Labour chief Ng Chee Meng asks PM Wong not to assign him any position in government
SINGAPORE: National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general and Jalan Kayu Member of Parliament (MP) Ng Chee Meng said on Tuesday (May 6) that he has asked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong not to assign him any position in government.
'Over the next five years, I will focus on my duties as the MP in Jalan Kayu and my role as secretary-general of NTUC. The needs of my residents and all Singaporean workers are my priorities,' he said in a statement.
'Hence, I have asked the prime minister not to assign me any position in government. PM has agreed to consider this.'
In one of the tightest contests in this year's General Election, Mr Ng clinched victory for the People's Action Party in the Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC) with 51.47 per cent of the vote, beating Workers' Party candidate Andre Low.
During a press conference in the early hours of Sunday morning, the prime minister addressed several questions from the media, including one on his potential Cabinet line-up.
Mr Wong said that Mr Ng will potentially have a role in his next Cabinet, based on the roles of the nation's labour chiefs in previous Cabinet line-ups.
Mr Ng said in his statement on Tuesday afternoon that his heart 'will always be for Singapore and Singaporeans' and that he will continue to serve to the best of his abilities.
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