Ng Eng Hen
Encyclopedia
Dr Ng Eng Hen (born 10 December 1958) is a politician
from Singapore
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he is currently the country's Minister for Defence
and Leader of the House.
and National Junior College
, before going on to medical school at the National University of Singapore
and fellowship training in surgical oncology
in the United States
at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
from 1992-97, and maintained a private practice in Mount Elizabeth Hospital
as a surgical oncologist from 1997-2001.
for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
. In 2002, he was made a Minister of State for Education and Manpower.
In August 2004, Ng became the Minister for Manpower
and Second Minister for Education. In 2005, his Second Minister's portfolio was switched from Education to Defence. In April 2008, Ng was made Minster for Education and relinquished the post of Minister for Manpower.
Ng has also served as 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 travelled to France
at the invitation of the French Ministry of Defence to visit the Paris Air Show
and also to visit a permanent Singaporean air force
detachment stationed at Cazaux Air Base in France.
In March 2010, Ng Eng Hen mentioned that the weightage of mother-tongue examinations in the Singapore Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be reduced in order to benefit some students who are weak in their mother-tongue due to the over-emphasis on the English language in the Singapore education system. This sparked a hot debate from many local Singaporeans who support the mother-tongue education. Ng subsequently assured Singaporeans that the weightage mother-tongue in PSLE will not be reduced.
During his spare time, he enjoys jogging, reading and playing golf.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP), he is currently the country's Minister for Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
and Leader of the House.
Early life
Ng was born in Singapore in 1958. He attended Anglo-Chinese SchoolAnglo-Chinese School
The Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
and National Junior College
National Junior College
National Junior College is the first junior college established by the Ministry Of Education, located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. It is considered as one of the top five junior colleges in Singapore. NJC offers a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to the GCE 'A' Levels...
, before going on to medical school at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
and fellowship training in surgical oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Career
Ng was a Consultant Surgeon at Singapore General HospitalSingapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
from 1992-97, and maintained a private practice in Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Mount Elizabeth Hospital is a 373-bed private hospital in Singapore operated by Parkway Health. It was started in 1976 and officially opened in 8 December 1979....
as a surgical oncologist from 1997-2001.
Political career
In 2001, Ng was elected a Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency
Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central region of Singapore. The GRC consists the entire areas of Bishan, the majority of Toa Payoh and parts of Thomson...
. In 2002, he was made a Minister of State for Education and Manpower.
In August 2004, Ng became the Minister for Manpower
Ministry of Manpower (Singapore)
The Ministry of Manpower is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to manpower in Singapore.-Mission:...
and Second Minister for Education. In 2005, his Second Minister's portfolio was switched from Education to Defence. In April 2008, Ng was made Minster for Education and relinquished the post of Minister for Manpower.
Ng has also served as 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 travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the invitation of the French Ministry of Defence to visit the Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
and also to visit a permanent Singaporean air force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
detachment stationed at Cazaux Air Base in France.
In March 2010, Ng Eng Hen mentioned that the weightage of mother-tongue examinations in the Singapore Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will be reduced in order to benefit some students who are weak in their mother-tongue due to the over-emphasis on the English language in the Singapore education system. This sparked a hot debate from many local Singaporeans who support the mother-tongue education. Ng subsequently assured Singaporeans that the weightage mother-tongue in PSLE will not be reduced.
Private life
Ng is married to a paediatrician and geneticist, Ivy Lim Swee Lian. He has four children, born between 1984 and 1994.During his spare time, he enjoys jogging, reading and playing golf.
External links
- Dr Ng Eng Hen - Official profile, Singapore Cabinet.