Chief Defence Force stepping down to join politics
Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng has announced that he will be stepping down after two years as head of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to join politics.
He will become the highest ranking military officer to trade the armed forces for a life in politics.
While he remained coy about the details of his political foray, Lt-Gen Ng said that he was leaving a SAF which was better than in the past.
He said he would go into the new phase of his career well prepared after 29 years in the SAF.
"It's been a wonderful journey," he said.
"I would like to give back to society in small ways for all the benefits that I gained. I care about Singapore's future, about Singaporeans' well-being... and what Singapore will be like for my grandkids," he told assembled media at a session held at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in Gombak Drive
Lt-Gen Ng spearheaded the state funeral organising committee for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the country's founding prime minister, and oversaw the preparations for the National Day Parade this year. He handed off command to Major-General Perry Lim, who was the Chief of Army, on Tuesday (Aug 18).
In the last elections in 2011, two army generals also made the switch to politics - Former Chief of Army Major-General Chan Chun Sing and Brigadier-General Tan Chuan Jin left military service and are both ministers now.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who announced that he will not be standing for re-election in upcoming GE, rose to the rank of Rear-Admiral and was the Chief of Navy from 1999 to 2003 before he was elected into Parliament in 2006.
Read the full report in our print edition on Aug 19.
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