Early Life and Education

Heng Swee Keat was born on 15 April 1961 into a Teochew Chinese family in Singapore. He attended Raffles Institution and later received a scholarship from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1980. This scholarship allowed Heng to study economics at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1983. In 1993, he furthered his studies by completing a Master in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Early Career

After completing his studies, Heng started his career in the Singapore Police Force, where he served in various roles, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He rose to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police before leaving the force in 1997. He then transitioned to the Singapore Administrative Service, holding senior positions in the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Key Roles in Public Service

From 1997 to 2001, Heng served as Principal Private Secretary to Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. In this role, he played a crucial part in policy formulation and administrative leadership. Heng’s tenure as Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 2005 to 2011 was notable for his leadership during the global financial crisis. Under his guidance, Singapore navigated the crisis effectively, earning him the title of Asia-Pacific Central Bank Governor of the Year by The Banker in 2011.

Political Career

Entry into Politics (2011)

Heng entered politics in the 2011 general election as a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The PAP team secured 57.22% of the vote, making Heng a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines GRC. Soon after, on 18 May 2011, he was appointed Minister for Education.

Ministerial Roles and Leadership

During his tenure as Minister for Education from 2011 to 2015, Heng implemented a student-centric and values-driven approach, shaping the future of Singapore’s education system. He also led the “Our Singapore Conversation” initiative in 2012, a year-long national dialogue engaging over 47,000 Singaporeans to discuss their aspirations for the country.

In the 2015 general election, Heng’s team in Tampines GRC won 72.06% of the vote. Subsequently, on 1 October 2015, Heng transitioned to the role of Minister for Finance. He oversaw Singapore’s financial policies, including key initiatives such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increase. Most notably, he played a crucial role in designing and managing five national budgets in 2020 to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Leadership

On 1 May 2019, Heng was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, reinforcing his position as a leading figure in the country’s government. In the 2020 general election, Heng contested in East Coast GRC, where his team won 53.41% of the vote. Following this victory, Heng became MP for the Bedok division of East Coast GRC.

In addition to his role as Deputy Prime Minister, Heng was appointed Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies on 27 July 2020. In this capacity, he led initiatives focused on economic restructuring, innovation, and workforce development to secure Singapore’s future in an increasingly competitive global market.

Leadership Transition Decision

Heng was widely regarded as the frontrunner to become Singapore’s next Prime Minister following the retirement of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. However, on 8 April 2021, Heng announced his decision to step aside from the leadership succession, citing his age and concerns about his health. Despite this, he continues to play a vital role in government and economic policy, especially in his ongoing work with the National Research Foundation.

Personal Life

Heng is married to Chang Hwee Nee, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Heritage Board. The couple has two children. In May 2016, Heng suffered a stroke during a Cabinet meeting but made a full recovery and resumed his duties shortly thereafter.

Honours and Awards

Throughout his career, Heng has received several prestigious awards for his contributions to public service:

• Public Administration Medal (Gold) (2001)
• Long Service Medal (2008)
• Meritorious Service Medal (2010)
• NTUC Medal of Honour (2021)

Key Contributions and Legacy

Heng continues to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, focusing on Singapore’s economic transformation and innovation strategies. His leadership in both public service and politics has left a lasting impact on Singapore’s financial stability, education reforms, and economic development.

Current Roles

• Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (since May 2019)
• Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies (since July 2020)
• Chairman of the People’s Action Party (since November 2022)

With a career spanning decades of dedicated service, Heng remains a pivotal figure in shaping Singapore’s policies for sustained growth and prosperity.