SINGAPORE — Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen today (July 31) announced that Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng will retire from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on Aug 18, stirring expectations that he could be one of the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) new faces.

Amid heightened attention on possible electoral candidates in anticipation of the coming polls, Dr Ng, who is PAP organising secretary, acknowledged as much when announcing Lieutenant General Ng’s departure in his Facebook post.

“Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised if indeed he is,” said Dr Ng, adding that LG Ng will be awarded the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) — Meritorious Service Medal (Military) — this year.

Asked about his post-retirement plans, LG Ng, 47, said: “While I do not rule out the option of returning to the Administrative Service or entering politics if the opportunity presents itself, my immediate focus is on handing over my duties to the incoming Chief of Defence Force ... My obligations as Chief of Defence Force remain until I retire.”

He declined to comment further on whether he has plans to stand in the coming elections.

Dr Ng also wrote that he has advised LG Ng not to be distracted or entertain queries about his future plans for now and focus on important national events like the National Day Parade. “There will be a more appropriate time to address interests in his future plans,” Dr Ng said.

The military has been a recruitment pool for the PAP in elections past, with several high-ranking career soldiers going on to hold Cabinet positions — not least Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

A fighter pilot by vocation, LG Ng enlisted in 1986, holding the appointments of Head Air Plans Department, Director Joint Operations, and Chief of Air Force before rising to Chief of Defence Force in March 2013. Under his leadership, the SAF has achieved mission success in international operations in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden, as well as various humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the region.

Most recently, LG Ng chaired the State Funeral Organising Committee for founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in March this year and also oversaw the conceptualisation and execution of the SAF50 campaign.

His stint as SAF’s head honcho is the shortest of the last seven defence chiefs.

In the 2011 General Election, the PAP fielded Mr Chan Chun Sing and Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, shortly after they retired from the SAF as Chief of Army and Chief of the Training and Doctrine Command, respectively. Their retirement on March 25 was less than two months before Polling Day on May 7. Both have helmed various Cabinet portfolios and Mr Chan is now the labour chief and Mr Tan Social and Family Development Minister.

Before them, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who was Navy chief from 1999 to 2003, had left to take up top positions in the Civil Service, such as Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime and Port Authority and later the Housing and Development Board before he was elected to Parliament in 2006. In April this year, he was also appointed Second Minister for Defence.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean is a former Rear-Admiral in the navy, and served as Chief of Navy before leaving to contest in the 1992 by-election in Marine Parade.

In 1984, PM Lee left the army as its youngest Brigadier-General then and was elected as a Member of Parliament.

Chief of Army Major-General Perry Lim will take over as Chief of Defence Force on Aug 18, while Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong Su Kiat, who is currently the Chief Guards Officer, will take over as Chief of Army on Aug 14.