Shawn Huang
Shawn Huang | |
|---|---|
黄伟中 | |
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for West Coast–Jurong West GRC | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 29,509 (19.98%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Jurong GRC | |
| In office 10 July 2020 – 15 April 2025 | |
| Preceded by | PAP held |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Majority | 60,501 (49.24%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shawn Wei Zhong Ingkiriwang 19 July 1982 |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | United States Air Force Academy (BS) |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Republic of Singapore Air Force |
| Years of service | 2000–2018 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
Shawn Huang Wei Zhong[a] PBM (né Ingkiriwang; born 19 July 1982)[1][2][3] is a Singaporean politician. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Taman Jurong division of West Coast–Jurong West Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 2025. He had previously represented the Jurong Spring division of Jurong GRC between 2020 and 2025.
Huang has also been serving as Senior Parliamentary Secretary with the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Finance since 2025.[4] Prior to entering politics, he served as an F-16 fighter pilot in the Singaporean Air Force (RSAF) between 2000 and 2018. He has also been a director at Tasek Jurong, a charity organisation, since 2014.
Early life and education
[edit]Huang graduated with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 2006.[5] In 2015, he was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.[6]
Career
[edit]Military career
[edit]Huang[7] joined the Republic of Singapore Air Force as a pilot trainee in 2001 and has over 1,000 flying hours on the CT4B, S211, A-4 Super Skyhawk and F-16 Fighting Falcon. He held several staff and operational appointments and was the Commanding Officer of the 140 Squadron.
On 14 September 2017, Huang was the parade commander for President Halimah Yacob's inauguration ceremony held at the Istana.[8][9]
On 9 August 2018, Huang was the parade commander for Singapore's 53rd National Day Parade, in conjunction with the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 50th anniversary.[1]
Political career
[edit]Huang was fielded for the 2020 general election as one of five candidates representing the People's Action Party (PAP) in Jurong GRC.[10] On 11 July 2020, Huang was declared an elected Member of the 14th Parliament.[11]
On 13 May 2024, Huang was appointed as senior parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance.[12]
Controversies
[edit]Public criticism arose over confusion surrounding Huang's change of surname prior to the 2020 Singaporean general election. Of Chinese Indonesian descent, Huang's birth name was Shawn Wei Zhong Ingkiriwang. According to Huang, his great-grandfather, an Indonesian Chinese, had changed the original Chinese surname "Huang" to the more Indonesian-sounding "Ingkiriwang", as Chinese Indonesians faced social and political pressure to adopt Indonesian-style names.[13]
In 1989, Huang executed a deed poll in Singapore to revert to the original surname "Huang". However, due to what he described as administrative confusion, he continued to be publicly identified as "Ingkiriwang" as late as 2018, including when he served as parade commander for Singapore's 53rd National Day Parade (NDP).[14] Another controversy emerged over Huang's conduct during that same NDP rehearsal, where reports alleged that he had thrown lunch boxes at a fellow military volunteer after not receiving his own. Huang later denied the allegation, stating that he had returned the lunch boxes politely, with two warrant officers (WOs) serving as witnesses.[1]
Huang came under public scrutiny again during the campaign for the 2025 Singaporean general election, after grassroots volunteers from Taman Jurong, a ward under his charge, were reported to have attempted to disrupt and harass Progress Singapore Party (PSP) candidates conducting walkabouts. The incident followed the circulation online, on 30 April, of leaked WhatsApp messages from a group named "TJ PAP".[15] On this occasion, Huang declined to comment and limited interactions on his social media platforms, while the group was later disbanded.[16]
Awards
[edit]In 2019, Huang was awarded the Public Service Medal.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Huang is married with two children.[18][19]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Baharudin, Hariz (28 June 2020). "Singapore GE2020: PAP new face Shawn Huang rebuts allegations about past behaviour, clears air over name". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "MP | Parliament of Singapore".
- ^ "It's our honour. Happy Birthday SPS Shawn Huang Wei Zhong 黄伟中. - 81 Seafood Restaurant". Facebook. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
- ^ "PMO | Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments (May 2025)". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Top graduates honored for accomplishments" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship". Archived from the original on 24 July 2019.
- ^ "GE2020: Final 4 of 27 new PAP candidates introduced, including former fighter pilot". CNA. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Mohamad Salleh, Nur Asyiqin (14 September 2017). "President Halimah Yacobs Swearing in". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019.
- ^ "Inauguration Ceremony". The Straits Times. 14 September 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
- ^ "GE2020: Tharman remains in Jurong GRC, Desmond Lee out". mothership.sg. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "GE2020 Results: PAP wins Jurong GRC with 74.62% of votes over RDU". AsiaOne. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Chin, Soo Fang (13 May 2024). "MPs Murali Pillai, Shawn Huang promoted to political office". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Ng, Trini (29 June 2020). "Ingkiriwang? PAP's GE2020 candidate Shawn Huang responds to debate over surname change". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Ng, Trini (29 June 2020). "Ingkiriwang? PAP's GE2020 candidate Shawn Huang responds to debate over surname change". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Citizen, The Online (30 April 2025). "Alleged plan by PAP grassroots to disrupt PSP walkabout exposed; community chat deactivated following leaks". The Online Citizen. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ Citizen, The Online (1 May 2025). "Shawn Huang limits IG comments after alleged PAP grassroots plan to disrupt PSP walkabout surfaces". The Online Citizen. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
- ^ "Public Service Medal 2019". 17 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020.
- ^ Lee, Jeremy (5 March 2022). "Jurong MP Shawn Huang Gets Emo In Parliament While Speaking On S'pore's Science & Technology". Must Share News. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Shawn Huang". People's Action Party. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
