I 'grew up' around here: Ng Chee Meng spotted at Jalan Kayu SMC event, fuels rumours of GE involvement

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Ng Chee Meng fuelled rumours that he might be running in the upcoming general election (GE), when he turned up at a community event in Sengkang on Mar. 16.

When asked by the media whether he will be running in the upcoming GE, Ng said, "We'll find out I'm sure in good time."

"We'll see what the prime minister decides," he added.

Ng made his appearance at the Fernvale Family Carnival 2025, a community event held on Mar. 16 in the newly carved out Jalan Kayu single member constituency (SMC).

Ng was accompanying a grassroots team helmed by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and fellow Ang Mo Kio group representation constituency (GRC) Member of Parliament (MP) Gan Thiam Poh.

When asked about speculations that he was running in the upcoming GE, Ng elaborated that he was familiar with the area: “I grew up around here, my spouse also.”

Ng explained that he had known Fernvale MP Gan for a long time, so he decided to tag along for the event.

Ng added that the area overlaps with NTUC FairPrice's community engagement efforts.

During the event, Ng was seen interacting with residents, many of whom appeared to recognise him.

Could Ng Chee Meng run for Jalan Kayu SMC?

On Mar. 15, Ng Ling Ling was absent from the Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC) Master Plan launch, where SM Lee spoke on plans for future improvements in Ang Mo Kio.

Her fellow MPs for Ang Mo Kio GRC, SM Lee, Darryl David, Gan Thiam Poh, and Nadia Ahmad Samdin, as well as MPs for Kebun Baru SMC and Yio Chu Kang SMC, Henry Kwek and Yip Hon Weng, were all present.

Uncertainty about the PAP's candidate for Jalan Kayu comes amidst interest from three opposition parties —  the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), the People's Power Party (PPP), and the Red Dot United (RDU) — in contesting the ward.

On who would contest in Jalan Kayu during GE2025, Ng Ling Ling told the media on Mar. 13, "It doesn't matter where I serve, as long as I do my best. Wherever I am, I will do my best to serve the people."

Ng Ling Ling, 53, who was elected as an MP in 2020, added that she "welcomes competition" from other political parties as a PAP MP.

The new Jalan Kayu SMC

The Jalan Kayu ward was part of Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the 2020 general election but was carved out as an SMC in the latest Election Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report.

This was to reduce the size of Ang Mo Kio GRC, which had more voters than any other constituency, according to the report.

Once carved into an SMC, Jalan Kayu will comprise about 29,565 electors, down from 47,000 electors when it was part of Ang Mo Kio GRC.

SM Lee said in a Facebook post on Mar. 12 that the new Jalan Kayu SMC would be "part of the Ang Mo Kio extended family" just like Yio Chu Kang and Kebun Baru SMCs.

However, at least one new candidate is expected to be fielded, given that Ang Mo Kio GRC remains a five-seat GRC while an additional MP would be needed for the new Jalan Kayu SMC.

Background on Ng Chee Meng

Speculation on whether Ng could make a return to politics arose since he appeared at a community event in Bukit Batok in April 2024.

When asked by reporters during 2024's May Day Rally if he would be contesting in the upcoming GE, Ng had suggested they could talk about it "another day".

When asked if he was ready to return to politics, Ng had said in Mandarin,

"Whether I am in or out of politics, Singapore is still the most important place in my heart...

So whether I return to politics or serve in NTUC, I give my assurance that I will do my best for all, to the best of my ability, and serve Singapore and serve everyone."

Ng was first elected to parliament after contesting in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in 2015.

He was Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport from 2016 to 2018, before becoming labour chief in May 2018.

In the 2020 GE, Ng led the PAP team in Sengkang GRC, but lost to the Workers’ Party, who garnered 52.12 per cent of the vote.

Top image by Khine Zin Htet