Tay Eng Soon (Chinese: 鄭永順; pinyin: Zhèng Yǒngshùn; 20 January 1940 – 5 August 1993) was a Singaporean academic and politician who served as Senior Minister of State for Education from 1988 until his death in 1993.
Tay Eng Soon | |
|---|---|
鄭永順 | |
| Senior Minister of State for Education | |
| In office 13 September 1988 – 5 August 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew Goh Chok Tong |
| Minister | Tony Tan Goh Keng Swee |
| Minister of State for Communications and Information | |
| In office 2 January 1985 – 17 February 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Minister | Yeo Ning Hong |
| Minister of State for Education | |
| In office 1 April 1981 – 12 September 1988 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Minister | Tony Tan |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Eunos GRC (Tampines North) | |
| In office 3 September 1988 – 5 August 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for River Valley SMC | |
| In office 23 December 1980 – 2 September 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Tan Eng Liang (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tay Eng Soon 20 January 1940 Singapore, Straits Settlements |
| Died | 5 August 1993 (aged 53) Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Education | Anglo-Chinese School |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol (BS) University College London (PhD) University of Singapore |
Early life and education
editTay was born in Singapore on 20 January 1940. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School,[1] before graduating from the University of Bristol with a Bachelor of Science with first class honours degree in electrical engineering.
Tan was later awarded a scholarship by the Royal Society and went on to obtain a PhD in microwave engineering from the University College London in 1966.[1] He also completed a diploma in business administration at the University of Singapore in 1979.
Political career
editTay was a Member of Parliament for River Valley Constituency with walkovers in both 1980 and 1984 General Election.
He was appointed Minister of State for Education in 1981 and Senior Minister of State for Education in 1988.
Tay was part of a three-member PAP team against the Worker's Party team for Eunos GRC. The PAP defeated WP with 50.89% of the valid votes in the 1988 general election.
During the 1991 General Election, Tay was part of the four-member PAP team against the Worker's Party team. The PAP team defeated the WP team for the second time with 52.28% of the valid votes. Tay was a Member of Parliament of Eunos GRC for Tampines North ward from 1988 to 1993 as he died on 5 August 1993 due to heart failure while his term in office.[2]
Personal life
editTay was married to Rosalyn Carson, a scientist,[1] and had 2 daughters and a son.[2]
Tay was hospitalised on 2 August 1993 and died of acute heart failure on 5 August.[2]
Legacy
editOne of the two libraries at the Singapore Institute of Management is named after him, in recognition of Tay's contributions to the SIM's UK Open University Degree Programme.[3]
The Tay Eng Soon Health Sciences Award,[4] Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal,[5] and Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre at ITE College Central[6] are named after him.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "UNIVERSITY POST FOR OUR ONLY NUCLEAR SCIENTIST". The Straits Times. 1 October 1970. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Ng, Wei Joo (6 August 1993). "Dr Tay Eng Soon dies of acute heart failure". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "SIM Library: About Us". Singapore Institute of Management. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital". Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "Ex-Hong Kah Lite awarded Outstanding Graduate in ITE". Hong Kah Secondary School. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "ITE centre to be named after Tay Eng Soon". AsiaOne. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
External links
edit- "Member Profile: Tay Eng Soon, Dr". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.