Appointment of New Chairman for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Board

1.     The Acting Minister for Transport, Mr Jeffrey Siow, has appointed Mr Loh Khum Yean (罗锦贤) as Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) board with effect from 1 December 2025. Mr Loh will take over from Mr Niam Chiang Meng (严昌明). 

Contributions of Mr Niam Chiang Meng to MPA

2.     Mr Niam served over nine years on the MPA Board, first as Deputy Chairman from 1 July 2016 and later as Chairman from 16 December 2016. 

3.     During his tenure, MPA navigated a period of rapid change marked by trade and geopolitical tensions, technological shifts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the Port of Singapore maintained its position as one of the world’s busiest ports, the leading bunkering hub, and among the top five ship registries globally. Mr Niam also strengthened Singapore’s position as a leading international maritime centre, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of shipping, maritime services, and innovation activities, and working closely with industry and union partners to advance workforce development across the sector.   

4.     During Mr Niam’s chairmanship, Singapore was elected for the first time into the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) Council in 2018 and later hosted the first General Assembly of IALA as an intergovernmental international organisation in 2025. Under Mr Niam, Singapore (represented by MPA) was re-elected for four consecutive two-year stints on the Council of the International Maritime Organization in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Singapore is also a member state of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Council, and the Joint IHO-Singapore Innovation and Technology Lab was established in Singapore in 2021, further enhancing Singapore’s contribution to global hydrographic capability development. 

5.     The Ministry of Transport and MPA thank Mr Niam for his many years of dedicated and distinguished service. 

Incoming Chairman of MPA Board

6.     Mr Loh is currently Chairman of the National Parks Board and has been the Deputy Chairman of MPA since 1 February 2025. He retired from the Administrative Service on 1 October 2023 after 33 years of distinguished service in the public sector. 

7.     Before his retirement, Mr Loh was the Permanent Secretary (Public Service Division), Prime Minister’s Office and Permanent Secretary (Law). He had earlier served as Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry) and Permanent Secretary (Manpower). He was also Chairman of the Civil Service College and sat on the Boards of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, the Health Promotion Board, and the National Library Board. 

8.     Mr Loh was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2002 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2011. With his extensive experience, Mr Loh will help strengthen MPA’s institutional capabilities and contribute to its work in advancing Singapore’s position as a trusted hub port and international maritime centre.