Yeo Cheow Tong (simplified Chinese: 姚照东; traditional Chinese: 姚照東; pinyin: Yáo Zhàodōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Iô Chiàu-tong; born 22 June 1947) is a former Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he served in the Cabinet from 1990 to 2006, and was a Member of Parliament (MP) of Hong Kah SMC from 12 December 1984 to 17 August 1988 and MP of Hong Kah GRC from 24 August 1988 to 19 April 2011 for almost 27 years.
Yeo Cheow Tong | |
|---|---|
| 姚照东 | |
| Minister for Transport[1] | |
| In office 23 November 2001 – 29 May 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong |
| Preceded by | himself (post renamed from Minister for Communications and Information Technology) |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Lim |
| Minister for Communications and Information Technology | |
| In office 3 June 1999 – 22 November 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Mah Bow Tan |
| Succeeded by | himself (as Minister for Transport) |
| Minister for the Environment | |
| In office 25 January 1997 – 2 June 1999 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Teo Chee Hean |
| Succeeded by | Lee Yock Suan |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 28 November 1990 – 31 December 1993 Acting: 1 January 1987 - 27 November 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | George Yeo |
| Succeeded by | Lim Hng Kiang |
| Minister for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 1 January 1994 – 24 January 1997 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | S. Dhanabalan |
| Succeeded by | George Yeo |
| Minister for Community Development | |
| In office 7 September 1991 – 31 December 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Seet Ai Mee |
| Succeeded by | Abdullah Tarmugi |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 28 November 1990 – 31 December 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Richard Hu Tsu Tau |
| Succeeded by | George Yeo |
| Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 13 September 1988 – 27 November 1990 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Hong Kah SMC | |
| In office 22 December 1984 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Seat Created |
| Succeeded by | Seat Abolished |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Hong Kah GRC (Yew Tee) | |
| In office 24 August 1988 – 19 April 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Seat Created |
| Succeeded by | Seat Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1947 Colony of Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | Helen Yeo-Tan Cheng Hoong |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia[1] |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
editYeo was educated at Anglo-Chinese School, before receiving a Colombo Plan Scholarship[2] in 1967 to study at the University of Western Australia, where he received a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree.[citation needed]
Career
editHe worked for Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) from 1972 to 1975, before entering the private sector. He entered politics in 1984. At the 1984 general election, Yeo was elected a Member of Parliament for Hong Kah constituency. In 1985, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1988, Yeo became the Acting Minister for Health, before becoming a full member of the Cabinet in 1990. He went on to hold a number of different Cabinet positions including Minister of Health (1990–94, 1997–99), Minister for Community Development (1991–94), Minister for Trade and Industry (1994–97), Minister for the Environment (1997–99), Minister for Communications and Information Technology (1999–2001), and Minister for Transport (2001–06).
In June 2006, Yeo resigned from the Cabinet to return to the private sector. He continued to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency until 2011, when he retired from politics. He was succeeded by Alex Yam in the 2011 Singaporean general election.
Personal life
editYeo is married to lawyer Helen Yeo-Tan Cheng Hoong. The couple have three children and 6 grandchildren.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b "Yeo Cheow Tong: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 2018-12-03.
- ^ "Australia launches 'reverse' Colombo Plan". Asiaone. Retrieved 18 September 2018.