Yeoh Ghim Seng BBM JP (Chinese: 杨锦成; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Iôⁿ Gím-sêng; pinyin: Yáng Jǐnchéng) was a Singaporean politician who served as Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore between 1970 and 1988.
Yeoh Ghim Seng | |
|---|---|
| 杨锦成 | |
 | |
| 3rd Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
| In office 27 January 1970 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Deputy | Tang See Chim Hwang Soo Jin Tan Soo Khoon |
| Preceded by | Punch Coomaraswamy |
| Succeeded by | Tan Soo Khoon |
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
| In office 11 July 1968 – 26 January 1970 | |
| Preceded by | Punch Coomaraswamy |
| Succeeded by | Tang See Chim |
| President of Singapore | |
Acting | |
| In office 31 March 1985 – 2 September 1985 | |
| In office 12 May 1981 – 23 October 1981 | |
| In office 23 November 1970 – 2 January 1971 | |
| Member of Parliament for Joo Chiat SMC | |
| In office 2 November 1966 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Fong Kim Heng |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1918 Ipoh, Perak, British Malaya |
| Died | 3 June 1993 (aged 74) Singapore |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Resting place | Mount Vernon Crematorium |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Education | University of Cambridge |
| Profession | Surgeon |
He is one of the longest-serving speakers of any parliament in the world.[1][2] Yeoh served briefly as the acting president of Singapore between the death of Yusof Ishak on 23 November 1970[3] and the inauguration of President Benjamin Sheares on 2 January 1971.
Early life and education
editYeoh was born on 22 June 1918 in Ipoh.[4] He received his early education at St. Michael's Institution and at Penang Free School.[5] Yeoh studied medicine at the Cambridge University, England in the 1940s and was attached to hospitals in England. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1950.[4]
Medical career
editIn 1951, Yeoh left England for Singapore to become consultant surgeon to the Singapore General Hospital.[4] In 1955, he was appointed professor of surgery at the University of Malaya.[4] He resigned the chair in 1962 to set up his private practice, but continued to train medical graduates from the university.[4] A six-footer, Yeoh was described once as "the biggest but fastest Asian surgeon".[4]
Political career
editIn 1966, Yeoh was recruited by the People's Action Party to stand in the Joo Chiat by-elections. The by-elections was uncontested and he was elected with a walkover. He would be the constituency's Member of Parliament for 22 years.[6]
In 1968, Yeoh was appointed deputy speaker and elected speaker two years later.[4]
When President of Singapore Yusof Ishak died on 23 November 1970 due to heart failure,[7][8] Yeoh became the acting President, per the duties of the speaker, the following day.[9]
In 1977, Minister of law, environment, science and technology, E. W. Barker, congratulating him on his re-election to yet another term as speaker, said that if not for Yeoh's commitment to surgery, he "could with ease and distinction occupy one of the front benches on this side of the House".[4] As speaker, Yeoh's residence was the Command House.[10] [11]
In 1977, he also became the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization's (AIPO) first president.[12]
Yeoh retired from politics in 1988.[2]
Awards
editYeoh was a Public Service Star (B.B.M.) recipient, an active Rotarian, and a justice of the peace who also served as chairman of various boards including the Detainees' Aftercare Association and the University of Singapore Council.
Personal life
editYeoh's wife, Winnie Khong, was also from Ipoh, and they married in 1941 while both were studying in England.[13]
Yeoh died on 3 June 1993 of lung cancer at the Singapore General Hospital.[14] He had five daughters and 15 grandchildren.[14]
Legacy
editIn 1993, the National University of Singapore created the Yeoh Ghim Seng Professorship in Surgery in his honour.[15]
References
edit- ^ "List of former Speakers of the Singapore Parliament". Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
Scroll to Yeoh Ghim Seng (1970 – 1989)
- ^ a b "Former Speaker Yeoh Ghim Seng dies at 74". Business Times. 4 June 1993. p. 2.
- ^ "House to elect a new Head of State". The Straits Times. 24 November 1970. p. 1 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Chua, Mui Hoong (4 June 1993). "Dr Yeoh put 'surgical skill' to good use in the House". The Straits Times. p. 26. Retrieved 24 May 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ Suryadinata, Leo, ed. (2012). "Yeo Ghim Seng". Southeast Asian Personalities of Chinese Descent: A Biographical Dictionary. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 1350. ISBN 9789814345224. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "POLITICIANS IN SINGAPORE ELECTIONS (Y - Z)". Singapore Elections. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Cabinet pays last respects". The Straits Times. 24 November 1970. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Yusof Ishak". www.roots.sg. National Heritage Board. Retrieved 8 November 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Houseto elect a new Head of State". The Straits Times. 24 November 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 24 May 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Command House". Singapore National Library. 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Former Command House".
- ^ "BACKGROUND AND HISTORY". ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization. Archived from the original on 27 February 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ "Ipoh couple to wed in England". Pinang gazette and Straits chronicle. 21 June 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ a b Wang, Hui Ling (4 June 1993). "Former Speaker Dr Yeoh dies of lung cancer at 74". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). p. 1. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ Leong, Weng Kam (10 January 1993). "NUS creates professorship to honour Dr Yeoh". The Straits Times. p. 3.