Toh Chin Chye | |
|---|---|
| 杜进才 | |
 Toh in 1959 | |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 2 June 1975 – 5 January 1981 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Chua Sian Chin |
| Succeeded by | Goh Chok Tong |
| Minister for Science and Technology | |
| In office 16 April 1968 – 1 June 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew[1] |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lee Chiaw Meng |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 5 June 1959 – 2 August 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Abdul Hamid Jumat (asDeputy Chief Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Goh Keng Swee |
| Leader of the House | |
| In office 5 June 1959 – 15 April 1968 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | E. W. Barker |
| Member of theMalaysian Parliament forSingapore | |
| In office 2 November 1963[2] – 9 August 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of theSingapore Parliament forRochore | |
| In office 30 May 1959 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| 3rd Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of thePeople's Action Party | |
| In office 20 October 1957 – 8 January 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Tan Chong Kim |
| Succeeded by | Ong Teng Cheong |
| 1st Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of thePeople's Action Party | |
| In office 21 November 1954 – 13 August 1957 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Tan Chong Kim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1921-12-10)10 December 1921 |
| Died | 3 February 2012(2012-02-03) (aged 90) |
| Resting place | Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Toh Ai Chu (adopted) (died 2009) |
| Alma mater | Raffles College University of London (PhD) National Institute for Medical Research |
Toh Chin Chye[a]DUNU (10 December 1921 – 3 February 2012) was a Singaporean statesman and academic. He was a founding member of thePeople's Action Party (PAP), the dominant political party in Singapore since independence. Toh played a significant role in Singapore's early political development and was instrumental in shaping the country's post-independence governance. Toh is widely recognised as one of thefounding fathers of modern Singapore.
Toh served asDeputy Prime Minister from 1959 to 1968, holding other key cabinet positions including Minister for Science and Technology between 1968 and 1975 andMinister for Health from 1975 to 1981. Alongside his ministerial roles, he was Chairman of the PAP from 1954 until 1981, as well asLeader of the House from 1959 to 1968. His contributions extended into academia, serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore (now theNational University of Singapore) between 1968 and 1975.
Toh served as theMember of Parliament (MP) for theRochore Constituency throughout his political life from1959 to1988. After resigning from the Cabinet in 1981, Toh continued as an MP on thebackbenches. During this period, he became known for his candid criticism of his own political party.[3]
Toh was born inBatu Gajah, Perak. He received his early education atSt George's Institution inTaiping and theAnglo-Chinese School inIpoh before enrolling at Raffles College (now theNational University of Singapore), where he graduated in 1946 with a diploma in science.[4] He later pursued postgraduate studies at theUniversity of London and was awarded aPhD inphysiology from theNational Institute for Medical Research in 1953.[5]
Toh began his professional career as an academic and was appointed areader inphysiology at the University of Singapore (now theNational University of Singapore) from 1958 to 1964. He later served as the university’sVice-Chancellor between 1968 and 1975,[6] a period during which he concurrently held the Cabinet post of Minister for Science and Technology.[5]
"Once you are in the front edge of administration, there'll be barbs and arrows. Don't expect roses. I never expected roses."[7]
Toh became politically active during his time as a university student inLondon, when he served as Chairman of theMalayan Forum, an anti-colonial group for students fromMalaya and Singapore where they met regularly for discussions and debates on the future of the Malayan region. He was among the founding members of thePeople's Action Party (PAP) and served as the party's chairman from its formation in 1954 until 1981. During a brief period in 1957, however, theleftists in theparty, who then dominated the common membership, took over the party leadership.[8] The founding members were subsequently restored when many leftist leaders were arrested by Chief MinisterLim Yew Hock during his anti-communist crackdown. This allowed for the return of the original "basement group" of Toh,Lee Kuan Yew,Goh Keng Swee,et al. to the party'sCentral Executive Committee (CEC). To prevent similar takeovers, Toh introduced a cadre system that restricted the influence of newcomer "ordinary members", including leftist sympathisers, on the CEC's composition. He was a key ally and loyalist of Lee in internal party struggles.
Toh stood as the PAP candidate inRochore during the1959 general election and won. After the PAP's electoral victory, the party's CEC voted on whether the Secretary-General, Lee, or the party's Treasurer,Ong Eng Guan, who had served as Mayor of theCity Council from 1957 to 1959, should become the firstPrime Minister. The vote was tied, and Toh, as Chairman,cast the deciding vote in favour of Lee.[9] A staunch opponent of theBarisan Sosialis, a party formed by former PAP members, Toh defeated its chairmanLee Siew Choh by only 89 votes in the1963 general election, marking his narrowest electoral victory. He held several Cabinet positions both before and after Singapore's independence, including Deputy Prime Minister (1959 to 1968), Minister for Science and Technology (1968 to 1975) and Minister for Health (1975 to 1981). Concurrently, he served as Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Singapore between 1968 and 1975, where he reoriented the university towards national development goals. While his efforts were supported by some, he was also criticised for taking an authoritarian stance, particularly in his suppression ofstudent activism.
Toh stepped down from Cabinet and as party Chairman in 1981 but continued to serve as a Member of Parliament for two more terms. As a backbencher, he was outspoken and frequently criticised his own party,[3] including voicing opposition to the proposed increase of theCentral Provident Fund (CPF) withdrawal age from 55 to 60.[10] He retired from politics at the1988 general election.[11]
In 1996, a front-page article in Singaporean tabloidThe New Paper claimed that Toh had killed a pedestrian in ahit-and-run accident while driving drunk. The actual perpetrator was a different man also called Toh Chin Chye, one of nine people sharing the name in Singapore. The reporter who filed the story was fired, with two newsroom editors demoted, and the paper paid Toh $300,000 in damages.[12]
Toh spent his last years away from the public eye.The Straits Times featured Toh twice, in 2005 and 2006 respectively, once on 2 May 2005, where he was seen being assisted by two men and a walking stick as he walked to pay his last respects to former PresidentWee Kim Wee. In February 2006, Toh was featured inThe Straits Times again, paying his last respects to the late former Deputy Prime MinisterS. Rajaratnam at his home in Chancery Lane.[13]
Toh died in his sleep at his home in Greenview Crescent,Bukit Timah on 3 February 2012 at 9:30amSingapore Standard Time (UTC+08:00). He was 90 years of age.[14] He is survived by his son-in-law and four grandchildren aged 4 to 15.[15]He was given a private funeral according to his wishes on 7 February 2012 at theMandai Crematorium.[16] As a mark of respect for his contributions to Singapore, his coffin was draped in the national flag and borne on a ceremonial gun carriage to the crematorium. State flags at all Government buildings were flown athalf-mast on the day of his funeral.
Toh was generally considered one of the founding fathers of Singapore that came along withLee Kuan Yew,Goh Keng Swee andS. Rajaratnam, among others, for helping to lead Singapore during the nation's formative years.[17][18][19]
Majulah Singapura was chosen by Toh as the national anthem of Singapore. In 1959, he headed the team that designed thecoat of arms andstate flag of Singapore.[4]
Toh was conferred the.svg)
Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in 1990.[4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None, New post | Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore 5 June 1965 – 2 August 1968 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Health 2 June 1975 – 5 January 1981 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| New political party | Chairman of thePeople's Action Party 1954 – 1981 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Vice-Chancellor of theNational University of Singapore 1968 – 1975 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
