In a statement issued on May 6, Labour Chief Ng Chee Meng addressed a recently circulated photo of him with Su Haijin, one of the individuals charged in connection with the $2.8 billion money laundering case in Singapore.
Ng, who is also the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), clarified that the photo was taken at a work-related dinner event, where people often approached him for photos.
“As the Secretary-General of NTUC, it is part of my work to engage with different companies and private sector leaders,” he said, adding that the dinner “took place some time back” and he had no further interactions with Su after learning about the investigations and charges.
Separately, Ministers Ong Ye Kung and Chee Hong Tat have also issued joint statements about pictures with Su Haijin that have been circulating online.
Addressing old MOE dialogue incident
Ng also responded to renewed online attention over comments he made during a Ministry of Education (MOE) dialogue session in 2017, before he became NTUC’s Secretary-General.
Acknowledging that the session took place nearly a decade ago, Ng said he may not remember the exact phrasing but expressed regret if his remarks had come across as disrespectful.
“I regret if any of my remarks came across as disrespectful, especially when the participants had raised questions in good faith. I could have handled the situation better,” he said, while reaffirming his respect for the teaching profession.
Focus on Jalan Kayu and NTUC — no government position
Looking ahead, Ng said his focus will be on serving residents in Jalan Kayu and Singaporean workers through NTUC.
He added that he has asked the Prime Minister not to assign him any role in the government, so he can devote himself fully to his duties in the Labour Movement and his constituency. PM has agreed to consider his request.
“My heart will always be for Singapore and Singaporeans, and I will continue to serve to the best of my abilities,” he said.
Some observers have questioned the timing of these resurfaced issues, wondering if their circulation was politically motivated, part of the mud-slinging that tends to surface during election season.
But now that GE2025 is over, and Ng has taken accountability and apologised, perhaps it’s time to move forward and allow him to focus on what he was elected to do: serve residents of Jalan Kayu and champion the rights of workers through NTUC.
Time to rally as One People
The divisive nature of elections can leave us fragmented, with emotions running high and differences pulling us apart. But now that GE2025 has concluded, we should set aside those differences, respect the process, and focus on what unites us.
Singapore faces serious challenges, like the looming threat of U.S. tariffs and economic headwinds. In such times, unity matters more than ever.
As we celebrate SG60, let’s remember: Regardless of political affiliation, we’ve always overcome adversity together. Let’s rise above the political divide and move forward as One People, hand in hand, ready to face the uncertainties ahead.
Majulah Singapura 🇸🇬
