Permanent Secretary Appointments in the Public Sector – 8 Nov 2024

PERMANENT SECRETARY RETIREMENT AND APPOINTMENTS

Mr Chan Yeng Kit (陈英杰) will retire from the Public Service on 1 January 2025 after 38 years. He will remain as the Chief Executive Officer of SPH Media.

2        Thanking Mr Chan, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Mr Chan Chun Sing said, “I would like to express my appreciation to Yeng Kit for his exemplary leadership and many significant contributions to the Public Service. He has served with distinction across a range of different organisations over many years of dedicated service.”

Change in Permanent Secretary Appointment

3        Mr Loh Ngai Seng (卢毅成) will be appointed as Permanent Secretary (National Development) (Designate) with effect from 11 December 2024. He will relinquish his appointment as Permanent Secretary (Transport) on the same date. An announcement will be made in due course on Mr Loh’s appointment as Permanent Secretary (National Development).

Permanent Secretary Re-designations

4        Mr Lau Peet Meng (刘笔明), Permanent Secretary (Transport Development), will be re-designated as Permanent Secretary (Transport) with effect from 11 December 2024.

5        Mr Luke Goh Peng Ee (吴鹏毅), Permanent Secretary (Law) and concurrently Second Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs), will be re-designated as Permanent Secretary (Development), Ministry of Foreign Affairs with effect from 1 December 2024. He will continue as Permanent Secretary (Law).

Background

Mr Chan Yeng Kit

6        Mr Chan, 59, began his career in the Public Service in 1989 and held key appointments in various ministries and agencies. He was seconded to the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) from 1991 to 1993 and to the Suzhou Industrial Township Development from 1993 to 1994.

7        In 2005, Mr Chan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the former InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore. He spearheaded the conceptualisation and launch of the Intelligent Nation 2015 ICT masterplan, development of the Next Generation National Broadband Network, the launch of Wireless@SG, and strengthened Singapore’s infocomm industry.

8        In 2008, Mr Chan was first appointed as Permanent Secretary of the former Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA). He played a pivotal role in the transformation of Singapore into a global city for arts and culture. He provided strong leadership on the enhancement of the competitiveness of Singapore’s economy through infocomm, media and design. These included major initiatives such as the refresh of the Intelligent Nation 2015 ICT masterplan, Singapore Media Fusion Plan and DesignSingapore II.

9        Mr Chan was appointed as Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) in 2012 and subsequently as Permanent Secretary (Defence) in 2013. In his time at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Chan made significant contributions in enhancing defence relations with key partners and developing new defence capabilities, particularly in the digital and information domain.

10       Appointed Permanent Secretary (Health) in 2019, Mr Chan oversaw the planning and implementation of efforts in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. This included implementing COVID-19 Safe Management Measures, sustaining the healthcare workforce and operationalising the roadmap to enable economic and social activities to return to normal. He was also instrumental to several key national initiatives, such as Healthier SG, the national initiative focusing on preventive health, and the introduction of the Award for Nurses’ Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (ANGEL) scheme to ramp up the healthcare manpower needs in the sector.

11       In recognition of his contributions to the Public Service, Mr Chan was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2022.

Mr Loh Ngai Seng

12       Mr Loh, 53, has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs before his appointment as Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Education in 2008. He was appointed Director, Internal Security Department, Ministry of Home Affairs in 2010 and as Second Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs) in 2016. He was appointed as Permanent Secretary (Transport) in 2017.

Mr Lau Peet Meng

13       Mr Lau, 49, has held various appointments in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs. He was appointed as Chief Executive of the then-Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore in 2011, and as Director (Operations), SPF in 2014 and subsequently Deputy Commissioner (Operations), SPF in 2015. He was appointed Director, Security and Intelligence Division, Ministry of Defence in 2019. In July 2024, Mr Lau was appointed as Permanent Secretary (Transport Development).

Mr Luke Goh Peng Ee

14       Mr Goh, 49, started his career as a central banker and regulator at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He subsequently took on various appointments in the Ministry of Health, Public Service Division and Civil Service College, before his appointment as Deputy Secretary (Trade) in the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2016. He was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, National Environment Agency in 2021. In 2023, he was appointed as Permanent Secretary (Law) and concurrently Second Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs).