List Of Permanent Secretaries in Singapore

Who are Singapore’s Permanent Secretaries? They’re the people who are effectively running the civil service behind the scenes. I thought it would be nice to get to know them better.

At the time of writing, 100% of them are Chinese, and 12 out of 16 of them are men.

[Last updated: 3rd April 2018]

1. Ministry of National Development – Ow Foong Pheng

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

She’s also on the DBS Board of Directors.

2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Chee Wee Kiong

He was a Brigadier-General in the RSAF [source]
He was a former director of SID [source]

3. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth – Yeoh Chee Yan

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

She was previously the permsec of Education
She’s also Chairman of the Singapore Sports School’s Board of Directors [source]

4. Ministry of Defence – Chan Yeng Kit

He’s also the Chairman of IMDA [source]
He was National Serviceman of the Year in 1999 [source]
He’s on Mediacorp’s Board of Directors [source]

5. Ministry of Law – Ng How Yue

He was previously principal private secretary to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. [source]

His wife is MP Tin Pei Ling. [source]

6. Ministry of Home Affairs – Pang Kin Keong

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

Mr Pang was the Director of the Internal Security Department (ISD) in 2008 when the terrorist Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped. [source]
He was previously Permsec of Transport (see above source)
He’s on the Mediacorp Board of Directors [source]

7. Ministry of Manpower – Aubeck Kam

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

He used to host Crime Watch in the mid-90s. [source]

8. Ministry of Transport – Loh Ngai Seng

He was the Director of the ISD (Internal Security Department) from 2010—2016. [source]

It’s very difficult to find photos of him. 😂

9. Ministry of Trade and Industry – Loh Khum Yean

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

He was sent on a scholarship to study economics in Japan [source]
He was CEO and Director of SPRING Singapore until 2008 [source]

10. Ministry of Health – Chan Heng Kee

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

He’s also the chairman of NLB’s Board of Directors [source]

11. Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) – Hock Yong Chew

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

He was previously the chief of LTA [source]

12. Ministry of Finance – Tan Ching Yee

Image: psd.gov.sg/challenge

She’s on the board of Changi Airport Group and the NRF, and also Permsec (Special Duties) in PMO [source]
She’s also Chairman of IRAS [source]
She’s also the Chairman of ACRA [source]
She was previously PermSec of Health [source]