MND Permanent Secretary Ow Foong Pheng to retire after 38 years in public service
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National Development Permanent Secretary Ow Foong Pheng's contributions include supporting the Government’s battle against Sars in 2003.
PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
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SINGAPORE – Ministry of National Development Permanent Secretary Ow Foong Pheng will retire on April 1, after 38 years in the public service at multiple ministries.
Her contributions include supporting the Government’s battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003.
Mrs Ow, 61, will be succeeded by permanent secretary-designate for national development Loh Ngai Seng, 53.
The Public Service Division (PSD) of the Prime Minister’s Office announced the changes on Feb 28.
Mrs Ow’s foray into senior civil service positions began in 2001 when she was appointed deputy secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In 2003, she was designated as secretary to the ministerial committee and executive group on Sars, “where she was instrumental in identifying and plugging policy gaps and pulling together the people and resources” to overcome the epidemic, said PSD.
The next year, she took on the post of deputy secretary at the Manpower Ministry.
In 2006, Mrs Ow became chief executive of Jurong Town Corporation, where she is credited for helming its creation of an industrial landscape that included more players and developers.
She was then appointed second permanent secretary for trade and industry in 2009 and permanent secretary for trade and industry two years later.
Under her leadership, the Ministry of Trade and Industry negotiated the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first such deal between the bloc and an Asean country.
In 2016, she was appointed permanent secretary for national development, where she directed initiatives to provide affordable and quality public housing.
These include the launch of the Family Care Scheme and community care apartments, the introduction of a new classification framework for Housing Board flats, and priority allocation of Build-To-Order flats.
In recognition of her contributions to the civil service, Mrs Ow was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2023.
Thanking her, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing said: “I would like to express my gratitude to Foong Pheng for her outstanding leadership and many years of dedicated service.
“Her contributions to the public service and to Singapore have been significant and impactful.”
Mr Loh will take on Mrs Ow’s portfolio, having been appointed as the designate in December 2024.
Mr Loh Ngai Seng has been permanent secretary-designate for national development since December 2024.
PHOTO: PUBLIC SERVICE DIVISION
The Overseas Merit Scholarship holder joined the civil service in 1995, where he served in various ministries before he was appointed deputy secretary (policy) at the Education Ministry in 2008.
Mr Loh became director of the Internal Security Department in 2010, and second permanent secretary for home affairs in 2016.
The following year, he was appointed permanent secretary for transport.
