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Malay Mail
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Union chief Ng Chee Meng declines Cabinet post after backlash over past behaviour, dinner with money launderer Su Haijin
SINGAPORE, May 6 – Newly-elected PAP MP Ng Chee Meng has today apologised after several posts about his past conducts went viral following his Jalan Kayu SMC win in the general election over the weekend. Ng, who is also the National Trades Union Congress secretary-general, said he has asked Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong not to assign him any position in the government. 'The PM has agreed to consider this. My heart will always be for Singapore and Singaporeans,' he said in a statement here. The response came following online remarks about his conduct at a Ministry of Education dialogue in 2017, and a photo that has surfaced of him with convicted money launderer and Fujian gang member Su Haijin. 'I could have handled the situation better. I sincerely apologise. I have received and accepted the feedback, and will continue to do better,' he said. This comes as Ng had allegedly reacted angrily to a question from the audience, and that he had asked attendees if they read fiction or serious books. Ng also dismissed the dinner with Su, which he said took place some time back and he had no further interactions with the latter after police investigations and criminal charges were brought against him. 'As the secretary-general of NTUC, it is part of my work to engage with different companies and private-sector leaders. 'These engagements help me better understand the concerns and challenges in different industries,' he said. This follows a statement from the press secretaries of Ministers Ong Ye Kung and Chee Hong Tat, who said in a joint statement that the ministers do not know Su personally, and do not have any contact with him. Su, a Cypriot national, was among 10 foreigners arrested in a S$3 billion (RM9.8 billion) money laundering case on August 15, 2023. He was sentenced to 14 months' jail in April 2024, after admitting to one charge of resisting arrest and two money laundering charges. Another 11 charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.
CNA
06-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
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.
Business Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
‘Failing does not equate to failure': Labour chief Ng Chee Meng on bouncing back after GE2020 loss
[SINGAPORE] Even as there is much for Singapore to celebrate on May Day, there continues to be 'dark clouds overhead', said labour chief Ng Chee Meng on Thursday (May 1). The US is entering a potential recession, and the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump in April have caused much anxiety and volatility. The rules-based world order – both in trade and in security – is fraying, he said at the May Day Rally. 'Our economy will be impacted. Our 2025 growth forecast has already been revised downwards to 0 to 2 per cent. Trade volumes will likely drop. Our businesses and jobs will be hit,' the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general said at the event held at Downtown East in Pasir Ris. Describing these as 'not a distant reality', Ng pointed out that unemployment rates here have already crept up in the first quarter of 2025, with some companies already planning to freeze hiring and wages. On what this means for Singapore's workforce, Ng said it means that youths are concerned about the availability of jobs when they graduate. Many people, including the PME (professionals, managers and executives) group, are concerned about their job security, and more are likely to experience potential job transitions, he said. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 3 pm Thrive Money, career and life hacks to help young adults stay ahead of the curve. Sign Up Sign Up The labour movement will do its best to support the efforts of the new Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, he said. Ng is also part of this taskforce, as co-leader of a work stream tasked to identify the pain points and immediate challenges faced by workers and businesses. 'We will work closely with tripartite partners to advance our workers' interests and enable them to seize new opportunities in a changed world,' said the labour chief. In his nearly 30-minute speech, Ng said that NTUC will 'innovate and strengthen' its Jobs Security Council (JSC), which was set up in early 2020 and has helped to place over 110,000 people into jobs. 'We want to refresh the JSC – to create a version 2.0 – as good jobs are the best security for our workers,' he said. A job security directorate has been set up to coordinate and drive the efforts of JSC 2.0. The NTUC intends to push for more business transformation and workforce training, help more people future-proof their careers, and match more workers with good jobs. A busy campaign Earlier in his address, Ng – one of the People's Action Party's 97 candidates at this Saturday's general election – said this May Day period has been 'a little bit different' for him. This year's May Day coincides with the ninth and final day of campaigning for the election. Ng shared that he has only been home for dinner twice in the last 45 days or so, shedding 4 kg along the way. 'It has been a very busy period to say the least, but every second has been worth it, because every hour and every day spent is for the larger purpose of serving fellow Singaporeans and workers of all collars,' he said. Ng, a former Cabinet minister, led the PAP's Sengkang GRC team to a narrow loss against the Workers' Party (WP) at the last election five years ago. This time, he is the ruling party's candidate in the new Jalan Kayu SMC, where he is up against the WP's Andre Low. Ng said that he felt he had let the entire NTUC down in 2020, and the process of dealing with that setback has been a humbling one. 'But it has also taught me many good lessons. I have learned more deeply that failing does not equate to failure. It is not our losses that define us,' he told the audience. 'It is how we continue to press on and do our utmost that counts. With your support, I have done so.'
AsiaOne
01-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Watch: PM Lawrence Wong delivers May Day Rally speech, Singapore News
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver his first May Day Rally speech as Prime Minister on Thursday (May 1) at 10.15am. He will be speaking to an audience of about 1,600 labour movement leaders, tripartite partners and guests at D'Marquee in Downtown East. National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, who is also PAP's candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, will deliver an opening address at the annual rally. Members of the public can also watch the livestream on NTUC's YouTube channel. editor@
Business Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
NTUC will collaborate with tripartite partners to protect all workers from tariff impact
[SINGAPORE] The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is closely monitoring the impact of the global tariff situation on workers, and – as part of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce – will work with tripartite partners to support them. 'As global events reshape our world in these uncertain times, Singapore is not immune, especially to the impact of intensifying global trade tensions,' said NTUC president K Thanaletchimi and secretary-general Ng Chee Meng in a joint May Day message on Wednesday (Apr 30). The labour movement will help workers overcome challenges and seize new opportunities, they added. Thanaletchimi and Ng emphasised NTUC's strong relationships with its tripartite partners: the Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore National Employers Federation. In collaborating, the three 'reinforce Singapore's stability and resilience and ensure shared economic and social progress', they said. The labour movement's 'deep-rooted symbiotic relationship' with the government continues to uplift workers and ensure sustainable progress for the Republic, they added. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Support for all groups The labour leaders also gave an overview of what NTUC is doing for different groups of workers, from young people to working caregivers. Through tailored programmes for youth members, NTUC helps them transition from school to work. The NTUC Starter Awards, introduced in 2024, is a bond-free scholarship and leadership programme to support them in their education and leadership skills development. For professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), NTUC has initiatives for mentorship and guidance on career progression. As for older workers, NTUC has 'long advocated' for them to remain in the workforce for as long as they like. In the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment, NTUC will endeavour to provide them with upskilling opportunities and workplace support. For working caregivers, NTUC contributed to the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, by which employers are obliged to fairly consider their staff's flexible work requests. Similarly, platform workers benefit from the protections under the Platform Workers Act. The labour movement has also pushed for the Workplace Fairness Act to ensure 'fair opportunities and a level playing field amidst foreign competition' for workers, especially PMEs. Under the Complementarity Assessment Framework for Employment Pass (EP) applicants, NTUC awards the Strategic Economic Priorities bonus to employers that implement local workforce training, to ensure that EP holders complement local workforce development. The labour leaders also highlighted how NTUC's Company Training Committee initiative has been synchronised with SkillsFuture Singapore's SkillsFuture Queen Bee programme, in which larger companies help to upskill suppliers. 'More workers across a broader ecosystem of suppliers will be upskilled, while businesses enjoy productivity gains,' they said.
