Desmond Choo
Desmond Choo Pey Ching (Chinese: 朱倍庆; pinyin: Zhū Bèiqìng; born 13 February 1978) is a Singaporean politician from the ruling party the People's Action Party (PAP), representing he Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC). He has served as a MP since 2015. In addition to that, he has been the Mayor of the North East District since 2017. Choo is the Assistant Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), where he has been actively calling for workers' rights and policies.
Early Life and Education
Choo received education at Ai Tong School, Catholic High School, and National Junior College. He graduated from the University of Chicago, majoring in economics. A scholarship from The Singapore Police Force financed his studies.
Singapore Police Force
Upon graduation, Choo served his scholarship bond in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for 12 years, holding various senior officer positions, including:
- Commanding officer of Woodlands Neighbourhood Police Centre,
- Head of the Special Investigation Section,
- Deputy commander of Clementi Police Division.
He was also seconded to the Ministry of Manpower as Deputy Director of the Foreign Workforce Policy Department. He was part of the security team during the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other Cabinet ministers at the Istana on 12 August 2004.
Choo left the police force with the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2010 to join NTUC.[3]
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
After a probationary stint as Deputy Director of NTUC's Youth Development Unit, Choo later became Deputy Director of the Industrial Relations Unit. He concurrently served as the Executive Secretary of the Union of Security Employees and the Singapore Shell Employees Union.
In 2013, he briefly joined the private sector at Kestrel Capital Pte Ltd, an investment firm, before returning to NTUC in April 2014.
As of 2015, Choo served as Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC and Director of the Policy Division, overseeing economic and social policies, strategic communications, and international affairs. He advocates for:
- Young workers and young families,
- Worker adaptation to job restructuring,
- New employment opportunities under Singapore's Industry Transformation Maps.
Additionally, he serves as Executive Secretary of the Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore and Advisor to the Young NTUC Committee.
Political career
Early Elections (2011–2012)
Choo entered politics as a PAP candidate in Hougang SMC during the 2011 general election. But he lost to the Workers' Party. He ran again a year later but faced another defeat.
Member of Parliament (2015–present)
Choo contested in Tampines GRC during the 2015 general election, where the PAP team secured 72.06% of the vote. He was elected MP for Tampines Changkat and has held the position since then.[9]
He was also appointed Chairperson of the Manpower Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) in the 14th Parliament of Singapore.[10]
Mayor of North East District
In 2017, Choo was appointed Mayor of North East District, a position he continues to hold.
Personal life
Choo married in July 2011.
His uncle, Choo Wee Khiang, was a PAP MP from 1988 to 1999 and was later convicted of cheating after resigning from Parliament. Despite this, Choo has stated that his uncle was a source of inspiration and counsel.