24 years ago, Ng Eng Hen sought advice from Lee Kuan Yew on giving up surgical practice to join govt

Defence minister Ng Eng Hen announced on Apr. 18 that he would not be seeking re-election in the 2025 General Election.

Having served as a Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC for nearly 24 years, the 66-year-old posted a poignant—and poetic—reflection on his entry into politics, moments after the news broke.

Trained as a surgeon

Educated at the National University of Singapore and trained at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Ng worked as a consultant surgeon and later, a surgical oncologist, before he made his political debut in the 2001 General Election.

In 2002, he was appointed Minister of State for Education and Minister of State for Manpower. Ng was promoted to full minister in 2004, taking on the defence portfolio in 2011, which makes him the longest-serving defence minister in Singapore's history.

Sought counsel from Lee Kuan Yew

The decision to pivot from medicine to politics must not have been an easy one.

In his Facebook post, Ng said that he had found "satisfaction and fulfilment" in his solo practice as a surgeon.

He initially planned to juggle both his practice and MP duties.

But then he was asked to join the government, a commitment which meant that he had to give up being a surgeon.

Ng wrote that he turned to then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew for counsel.

"Mr Lee Kuan Yew met me, one on one.

He asked what I wanted to accomplish in life.

I told him that I knew very little of politics or governing,

I had trained to be a surgeon all my waking hours.

Giving up my practice to trod a path uncharted was difficult enough,

But futile for all, if I could not make a difference.

I asked Mr Lee how long it would take for me to find out if I could,

6 months, he said."

That was 24 years ago.

And within that time, Ng found "co-travellers to share burdens and new vistas".

"Their friendship and support have enlarged my tent.

And added a lifetime of experiences and memories,

Mostly sweet, some less so but precious nonetheless."

In his time as defence minister, Ng forged greater cooperation with other countries, such as the U.S., Malaysia, and Indonesia, and expanded our concept of Total Defence.

Top images: National Archives of Singapore, Ng Eng Hen/Facebook