Civil service high-flier may enter politics
Ong Ye Kung quitting the service and could become PAP candidate
By Li Xueying & Zakir Hussain
CIVIL service high-flier Ong Ye Kung is leaving the administrative service at the end of this week, a move that could pave the way for a possible entry into politics.
The 41-year-old had been seconded to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) as an assistant secretary-general since December 2008. But from Monday, he will become its employee.
This means he will be free to join a political party and be fielded as an election candidate. Civil service rules bar officers from the administrative service from doing so.
Mr Ong confirmed to The Straits Times that he is quitting the service: 'Having worked on workers' issues for so long, it's timely to join NTUC to continue my work for workers.'
Asked if the move portends his entry to politics, he said: 'In terms of helping out at the grassroots, once I am no longer in the civil service, the door is open.'
He added that he 'happened to meet' Foreign Minister George Yeo, who helms Aljunied GRC, this week, and Mr Yeo 'asked if I want to accompany him around in his GRC'.
On whether he could be a People's Action Party candidate at the next general election, he replied: 'If it happens, it happens. I will look at whatever opportunities there are to enhance my ability to better help workers.'
Talk of Mr Ong's entering politics has been rife since he became the only non-politician to serve alongside five MPs in the NTUC's top leadership posts.
He was previously a principal private secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before becoming chief executive of the Workforce Development Agency at age 35, one of the youngest civil servants to helm a statutory board.
Former administrative service officers like Mr Khaw Boon Wan had, on entering politics, risen to become office-holders. Mr Khaw, the Health Minister, was once a principal private secretary to former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.
PAP leaders have said that candidates at the next general election, which must be held by February next year, are critical to forming the core for the next Cabinet. PM Lee revealed in November that over 240 potential candidates had been invited for 'tea' sessions - the first phase of the process to select new candidates. More than 40 were interviewed further.
Mr Ong's move aside, there have also been shifts involving others whom party and grassroots sources identified as potential candidates.
Another NTUC man, Mr Ang Hin Kee, chief executive of the e2i skills training institute, is now the PAP branch chairman of the Seletar-Cheng San ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
This post is almost always held by the PAP MP or candidate in the ward.
Of the current 84 branch chairmen, all are the serving MPs, except for Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Eric Low, who were the PAP's losing candidates in Potong Pasir and Hougang respectively.
Mr Ang, 46, was appointed soon after the death of Seletar-Cheng San MP S. Balaji in September last year. However, the post of branch chairman in Bukit Batok, the ward of the late Dr Ong Chit Chung who died in 2008, remains vacant.
As branch chairman, Mr Ang is in charge of preparing for elections as well as other party matters in the ward.
Asked if he will be a candidate there, he said: 'Only PM knows.'
There have also been changes at other branches.
Last month, DBS Bank senior vice-president Gan Thiam Poh, 48, moved from Potong Pasir - where he served as an activist for 15 years - to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which is helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Mr Gan said his move was 'an opportunity to gain more exposure and to understand the needs of a different estate'.
Similarly, KK Women's and Children's Hospital senior consultant Janil Puthucheary, 38, moved to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from East Coast GRC last month. He now helps out at MP Charles Chong's Punggol Central ward.
'I was specifically told not to attach any significance to where I'm posted,' he said, adding when asked if he will be a candidate: 'Honestly, I have no idea.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ong Ye Kung quitting the service and could become PAP candidate
By Li Xueying & Zakir Hussain
CIVIL service high-flier Ong Ye Kung is leaving the administrative service at the end of this week, a move that could pave the way for a possible entry into politics.
The 41-year-old had been seconded to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) as an assistant secretary-general since December 2008. But from Monday, he will become its employee.
This means he will be free to join a political party and be fielded as an election candidate. Civil service rules bar officers from the administrative service from doing so.
Mr Ong confirmed to The Straits Times that he is quitting the service: 'Having worked on workers' issues for so long, it's timely to join NTUC to continue my work for workers.'
Asked if the move portends his entry to politics, he said: 'In terms of helping out at the grassroots, once I am no longer in the civil service, the door is open.'
He added that he 'happened to meet' Foreign Minister George Yeo, who helms Aljunied GRC, this week, and Mr Yeo 'asked if I want to accompany him around in his GRC'.
On whether he could be a People's Action Party candidate at the next general election, he replied: 'If it happens, it happens. I will look at whatever opportunities there are to enhance my ability to better help workers.'
Talk of Mr Ong's entering politics has been rife since he became the only non-politician to serve alongside five MPs in the NTUC's top leadership posts.
He was previously a principal private secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before becoming chief executive of the Workforce Development Agency at age 35, one of the youngest civil servants to helm a statutory board.
Former administrative service officers like Mr Khaw Boon Wan had, on entering politics, risen to become office-holders. Mr Khaw, the Health Minister, was once a principal private secretary to former prime minister Goh Chok Tong.
PAP leaders have said that candidates at the next general election, which must be held by February next year, are critical to forming the core for the next Cabinet. PM Lee revealed in November that over 240 potential candidates had been invited for 'tea' sessions - the first phase of the process to select new candidates. More than 40 were interviewed further.
Mr Ong's move aside, there have also been shifts involving others whom party and grassroots sources identified as potential candidates.
Another NTUC man, Mr Ang Hin Kee, chief executive of the e2i skills training institute, is now the PAP branch chairman of the Seletar-Cheng San ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC.
This post is almost always held by the PAP MP or candidate in the ward.
Of the current 84 branch chairmen, all are the serving MPs, except for Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Mr Eric Low, who were the PAP's losing candidates in Potong Pasir and Hougang respectively.
Mr Ang, 46, was appointed soon after the death of Seletar-Cheng San MP S. Balaji in September last year. However, the post of branch chairman in Bukit Batok, the ward of the late Dr Ong Chit Chung who died in 2008, remains vacant.
As branch chairman, Mr Ang is in charge of preparing for elections as well as other party matters in the ward.
Asked if he will be a candidate there, he said: 'Only PM knows.'
There have also been changes at other branches.
Last month, DBS Bank senior vice-president Gan Thiam Poh, 48, moved from Potong Pasir - where he served as an activist for 15 years - to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which is helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Mr Gan said his move was 'an opportunity to gain more exposure and to understand the needs of a different estate'.
Similarly, KK Women's and Children's Hospital senior consultant Janil Puthucheary, 38, moved to Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from East Coast GRC last month. He now helps out at MP Charles Chong's Punggol Central ward.
'I was specifically told not to attach any significance to where I'm posted,' he said, adding when asked if he will be a candidate: 'Honestly, I have no idea.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
