Ng Chee Meng says he’s ‘prepared if asked’ to contest in GE2025 after Sengkang GRC loss in GE2020

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SINGAPORE: In a recent interview with The Straits Times Chief Columnist & Senior Editor Sumiko Tan, Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), did not rule out the possibility of contesting in the upcoming General Election, which must be held by November 2025.

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When asked whether he would run in GE2025, Ng responded, “I would say that it is on the table, and I am prepared if asked.”

Tan also questioned if he had been actively walking the ground in Sengkang, to which Ng replied, “I’ve never stopped walking.”

“I’ve been going around as part of my NTUC role and I still keep in touch with different grassroots friends.”

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In GE2020, the PAP team led by Ng included former Senior Minister of State Lam Pin Min, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin, and Raymond Lye.

They were defeated by the Workers’ Party team—He Ting Ru, Raeesah Khan, Jamus Lim, and Louis Chua—who won 52.13% of the vote against the PAP’s 47.87%.

However, it appears unlikely that Ng will contest in Sengkang GRC again, as his name has not been mentioned among the PAP’s potential candidates for the constituency.

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Ng affirms continued engagement with grassroots, laughs off politics departure query

The ST interview, coinciding with the election year, highlights Ng’s extensive career from the SAF to politics and NTUC.

He served 30 years in the SAF, rising from a fighter pilot to Chief of Defence Force before entering politics in GE2015 as part of the winning PAP team in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

He quickly became Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport before joining NTUC in 2018 as secretary-general while also serving as a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. His political career ended in GE2020 after losing in Sengkang GRC.

Tan noted in the interview that while others in his position might have opted for a lucrative and less demanding career in the private sector, Ng chose to remain in the labour movement. He became the first NTUC Secretary-General in decades who is not a sitting MP.

When asked if he plans to return to politics, Ng laughed and responded, “Have I left politics?”

Ng also eflected on the painful loss in Sengkang GRC during GE2020, describing his deep sense of having let down the PAP, NTUC, and his supporters.

At a crossroads, he considered stepping away from public life but ultimately stayed, driven by a continued sense of duty and encouragement from NTUC leaders.

The COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced his decision, as he focused on protecting workers’ livelihoods despite personal doubts.

Drawing from his own advice on resilience, he saw the setback as a learning opportunity and remains committed to his work, letting future outcomes unfold naturally.

Ng added that he was not disappointed with Sengkang residents for not supporting his team, acknowledging that it was part of the democratic process.

“Our system allows every citizen to have their own choice. We work within the system. It is a good system that we have put in place and we do the very best within that, ” he said.

Ng also addressed questions about his role as NTUC sec-gen without being a Cabinet minister, emphasising that leadership is about action and ideas rather than formal positions of authority.

He noted that NTUC had found new ways to achieve its goals despite this change. While acknowledging both advantages and disadvantages of having a labour chief outside the Government, he highlighted the contributions of past NTUC leaders who were in Cabinet.

Ultimately, he believed in focusing on doing the right thing and delivering results, regardless of one’s position.

Ng insists Income-Allianz proposed deal was made in good faith

Since 2018, Mr Ng’s role at NTUC has focused on improving workers’ lives through the “3 Ws”: better wages, better welfare, and better work prospects.

In the interview, Ng highlighted efforts to foster an innovative culture, citing initiatives like the FairPrice Finest outlet in Clarke Quay and the launch of Company Training Committees in 2019 to improve workers’ skills and businesses’ sustainability.

He also touched on supporting diverse worker groups, including families, platform workers, and older employees.

When Tan inquired about the lessons NTUC could learn from the Income-Allianz saga, Ng explained that the decisions were made in good faith, as Income aimed to strengthen its position in a highly competitive environment. He added that NTUC respects the views of the Government and public feedback.

“It is now time to reconstitute, take in all the different views and see what we can do better,” he said.

“But the longer-term challenge of Income remains. In any crisis when major injecting of funds is needed to sustain Income, well, that remains a business worry.”

Regrettably, the interview ended abruptly, as Tan did not press further on the matter.

In July 2024, Allianz announced a S$2.2 billion plan to acquire a 51% stake in Income Insurance, aiming to strengthen its position in Asia’s insurance market. However, the proposal faced strong public opposition, with critics arguing that it could undermine Income’s social mission of providing affordable coverage, especially for lower-income groups.

This led to the deal being halted on 16 October 2024 after Parliament passed a bill blocking the transaction.

The government criticised the plan for prioritising shareholder returns over Income’s founding principles, and Allianz officially withdrew from the deal in December.



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