David Ong
| David Ong Kim Huat MP | |
|---|---|
| 王金发 | |
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC (Bukit Batok) | |
|
In office 2008 – 24 August 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ong Chit Chung |
| Succeeded by | Constituency redrawn |
| Member of Parliament for Bukit Batok SMC | |
|
In office 11 September 2015 – 12 March 2016[1] | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Murali Pillai |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
19 May 1961 Singapore |
| Nationality | Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party (2008-2016) |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon |
| Religion | Christianity |
David Ong Kim Huat (simplified Chinese: 王金发; traditional Chinese: 王金發; pinyin: Wáng Jīn Fǎ; born May 19, 1961), BBM, has served as a Member of Parliament for Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC) (Bukit Batok), Adviser to Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisations (GROs) and Chairman of the Jurong Town Council since 2011. His term ended abruptly on 12 March 2016 citing personal reasons in a letter which is published by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It was alleged that he quit due to an extramarital affair with a PAP grassroots volunteer.
David is married with 3 children – two are studying while the eldest is in national service with the Army. In his leisure time, he loves to read, swim and oil paint.
Early life and education
David Ong Kim Huat was born in Singapore on May 19, 1961,[2] to a police officer and his wife, a homemaker.[3] He grew up in a small housing flat in Queenstown[3] and attended Margaret Drive Primary School and Gan Eng Seng School. Ong graduated from Tanjong Katong Secondary Technical School in 1979, going on to obtain a degree from the University of Oregon in 1986.[2]
Career
David Ong began his professional career in 1986 at CL Computers, which he left in 1989 to join American Express. In 1992, David Ong crossed over to Visa International, followed by Reed Elsevier in 1995, and Planet Marketing in 1997, where he stayed on till 2007. From 2001 to 2007, Ong also worked at Publicis Groupe. David started RedDot Publishing Inc. which specializes in providing media solutions for the tourism industry. He was Regional Marketing Director for Visa International before he founded an integrated marketing consultancy agency which was acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2002. Since 2007, he has been serving as RedDot Publishing's Managing Director.[2] He is also the Patron of the Singapore Brain Tumor Society and Advisor to Singapore Eng Choon Clan.
Politics (2008-2016)
Since 1999, David served as a grassroots leader in Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Division. He was the Chairman of its Citizens’ Consultative Committee from 2005 to 2011. David was appointed a District Councillor of the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) in 2004. He chaired the CDC’s Networks Committee that is responsible for fostering deeper collaboration with stakeholders to better meet the community’s needs. Between 2006 and 2010, David was a member of the REACH Supervisory Panel. In January 2010, he was appointed Chairman of People’s Association Active Ageing Council. He was also a member of the ITE College Central Advisory Committee. Ong was also the Vice Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Culture, Community and Youth and Member of the GPC for Communication and Information. Ong was also the Vice Chairman of Southwest Community Development Council and President of Basketball Association of Singapore. He is a Member of PAP Community Foundation Executive Committee as well as the National Trade Union Congress U-Care Fund Board of Trustees.
A former member of the Singapore-based political party People's Action Party (PAP) till his abrupt resignation from both party and parliament on 12 March 2016,[4] David Ong served previously as a Member of Parliament for the Jurong GRC, as well as the Chairman of the Jurong Town Council. David Ong was the Vice Chairman of Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY)'s Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) as well a member of the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) GPC. In January 2012, Ong stated that he welcomed a planned cut in his salary, expressing, "Personally for me with the reduction of the MP allowance and remove the GDP Bonus [sic], I think it won't affect my performance at all, as an MP. I'm elected to serve the people of Singapore, my residents in Jurong GRC, and I'll continue to do that."[5]
David Ong's sudden retirement on 12 March 2016 from politics as an incumbent People's Action Party Member of Parliament triggered the Bukit Batok by-election which took place on 7 May 2016. The explanation offered by the Singapore media is that David Ong has been having an extra marital affair with 41 year-old, Wendy Lim, who is also a member and grassroots volunteer of the People's Action Party.[1] Ong's alleged affair went on over nearly six months before it went public after the husband of Wendy Lim lodged a complaint about it.[6]
Personal life
Ong is a Christian. He is married with three children and has two brothers. He resides in Singapore.[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Woman a grassroots leader in ward". Straits Times. 13 Mar 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Mr David Ong Kim Huat". Parliament of Singapore. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "David Ong". People's Action Party. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ↑ Au-Yong, Rachel. "Bukit Batok residents shocked by MP David Ong's resignation". The Straits Times. The Straits Times. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ "MP David Ong believes Singaporeans will step forward to serve despite pay cuts". xin msn. January 4, 2012.
- ↑ "David Ong had affair with party member: Media reports". Retrieved 13 March 2016.