02-07-2025
MHA appoints new ICA commissioner, CNB director as current leaders step down
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Lian Ghim Hua (left) will be appointed as Commissioner of ICA on Sept 15, 2025, while Mr Sebastian Tan will take over as Director of CNB on Aug 1, 2025.
SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on July 2 that it is appointing new leaders for the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
Current ICA Commissioner Marvin Sim will step down on Sept 15 and later take on another leadership position in the MHA, while Mr Leon Chan, who was appointed acting director of CNB in September 2024 , will step down on Aug 1 .
In its news release, MHA highlighted some of Mr Sim's contributions, including his leadership through the Covid-19 pandemic and ICA's multi-year transformation plan to redefine border clearance and service delivery.
'He drove complex border operations in this regard, including the Stay-Home Notice Regime and Safe Travel Office,' MHA said.
'These measures helped safeguard public health and at the same time allowed essential travellers and supplies to flow in and out of Singapore when borders in many parts of the world were closed.'
It added that the ICA's New Clearance Concept, implemented under Mr Sim's leadership, saw enhanced border security but has also 'significantly speeded up and eased the immigration clearance process'.
Singapore Police Force (SPF) Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations ) Lian Ghim Hua will be appointed as Commissioner of ICA - Designate on Sept 1 . He will take on the commissioner position on Sept 15 .
Mr Lian has held several key appointments in SPF, including director of the Operations Department and deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Department.
'As Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr Lian led SPF in executing several high-profile security operations in Singapore,' MHA said. This includes the 2023 Presidential Election, Pope Francis' visit in 2024, and the 2025 General Election.
Under Mr Lian's leadership, adoption of technology in policing operations was increased. He also strengthened police-community partnership through new volunteer programmes and other initiatives, as well as transformed SPF's regulatory operations through the digitalisation of systems and formulation of policies.
'As SPF's Chief Learning Officer, Mr Lian enhanced SPF's training programmes, infrastructure and systems, including the adoption of simulation technologies to more effectively train police officers,' MHA said.
Meanwhile, CNB's acting director Leon Chan will return to SPF after leaving the bureau. He will be appointed Director of the Operations Department - Designate on Aug 1 .
Mr Sebastian Tan, currently the senior director of the International Cooperation and Partnerships Division in the MHA headquarters, will take over as CNB director on the same day .
Mr Tan has held various key appointments within CNB, including deputy director (Operations), director of Intelligence and director of Enforcement.
'In his appointment as Deputy Director CNB (Operations), Mr Tan oversaw the line divisions and maintained a high tempo of anti-drug enforcement operations,' MHA said.
He also oversaw the operationalisation of significant policy and legislative amendments, as well as drove transformation projects in the bureau.
