Property tycoon Robert Ng and three children to be designated politically significant persons under Fica

Singaporean property tycoon Robert Ng Chee Siong and three of his children are set to be designated as “politically significant persons” under the Republic’s foreign interference law.

All four are members of committees of China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), according to publicly available records.

Mr Robert Ng, who is the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Sino Group – the sister company of Singapore’s Far East Organization – as well as his sons, Mr Daryl Ng Win Kong and Mr David Ng Win Loong, and his daughter, Ms Nikki Ng Mien Hua, had declared to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures in 2024 that they are members of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on April 7.

Such declarations are required of Singaporeans who are members of such foreign bodies, among other things, under Section 79 of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, or Fica, a law that empowers the authorities to guard against the risk of foreign interference in domestic politics.

The Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures, who oversees the administration and implementation of provisions relating to politically significant persons – more commonly referred to as PSPs – has assessed that all four should be designated as PSPs under Fica, the ministry added.

The registrar has also served notice to the four individuals on April 7 that he intends to designate them as PSPs.

“To be clear, the designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity,” MHA said in a statement.

However, those designated as PSPs are required to make annual disclosures to the registrar on political donations of $10,000 or more that they receive and accept, as well as on their foreign affiliations, and migration benefits such as honorary citizenship or permanent residency.

Mr Robert Ng, 72, is the eldest son of Far East Organization founder Ng Teng Fong, and the brother of the company’s former chief executive, Mr Philip Ng.

The family has a significant public profile in Singapore, with Far East Organization and Sino Group among the largest property developers in the country. It is involved in major developments such as the Fullerton Heritage project, One Holland Village and the redevelopment of Golden Mile Complex.

Sino Group’s philanthropic arm, Hong Kong-based Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, has also made donations to a wide variety of charitable causes, and given substantial amounts to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong as well as supporting the National Gallery Singapore.

While MHA’s statement did not state which memberships Mr Robert Ng holds, his company profile lists him as a member of the 11th to 14th National Committee of the CPPCC.

The CPPCC is an advisory body that is a key part of the Communist Party of China’s united front political system and counts as its members businessmen, academics, celebrities and prominent individuals, which previously included actor Jackie Chan as well as basketballer Yao Ming.

The 11th committee started in 2008, and the 14th committee is scheduled to continue until 2028. Mr Robert Ng is the National Committee’s deputy director of the committee for economic affairs.

In addition, he is also the vice-chairman of the China Overseas Friendship Association, a foreign affairs organisation under the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, Mr Daryl Ng, 46, Ms Ng, 44, and Mr David Ng, 36, are members of the CPPCC’s local committees, among other political affiliations. They are the deputy chairman, non-executive director, and group associate director at Sino Group, respectively.

Mr Daryl Ng is a standing committee member of the 14th Beijing Municipal Committee, and was a member of the 12th and 13th Beijing Municipal Committee.

Ms Ng is a member of the 14th Shanghai Municipal Committee, and had also been a member of the 12th to 13th committees, and Mr David Ng is a member of the 13th Fujian Provincial Committee, and had also been a member of the 12th committee.

In addition, Mr Daryl Ng is also the president of the Hong Kong United Youth Association and the chairman of the Hong Kong-Asean Foundation.

In an answer to a parliamentary question in 2024, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam had said that there was no prohibition on Singapore citizens and permanent residents becoming members of such foreign entities.

However, failure to declare the memberships is an offence under Fica, he had said.

He added that Singaporeans who join such bodies would need to be discerning as to whether their participation could potentially go against Singapore’s interests.

Under Fica, PSPs can include political office-holders, MPs, and election candidates and their election agents.

Other individuals or groups may also be designated politically significant if the authorities assess that their activities are directed towards a political end, and that it is in the public interest that countermeasures against foreign interference be applied.

Human rights group Maruah and non-governmental organisation Think Centre – both gazetted as political associations – were designated PSPs in December 2023 when Fica’s provisions against interference via local proxies came into force.

Singaporean businessman Philip Chan Man Ping was subsequently also designated a PSP in February 2024.

The National Trades Union Congress was designated a politically significant person in July 2024.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that as at March 31, 2025, a total of seven Singaporeans, including the Ngs, have declared their memberships in foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations.

It added that notices were issued to only the four Ngs.

The ministry added that they have 14 days from the date of notification to submit any representations that they may want to make. If they do not do so, the registrar will proceed on the basis that they have no representations, and will designate them as PSPs.

The Straits Times has contacted Sino Group for comment.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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