Sam Tan (politician) explained

Sam Tan
Office1:Minister of State for Social and Family Development
Minister1:Desmond Lee
Term Start1:1 May 2018
Term End1:26 July 2020
Successor1:Sun Xueling
Office2:Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister2:Vivian Balakrishnan
Successor2:Chee Hong Tat
Term Start2:1 May 2017
Term End2:26 July 2020
Office3:Minister of State for Manpower
Minister3:Lim Swee Say
Josephine Teo
Term Start3:1 October 2015
Term End3:30 April 2018
Successor3:Zaqy Mohamad
Term Start4:28 September 2015
Term End4:6 June 2019
1Blankname4:Party Whip
1Namedata4:Chan Chun Sing
Office5:Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
Primeminister5:Lee Hsien Loong
Term Start5:1 May 2014
Term End5:30 April 2018
Office6:Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth
Minister6:Lawrence Wong
Term Start6:1 May 2014
Term End6:30 September 2015
Office7:Mayor of Central Singapore District
Term Start7:27 May 2011
Term End7:26 May 2014
Primeminister7:Lee Hsien Loong
Predecessor7:Zainudin Nordin
Successor7:Denise Phua
Constituency Mp8:Radin Mas SMC
Term Start8:7 May 2011
Term End8:23 June 2020
Predecessor8:Chong Weng Chiew (PAP)
Successor8:Melvin Yong (PAP)
Constituency Mp9:Tanjong Pagar GRC
(Radin Mas)
Term Start9:27 April 2006
Term End9:18 April 2011
Predecessor9:Chong Weng Chiew (PAP)
Successor9:Constituency abolished
Birth Date:13 October 1958
Birth Place:Colony of Singapore
Alma Mater:National University of Singapore (BA)
Party:People's Action Party

Sam Tan Chin Siong (born 13 October 1958) is a Singaporean former politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Radin Mas division of Tanjong Pagar GRC between 2006 and 2011 and Radin Mas SMC between 2011 and 2020.[1]

Tan had served as Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth between 2014 and 2015, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office between 2014 and 2018, Minister of State for Manpower between 2015 and 2018, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs between 2017 and 2020 and Minister of State for Social and Family Development between 2018 and 2020.[2] He had also served as Mayor of Central Singapore District between 2011 and 2014.

Early life and education

Tan attended Tuan Mong High School and Hwa Chong Junior College before graduating from the National University of Singapore in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts with honours degree.

Tan started his career at the People's Association (PA), where he served as Deputy Executive Director between 1992 and 1997. He subsequently became Executive Director of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) in 1997. From 2007 to 2009, he served as the chief executive officer of Business China.

Political career

Tan made his political debut in the 2006 general election contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.[3]

Tan was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry, and Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Communications and the Arts concurrently from July 2009 to October 2009. He was subsequently promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary in November 2009, and served until May 2011.[4]

During the 2011 general election, Tan contested in the newly created Radin Mas SMC. Tan faced a challenge from veteran Yip Yew Weng of the National Solidarity Party after two other political parties, Reform Party and Singapore Democratic Alliance withdrew in favour of the NSP.[5] Tan won by a large margin, garnering 67.10% of the vote.[6]

Tan was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports in May 2011. He was also appointed Mayor of Central Singapore District.

On 28 September 2015, it was announced that Tan will become Minister of State for Manpower from 1 October 2015.[7]

On 29 June 2020, Tan announced that he will not contest in the 2020 general election.[8]

Awards

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.elections.gov.sg/gazette%5CG_ParE2011%5C2011-05-09%20Candidates%20declared%20to%20have%20been%20elected.pdf#zoom=100 Singapore Election Department : Gazette Notification on Candidates declared to have been elected Members of Parliament (2011)
  2. News: PM Lee announces new Cabinet lineup. Straits Times. 24 May 2011. 19 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110520230355/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_669848.html. 2011-05-20. live.
  3. Web site: Singapore Elections. 2006 General Elections. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120424141449/http://www.singapore-elections.com/parl-2006-ge/tanjong-pagar-grc.html. 2012-04-24.
  4. Web site: CV of Sam Tan Chin Siong. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140513155221/http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/sam-tan-chin-siong?viewcv=Sam%20Tan%20Chin%20Siong. 2014-05-13. 2011-05-17. Singapore Parliament.
  5. Web site: Four-cornered fight in Radin Mas?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110409163903/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_653497.html. 2011-04-09. 2011-05-17.
  6. Web site: Singapore Elections. GE 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120330094403/http://www.singapore-elections.com/parl-2011-ge/radin-mas.html. 2012-03-30.
  7. Web site: 28 September 2015. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150928215945/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/prime-minister-lee-hsien/2154802.html. 2015-09-28. 28 September 2015. Channel NewsAsia.
  8. News: Mahmud. Aqil Haziq. 29 June 2020. GE2020: PAP announces Tanjong Pagar, Radin Mas line-up; no Chia Shi-Lu, Sam Tan. en. CNA. 29 June 2020.