POLICE COMMISSIONER NG JOO HEE REPLACED

BY JOYCE LIM, Straits Times

SINGAPORE – The current Deputy Commissioner of Investigations and Intelligence, Mr Hoong Wee Teck, 51, will be appointed Commissioner of Police on Jan 6 next year.

He replaces current Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee, 48,who will be appointed chief executive of the Public Utilities Board.

Mr Ng will also assume a concurrent appointment as Deputy Secretary (Special Duties), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources from Jan 6 next year.

Mr Hoong, who is also director of the Criminal Investigation Department, has served 27 years in the Police Force. He held various key appointments including commander of Bedok Police Division and director of Police Intelligence.

Meanwhile, Mr Ng has served in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for 29 years, and helmed the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for close to five years.

Said Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Teo Chee Hean: “I would like to thank Commissioner of Police Ng Joo Hee for his dedication and commitment to keeping Singapore safe and secure in his 29 years with the Singapore Police Force. During his tour of duty as Commissioner of Police, he has made significant improvements to reduce crime and bring unlicensed money lending under control. He has also introduced various initiatives to increase the effectiveness of the force and to provide our Officers with more capabilities to carry out their duties, such as in Community Policing and the deployment of Police cameras in our HDB estates to fight crime.

“Joo Hee has also played an active role to further strengthen the Singapore Police Force’s partnership and collaboration with regional and international law enforcement agencies through joint operations and sharing of information to combat transnational crime. All of us in MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) wish Joo Hee well in his future responsibilities.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the MHA noted that the crime rate in Singapore reached a 30-year low last year during Mr Ng’s term as commissioner.

“Mr Ng has provided strong leadership in reshaping SPF’s strategies and putting in place systemic approaches in community policing, tackling unlicensed money lending and related harassment cases, as well as technology to facilitate policing,” the Ministry said.