New army chief named

SINGAPORE — Brigadier-General (BG) Perry Lim Cheng Yeow will be taking over as the army chief next month, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced yesterday.

The 41-year-old is currently Chief of Staff (General Staff) and will replace the outgoing Chief of Army, Major-General (MG) Ravinder Singh, on March 21.

MINDEF said that the change is part of the continuing process of leadership renewal in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

MG Singh, 49, joined the SAF in 1982 and has led as Chief of Army since 2011 after succeeding Mr Chan Chun Sing, who is now the Minister for Social and Family Development.

MG Singh was the first operationally ready national serviceman to be recalled from MINDEF and appointed as the Chief of Army.

The ministry said that, as army chief, MG Singh orchestrated the SAF’s peace support operations in Afghanistan and oversaw the operationalisation of significant 3rd Generation Army capabilities.

He was also credited with numerous initiatives that strengthened the army’s engagement with the public and brought it closer to Singaporeans.

The incoming chief, BG Lim, joined the SAF in 1990 and was awarded the SAF (Overseas) and President’s scholarships the following year.

He was also Commander of 3rd Division and Chairman of the Executive Committee for the National Day Parade last year.