This is after he addressed photos of him with Fujian gang’s Su Haijin and an anecdote from his time as education minister
[SINGAPORE] Labour chief Ng Chee Meng has not been appointed to Cabinet in Wednesday’s (May 21) reshuffle, after earlier requesting not to be given a role in government.
But in a press conference on the new line-up, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that the absence of a labour chief from Cabinet is a “temporary arrangement”.
Ng entered politics in GE2015 and was made education minister soon after. He then lost his seat in GE2020, before returning to Parliament in this year’s general election.
Soon after the May 3 election, Ng addressed photos showing him with convicted Fujian gang member Su Haijin, as well as an anecdote from his tenure as education minister.
He said then that he wanted to focus on his Member of Parliament duties in Jalan Kayu SMC – where he won 51.47 per cent of the vote – and his National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) role, over the next five years.
“Hence, I have asked the prime minister not to assign me any position in government. PM has agreed to consider this,” he said then.
On Wednesday, PM Wong said that he would respect Ng’s wishes and give him the time he needs to focus on his other roles.
But he noted that the NTUC secretary-general traditionally receives a Cabinet position, upholding a valued link between the government and labour movement.
“I look forward to having an NTUC secretary-general and labour chief being part of the team before too long,” he said, without confirming if it would be Ng or someone else.
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