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The HonourableHeng Chee How
王志豪
Heng in 2020
Senior Minister of State for Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 2018Serving with Zaqy Mohamad (2020–present)
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong Lawrence Wong
Minister	Ng Eng Hen
Preceded by	Ong Ye Kung
Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 January 1999
Secretary-General	Lim Boon Heng Lim Swee Say Chan Chun Sing Ng Chee Meng
Mayor of Central Singapore District
In office 24 November 2001 – 29 May 2006
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by	Yaacob Ibrahim
Succeeded by	Zainudin Nordin
Ministerial offices Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office In office 21 May 2011 – 30 April 2018 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office In office 1 April 2008 – 20 May 2011 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Minister of State for Health In office 30 May 2006 – 31 March 2008 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Minister Khaw Boon Wan Minister of State for National Development In office 1 May 2005 – 29 May 2006 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Minister Mah Bow Tan Minister of State for Trade and Industry In office 12 August 2004 – 30 September 2005 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Minister Lim Hng Kiang
Parliamentary offices Deputy Leader of the House In office 31 May 2011 – 30 September 2015 Preceded by Ng Eng Hen Succeeded by Desmond Lee Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Whampoa) Incumbent Assumed office 11 September 2015 Preceded by Constituency established Majority 30,370 (30.72%) In office 3 November 2001 – April 2011 Preceded by Choo Wee Khiang (PAP) Succeeded by Constituency abolished Member of Parliament for Whampoa SMC In office 7 May 2011 – 18 April 2015 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1961-07-14) 14 July 1961 (age 63) Colony of Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Spouse	Goh Soon Poh
Children	1
Alma mater	Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (MA) Harvard University (MPA)
Occupation	Politician trade unionist police officer
Police career
Department	Singapore Police Force
Service years	1983–1995
Rank	Superintendent

Heng Chee How (Chinese: 王志豪; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hêng Chì-hâu; pinyin: Wáng Zhìháo; born 14 July 1961) is a Singaporean politician, union leader and former police officer who has been serving as Senior Minister of State for Defence since 2018 and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress since 1999. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Whampoa division of Jalan Besar GRC since 2001.

Prior to entering politics, Heng had worked at the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

He made his political debut in the 1997 general election as a solo PAP candidate contesting in Hougang SMC against the Workers' Party's Low Thia Khiang. He lost to Low, who won 58.02% of the vote against his 41.98%.

During the 2001 general election, Heng joined the five-member PAP team contesting in Jalan Besar GRC and won with 74.48% of the vote. Heng was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Whampoa ward of Jalan Besar GRC. Since then, he had retained his parliamentary seat in subsequent elections and had served as Minister of State and later Senior Minister of State in various ministries. He also served as Deputy Leader of the House in Parliament between 2011 and 2015.

Early life and education

Born in a Chinese Singaporean of Teochew descent family, Heng was educated at Raffles Institution before graduating from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge at the University of Cambridge in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts with second upper class honours (later replaced by an Oxbridge Master of Arts) degree in economics under an undergraduate scholarship conferred by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1980.

He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Public Administration degree at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992 under a postgraduate scholarship conferred by the Singapore Police Force (SPF).

Heng was also awarded the Edward S. Mason Fellowship in 1990, Lucius Littauer Fellowship Award from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992 and Eisenhower Fellowship in 2001.

Career

Heng started his career in 1983 in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and held command and staff appointments, including Director of Manpower and Commander of the Geylang Police Division.

He attained the rank Superintendent and left the SPF in 1995 to join the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and took up various positions in the labour movement, including Chief Executive Officer of the NTUC Club (1995–1998), Executive Secretary of the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees Union, Executive Secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries, and Divisional Director overseeing industrial relations, skills development, productivity improvement and employment assistance.

He became Assistant Secretary-General of the NTUC in 1997. In 1999, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary-General of the NTUC has held that position since then.

Political career

Heng made his political debut in the 1997 general election when he contested as a solo candidate from the People's Action Party (PAP) in Hougang SMC against the incumbent opposition Member of Parliament, Low Thia Khiang of the Workers' Party. He lost to Low, who won 58.02% of the vote against his 41.98%.

