Roy Ngerng
Roy Ngerng Yi Ling, born on 9 May 1981, is a Singaporean blogger, activist, and former politician known for his outspoken advocacy on social justice, government transparency, and LGBT rights.
Career
After graduation, Ngerng worked with Autism Partnership for six months before joining the Health Promotion Board’s Communicable Diseases department, where he won an Employee of the Year award in 2011 for his innovative contributions. In 2012, he became a patient coordinator at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, advocating for HIV awareness and understanding.
However, his tenure at the hospital ended in June 2014 when he was dismissed for “conduct incompatible with the values and standards expected of employees.” Ngerng claimed the dismissal was politically motivated, as it followed his legal troubles involving the Prime Minister.
Personal life
Raised in a working-class family, his father was a hawker selling chai tow kway (fried carrot cake), and his mother was a factory worker.
Ngerng grew up in a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat in Sembawang with his elder and younger sisters. He attended the now-defunct Hong Dao Primary School, later transferring to Ang Mo Kio Primary School.
Ngerng developed an early interest in social issues, citing experiences of witnessing racism in primary school.
After excelling academically at Mayflower Secondary School and Serangoon Junior College, where he topped his cohort in geography and art, he majored in sociology at the National University of Singapore.
During his university years, he was actively involved in community service, helping autistic children and those with mental health conditions.
Blogging and Activism
Ngerng launched his sociopolitical blog, The Heart Truths, in 2012, gaining recognition for his critiques of Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) and calls for greater government accountability. His blog made him a prominent figure in Singapore's activist circles and the top Singapore newsmaker of 2014, according to Yahoo Singapore.
Ngerng was also a leading voice at the "Return Our CPF" protests at Hong Lim Park, where he demanded transparency in CPF funds.
His activism led to controversy, particularly during a 2014 protest that disrupted a YMCA charity event, resulting in charges of public nuisance and organising an unauthorised demonstration. He was fined S$1,900 in 2015.
Defamation Lawsuit with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
In May 2014, Ngerng published a blog post alleging mismanagement of CPF funds and comparing it to a misappropriation case involving City Harvest Church leaders. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong accused him of defamation, claiming the post implied criminal misappropriation. Ngerng apologised but refused to pay damages initially, leading to a lawsuit.
The High Court ruled against Ngerng in November 2014, finding his allegations defamatory and malicious. He was ordered to pay S$150,000 in damages, comprising S$100,000 in general damages and S$50,000 in aggravated damages. To meet this financial burden, Ngerng turned to crowdfunding, raising more than S$110,000 with public support.
The case, the first in Singapore involving a purely online publication, was criticised by international press freedom groups, which argued it cast a chilling effect on free speech. Ngerng maintained his activism, despite expressing disappointment at the verdict.
Hong Lim Park Protest Incident
Main article: 2014 Hong Lim Park protest incident
On 27 September 2014, Roy Ngerng spoke at the Return Our CPF protest at Hong Lim Park, organised by activist Han Hui Hui. The protest, which focused on grievances about CPF policies, coincided with the YMCA Proms @ the Park charity event, leading to a contentious clash.
The protest faced criticism for allegedly disrupting the YMCA event, with reports claiming that special needs children were affected by the noise. However, video evidence presented conflicting accounts: some clips appeared to show protesters near the stage during performances, while others suggested they had moved away before the performances began.
As a result of the incident, Ngerng, Han, and four others were charged with public nuisance and organising an unauthorised demonstration. In October 2015, Ngerng pleaded guilty to both charges, with his lawyer attributing the offences to ignorance of regulations. He was fined S$1,900.
Political Involvement
In 2015, Ngerng joined the Reform Party and contested the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC) during the general election.
His team faced Prime Minister Lee’s People’s Action Party (PAP) and received 21.4% of the vote, the second-lowest share among GRCs contested.
Ngerng's attempt to become a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) earlier in 2014 was also unsuccessful.
Life in Taiwan
In 2016, Ngerng relocated to Taipei, Taiwan, citing the political climate in Singapore. He has since continued his advocacy and writing, contributing to publications and participating in discussions about democracy, governance, and LGBT rights.
He also appeared in Al Jazeera’s 2018 documentary Singapore: The House That Lee Built, which explored Singapore's political landscape.