party threw their hats into the ring.

The WP has so far kept its cards close to its chest, but has been spotted actively engaging Tampines residents over the past two years, at least.