In the 2001 general election, Heng contested again as a PAP candidate, this time in Jalan Besar GRC, as part of a five-member PAP team. The PAP team won with 74.48% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Alliance and Heng was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Whampoa ward of Jalan Besar GRC. He served as Mayor of the Central District between 2001 and 2006.

On 12 August 2004, Heng was appointed Minister of State for Trade and Industry. On 1 May 2005, he was reappointed as Minister of State for National Development.

In the 2006 general election, Heng contested in Jalan Besar GRC again as part of a five-member PAP team and they won with 69.26% of the vote against the Singapore Democratic Alliance. After the election, Heng was appointed Minister of State for Health on 30 May 2006. On 1 April 2008, he became a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

During the 2011 general election, Heng contested as a solo PAP candidate in the newly formed Whampoa SMC and won with 66.1% of the vote against the National Solidarity Party's Ken Sun. On 21 May 2011, he was promoted to Senior Minister of State and continued serving in the Prime Minister's Office. On 31 May 2011, he also became Deputy Leader of the House in Parliament.

In the 2015 general election, Whampoa SMC was dissolved and became part of Jalan Besar GRC again. Heng contested in the election as part of a four-member PAP team in Jalan Besar GRC and won with 67.75% of the vote. Heng continued to be the Member of Parliament representing the Whampoa ward of Jalan Besar GRC after the election. On 1 May 2018, Heng was appointed as Senior Minister of State for Defence and has been holding that appointment since then after being elected again in the 2020 general election with 65.36% of the vote in Jalan Besar GRC.

Personal life

Heng is married to Goh Soon Poh, who is currently serving as Auditor-General of Singapore. She previously served as Deputy Secretary (Corporate) in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). They have one daughter.

References

1. ^ "MP | Parliament of Singapore".
2. ^ "Parliament of Singapore : MP Heng Chee How's CV". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
3. ^ "MINDEF Singapore".
4. "ELD | 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
5. "ELD | 2001 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
6. "ELD | 2006 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
7. "ELD | 2011 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
8. "MP | Parliament Of Singapore". www.parliament.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
9. Lim, Janice (28 February 2019). "Auditor-general is wife of political office-holder, but there's no conflict of interest: Chan Chun Sing". TODAYonline. Retrieved 5 August 2020.

