A look back at Ng Eng Hen's time as the longest serving defence minister for S'pore

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday (Apr. 18) that he would not be running in GE2025.

Ng will step down from PAP's Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC team after serving as the constituency’s MP for nearly 24 years.

He is also Singapore's longest-serving defence minister to date, with a myriad of achievements under his belt.

Here's a look back at his time in the office:

Longest-serving defence minister to date

Ng, a former surgical oncologist, was elected into parliament as the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in 2001 and has continued to serve in the constituency for five terms.

He became the Minister of State for Education and Manpower in 2002, before becoming the Minister of Manpower and Second Minister for Education in 2004.

He later became the Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence in 2005.

He continued serving in the Ministry of Defence, and in 2011, became the Minister of Defence— an appointment he kept to this day.

Strengthening defence cooperation

Ng played a significant role in strengthening defence cooperation between Singapore and other countries outside and within the region.

In 2019, Singapore and the U.S. reinforced their defence cooperation and renewed the Protocol of Amendment to the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding ("1990 MOU") Regarding United States Use of Facilities in Singapore ("2019 AMOU").

The agreement facilitates U.S. forces' access to Singapore's air and naval bases, and provides logistic support for their transiting personnel, aircraft and vessels.

In the same year, Ng and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe signed the enhanced Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation, aiming to expand bilateral defence cooperation.

Within the region, Ng also work with neighbouring Asean countries to strengthen defence cooperation, including Malaysia and Indonesia.

Singapore and Malaysia enjoy a strong defence cooperation, with armies from both countries actively engaging in a range of bilateral military exercises.

Singapore and Indonesia also enjoy close and long-standing defence relations, with regular bilateral exercises, visits, and professional exchanges.

Ng also represent Singapore regularly in the key defence summit Shangri-La Dialogue, which takes place in Singapore annually.

Historic Trump-Kim summit

In 2018, under Ng's leadership, the Singapore Armed Forces helped to ensure security during the historic Trump-Kim summit conducted in Singapore.

"The SAF did well, and I am proud of them for their professionalism," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"The successful completion of this mission gives confidence that we can protect Singapore, even at short notice."

"Defence is a long-term business"

Under his leadership, MINDEF expanded the concept of Total Defence in 2019, with a sixth pillar, digital defence.

In the Committee of Supply Debates in 2023, Ng said that "defence is a long-term business", reflective of the SAF's "Protecting Singapore in 2030" blueprint he introduced in 2014.

The blueprint plans to equip the army with future systems that will be able to help SAF defend Singapore and "respond strongly to the spectrum of security challenges on land, air and sea."

Last year, Ng introduced the SAF2040 blueprint to ensure that the SAF "continues to make long-term investments in conventional warfighting capabilities as well as hybrid capabilities for the modern digital battlefield".

"It's been an honour and privilege"

Speaking to the media at the People's Action Party's (PAP) introduction of candidates for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on Friday (Apr. 18), Ng said:

"You have elected me to serve five terms as a Member of Parliament, and also more than 20 years as a minister in government. It's been an honour and privilege to serve my residents and Singaporeans at large."

"I want to thank Bishan-Toa Payoh and Marymount residents for their trust and faith in me after nearly 24 years as a member of Parliament," Ng said.

"I took the road less travelled"

Reflecting on his 24 years in service, Ng wrote a poem about his decision to serve in the Government.

The poem appears to be an adaptation of Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken".

Frost's poem explores the theme of decision-making when "two roads diverged".

In his poem, Ng reflected on choosing between being a surgeon and serving in the government.

"24 years ago, I took the road less travelled," Ng wrote.

"24 years later, I am at the end of that less travelled road. And it has made all the difference to me... and yet, even as I come out of the woods, more paths lie ahead."

Top image via MINDEF