[h=1]Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng will retire after 29 years in SAF[/h][h=2]The 47-year-old, who will be succeeded by Chief of Army Perry Lim, says he "does not rule out" an entry into politics at the upcoming General Election.[/h]
- POSTED: 31 Jul 2015 16:02
- UPDATED: 31 Jul 2015 16:48
LG Ng Chee Meng, outgoing Chief of Defence Force (Photo: MINDEF)
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SINGAPORE: Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng will retire from the Singapore Armed Forces and step down as Chief of Defence Force on Aug 18, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced on Facebook on Friday (Jul 31).
The move prompted speculation the 47-year-old might be running in the upcoming General Election (GE).
Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng at an SAF exercise in 2014. (File photo: TODAY)
An SAF scholar, LG Ng joined the SAF as a fighter pilot in Dec 1986, and in Mar 2013 became the second Air Force general to be appointed Singapore's Chief of Defence Force. In his SAF career stretching across almost three decades, LG Ng has been Commander of Changi Air Base, Commanding Officer of 144 Squadron and Chief of Air Force.
Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng was part of the first Vigil Guard at Mr Lee Kuan Yew's Lying In State. (Photo Dr Ng Eng Hen's Facebook page)
He was the Chairman of the State Funeral Organising Committee for Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. LG Ng also helmed the conceptualisation and execution of the SAF50 campaign to thank past and present servicemen and defence stakeholders.
He currently also holds several directorship appointments in public and private organisations, sitting on the boards of Singapore Technologies Engineering, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Jurong Town Corporation.
LG Ng will be replaced by the current Chief of Army, Major-General Perry Lim. MG Lim was previously 3rd Division Commander and Chief of General Staff. In turn, Chief Guards Officer Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong will be the next Chief of Army.
POLITICS COULD BECKON
Asked about his immediate plans, LG Ng said: "While I do not rule out the option of returning to the Administrative Service or entering politics if the opportunity presents itself, my immediate focus is on handing over my duties to the incoming Chief of Defence Force."
In his Facebook post, the Defence Minister said: "Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised if indeed he is.
"But I have advised LG Ng not to be distracted or entertain these queries but to instead focus on important national events ahead, particularly the National Day Parade. There will be a more appropriate time to address interests in his future plans.
"I thank Chee Meng for all the good that he has done for the SAF and wish him every success in his future endeavours. I ask the men and women of the SAF to give their strongest support to the new CDF and COA."
A ROAD WELL-TRAVELLED?
The timing of LG Ng's move - this close to a General Election which observers say could be held as early as September - will prompt speculation that he may follow in the footsteps of other former military men who have moved into politics.
Of the current Cabinet, five men used to hold high-level military appointments. Of the five, four left the SAF immediately prior to elections.
Candidates Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan-Jin at a General Election rally in 2011. (File photo: TODAY)
Most recently, Mr Chan Chun Sing and Mr Tan Chuan-Jin both entered politics at the 2011 General Election. NTUC Secretary-General Chan was a Major-General and Chief of Army, while Minister for Social and Family Development was a Brigadier-General in the Army. Both left the SAF on Mar 25, 2011; Polling Day that year was May 7.
Before them, Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew was also a Rear-Admiral in the Navy and Chief of Navy from 1999 to 2003. He left to take up high-level positions as CEO of the Maritime and Port Authority and later the Housing and Development Board before he was elected to Parliament in 2006. In April this year, he took on a concurrent role as Second Minister for Defence.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was a former Rear-Admiral in the Republic of Singapore Navy, and served as Chief of Navy before he quit to successfully contest in the 1992 by-election in Marine Parade.
Thirty-one years ago, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was then the youngest Brigadier-General in the Army's history before he left in 1984, when he was elected to Parliament at the age of 32.
- CNA/es