External links

• Heng Chee How on Parliament of Singapore

Member of multiple Parliaments of Singapore

v t e Members of the 14th Parliament of Singapore Speaker: Tan, C J→Seah, K P Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) Aljunied Giam, Y S Lim, S L Faisal Perera Singh Ang Mo Kio David Gan, T P Lee, H L Nadia Ng, L L Bishan–Toa Payoh Chee, H T Chong, K H Ng, E H Saktiandi Chua Chu Kang Gan, K Y Low, Y L Wee, B H Zhulkarnain East Coast Chan, W L Heng, S K Maliki Tan, K H Tan, S N Holland–Bukit Timah Chia, B H de Souza Sim, A Vivian Jalan Besar Heng, C H Phua, L P Teo, L M Wan Rizal Jurong Huang, W Z Rahayu Tan, W M Tharman Xie, Y Q Marine Parade Fahmi Seah, K P Tan, C J Tan, S L Tong, C F Marsiling–Yew Tee Soh, H B Wong, S T Yam, Z M Zaqy Nee Soon Goh, S H Shanmugam Faishal Ng, K K Tan, H M Pasir Ris–Punggol Puthucheary Sharael Tan, K M Teo, C H Yeo, W L Sembawang Lim, W K Mariam Ong, Y K Poh, L S Nair Sengkang Chua, K W He, T R Lim, C W Raeesah Tampines Baey, Y K Cheng, L H Choo, P C Koh, P K Masagos Tanjong Pagar Chan, C S Chua, S L Indranee Pereira Tan, S H West Coast Ang, W N Foo, M H Lee, T S Ong, S Y Iswaran Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) Bukit Batok Pillai Bukit Panjang Liang, E H Hong Kah North Khor, L S Hougang Tan, L F Kebun Baru Kwek, H C MacPherson Tin, P L Marymount Gan, S H Mountbatten Lim, B C Pioneer Tay, T G Potong Pasir Sitoh, Y P Punggol West Sun, X L Radin Mas Yong, Y C Yio Chu Kang Yip, H W Yuhua Fu, H Y Non-elected members NCMP Leong, M W Poa, K K NMPs Samad Ang, G H Chay, J J Cheng, H Y Hoon, H T Koh, L P Raj Shahira Tan, Y S The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency/seat he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party; PSP: Progress Singapore Party All of the leaders of the respective GRCs are in underline. MP(s) who is go on a leave of absence is in italic. NMPs do not belong to any party. Other Current/Former MPs Nav Boxes 14 13 12 11 10 v t e Members of the 13th Parliament of Singapore (2015–2020) Speaker: Halimah Yacob→Tan, C J Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) Aljunied Chen, S M Lim, S L Low, T K Faisal Singh Ang Mo Kio Ang, H K David Gan, T P Intan Koh, P K Lee, H L Bishan–Toa Payoh Chee, H T Chong, K H Ng, E H Saktiandi Teo, L M Chua Chu Kang Gan, K Y Low, Y L Yee, C H Zaqy East Coast Lee, Y S Lim, S S Maliki Tan, S N Holland–Bukit Timah de Souza Liang, E H Sim, A Vivian Jalan Besar Heng, C H Neo, L Phua, L P Yaacob Jurong Ang, W N Lee, T S Rahayu Tharman Tan, W M Marine Parade Fatimah Goh, C T Seah, K P Tan, C J Tong, C F Marsiling–Yew Tee Ong, T K Wong, S T Yam, Z M Halimah Nee Soon Faishal Kwek, H C Lee, B W Ng, K K Shanmugam Pasir Ris–Punggol Ng, C M Puthucheary Sun, X L Teo, C H Teo, S L Zainal Sembawang Amrin Khaw, B W Lim, W K Ong, Y K Nair Tampines Baey, Y K Cheng, L H Choo, P C Heng, S K Masagos Tanjong Pagar Chan, C S Chia, S L Indranee Pereira Yong, Y C West Coast Foo, M H Iswaran Lim, H K Tay, T G Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) Bukit Batok Ong, K H→Pillai Bukit Panjang Teo, H P Fengshan Chan, W L Hong Kah North Khor, L S Hougang Png, E H MacPherson Tin, P L Mountbatten Lim, B C Pioneer Foo, C K Potong Pasir Sitoh, Y P Punggol East Chong, Y F Radin Mas Tan, C S Sengkang West Lam, P M Yuhua Fu, H Y Non-elected members NCMP Perera Tan, L F Goh, P S NMPs Azmoon Chia, Y Y Chua, K S Ganesh Kok, H L Kuik, S Y Mohan Tan, G K Thanaletchimi Arasu Foo, P Y Ho, W S Lim, S S Irshad Quay, S C Ong, L T Theseira Yip, P X The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term. Other Current/Former MPs Nav Boxes 14 13 12 11 10 v t e Members of the 12th Parliament of Singapore (2011–2015) Speaker: Halimah