Heng Chee How
Heng Chee How (Chinese: 王志豪; pinyin: Wáng Zhìháo; born 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.
Heng Chee How | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 王志豪 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior Minister of State for Defence | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 1 May 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister | Ng Eng Hen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Ong Ye Kung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) 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 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Police career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Department | Singapore Police Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service years | 1983–1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Superintendent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.