Veteran civil servant Ng Wai Choong will take over the supervision of elections from Mr Yam Ah Mee, the former People's Association chief who became an Internet sensation during the 2011 General Election but has left for the private sector.

A notice on the Government Gazette on Monday said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had appointed Mr Ng, the deputy secretary (policy) at the Ministry of Finance, to be the Returning Officer with effect from the start of April.

Mr Ng previously served as the deputy secretary (industry) in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and also as director (strategic planning) in the Ministry of National Development.

The 47-year-old also sits on the board of the Singapore Totalisator Board and A*STAR, and was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) at the 2006 National Day Awards.