Yacob Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) Aljunied Chen, S M Lim, S L Low, T K Faisal Singh Ang Mo Kio Ang, H K Singh Intan Lee, H L Seng, H T Yeo, G K Bishan-Toa Payoh Nair Ng, E H Teo, L M Wong, K S Zainudin Chua Chu Kang Gan, K Y Low, Y L Yam, Z M Yeo, K H Zaqy East Coast Lee Y S Lim S K Lim, S S Maliki Tan, S N Holland-Bukit Timah de Souza Liang, E H Sim, Ann Vivian Jurong Ang, W N Halimah Lee, T S Ong, K H Tharman Marine Parade Fatimah Goh, C T Seah, K P Tan, C J Tin, P L Moulmein-Kallang Lui, T Y Phua, L P Tong, C F Yaacob Nee Soon Lee, B W Lim, W K Faishal Shanmugam Tay, T G Pasir Ris-Punggol Gan, T P Puthucheary Low, Penny Teo, C H Teo, S L Zainal Sembawang Hawazi Khaw, B W Lee, G H Ong, T K Nair Tampines Baey, Y K Heng, S K Mah, B T Masagos Ng, P H Tanjong Pagar Chan, C S Chia, S L Indranee Neo, Lily West Coast Fong, Jen Foo, M H Iswaran Lim, H K Wong, S T Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) Bukit Panjang Teo, H P Hong Kah North Khor, L S Hougang Png, E H Joo Chiat Chong, Y F Mountbatten Lim, B C Pioneer Foo, C K Potong Pasir Sitoh, Y P Punggol East Lee, L L Radin Mas Tan, C S Sengkang West Lam, P M Whampoa Heng, C H Yuhua Fu, H Y Non-elected members NCMP Giam, Y S Loh, W L Yee, J J NMPs Dhinakaran Faizah Fang, K W Koh, Y M Lien, T C Liew, K E Tan, K B Tan, S S Teo, S S Chia, Y Y Chua, K S Karthikeyan Kuik, S Y Ismail Soh, S L Tan, C L Tan, G K Tan, T Y The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; SPP: Singapore People's Party; WP: The Workers' Party For NCMPs, Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong are from the WP, while Lina Loh is from the SPP. NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term. Other Current/Former MPs Nav Boxes 13 12 11 v t e Members of the 11th Parliament of Singapore (2006–2011) Speaker: Abdullah Tarmugi Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) Aljunied Lim, H H Phua, S G Yeo, G K Yeo, Y B Zainul Ang Mo Kio Balaji Lam, P M Lee, B W Lee, H L Singh Wee, S K Bishan–Toa Payoh Nair Ng, E H Teo, L M Wong, K S Zainudin East Coast Abdullah Jayakumar Lee Y S Lim S K Tan, S N Holland–Bukit Timah de Souza Liang, E H Lim, S S Vivian Yu-Foo, Y S Hong Kah Ang, M S Khor, L S Yeo, C T Yeo, K H Zaqy Jalan Besar Heng, C H Lee, B Y Neo, Lily Phua, L P Yaacob Jurong Fu, H Y Halimah Lim, B H Ong, C C Tharman Marine Parade Fatimah Faishal Goh, C T Lim, B C Ong, S H Seah, K P Pasir Ris–Punggol Ahmad Chong, Y F Low, Penny Palmer Teo, C H Teo, S L Sembawang Hawazi Khaw, B W Shanmugam Lee, G H Lim, W K Maliki Tampines Mah, B T Masagos Ng, P H Ong, K M Sin, B A Tanjong Pagar Baey, Y K Indranee Koo, T K Lee, K Y Lui, T Y Tan, C S West Coast Fong, Jen Foo, C K Ho, G C Iswaran Lim, H K Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) Bukit Panjang Teo, H P Chua Chu Kang Gan, K Y Hougang Low, T K Joo Chiat Chan, S S MacPherson Yao, Matthias Nee Soon Central Ong, A H Nee Soon East Ho, P K Potong Pasir Chiam, S T Yio Chu Kang Seng, H T Non-elected members NCMP Lim, S L NMPs Banarjee, G Cham, H F Khew, T F Loo, C Y Mehta, K K Olsen, E E Phua, W C Siew, K H Thio, L A Cheng, E L Lee, K H Viswa Tan, B M Straughan, Paulin Teo, S S Wee, Y T Wong, W Y Yeo, W L The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; SDA: Singapore Democratic Alliance; WP: The Workers' Party NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term. Other Current/Former MPs Nav Boxes 14 13 12 11 10

• Singaporean people of Teochew descent
• Living people
• Harvard Kennedy School alumni
• Alumni of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
• 1961 births
• People's Action Party politicians
• Singaporean Christians
• Singaporean trade unionists
• Members of the Parliament of Singapore