GE2025: Labour chief Ng Chee Meng seen at Fernvale, part of new Jalan Kayu SMC, ahead of election
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Labour chief Ng Chee Meng (in white), with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong (centre) at a Fernvale community event on March 16.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE - Labour chief Ng Chee Meng was spotted at a family carnival at Fernvale on March 16, ahead of the upcoming general election.
Fernvale is part of the newly carved out Jalan Kayu SMC.
When asked if he would run in Ang Mo Kio GRC or the new Jalan Kayu SMC, he told reporters: “You’ll find out, I’m sure, in good time. You’ll see what the Prime Minister decides.”
Mr Ng, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said he has attended constituency events in some parts of Bukit Batok, Ang Mo Kio and Sengkang once every quarter or so.
Sometimes, these events overlap with supermarket chain FairPrice’s collaborations with the community, he added.
In this case, Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Gan Thiam Poh, who represents Fernvale, had invited him.
Mr Ng also said he is familiar with and lived near the area, and used to attend a junior flying club in the vicinity.
In a Facebook post later in the evening, Mr Ng wrote that he is familiar with the Seletar, Jalan Kayu and Fernvale areas. “Seletar Hills had been home to my family and (me) for 20-odd years. I also ‘grew up’ here when I flew with the Singapore Youth Flying Club during junior college and later with the air force,” he added.
Mr Gan said he invited Mr Ng to the carnival as the labour movement has been a firm supporter of efforts to help Fernvale residents who are in need.
Mr Ng, a former fighter pilot and Chief of Defence Force, told The Straits Times in February that he would be prepared to contest again
He added then that he has never stopped walking the ground in Sengkang, as part of his NTUC role, and that he still keeps in touch with grassroots friends.
The new Jalan Kayu SMC takes in some areas from Ang Mo Kio GRC that are currently under Ms Ng Ling Ling, who oversees the Jalan Kayu ward, and some under Mr Gan, who looks after Fernvale.
Jalan Kayu SMC has 29,565 electors.
Mr Ng joined politics in 2015 and won as part of a five-member PAP team at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
He was appointed Education Minister for Schools and Second Minister for Transport in 2016.
In 2018, he was elected NTUC chief, a position he held while also being Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
In the 2020 General Election, he led the People’s Action Party’s team in the new Sengkang GRC and was voted out after the ruling party lost the constituency to the opposition Workers’ Party.
He retained his role as labour chief.
The next general election must be held by November, but is widely expected to take place by mid-2025.
Mr Ng was with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the anchor minister for Ang Mo Kio GRC, and Mr Gan at the Chill Lah Fernvale Family Carnival on March 16.
The carnival was held at an open space between Block 466A and Block 469C Fernvale Link, as well as the hard court beside Thanggam LRT station.
Mr Ng was seen shaking hands with residents and taking wefies with them.
At an ice sculpture unveiled to mark SG60, or Singapore’s 60th year of independence, Mr Ng posed for photos with residents alongside SM Lee and Mr Gan.
The carnival saw some 3,000 residents come together for entertainment and community activities, such as browsing food stalls and a crafts market, a movie screening, riding a carousel and doing face painting.
