Difference between revisions of "Toh Chin Chye"

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{{Infobox Officeholder
'''Toh Chin Chye''' (杜进才) (December 10, 1921 – February 3, 2012) was a [[politician]] from Singapore. He was a prominent member of the country's first generation of political leaders after Singapore became independent in 1965, serving as [[Prime Minister of Singapore#List of deputy prime ministers|Deputy Prime Minister]] (1965–1968), Minister for Science and Technology (1968–1975) and [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]] (1975–1981). He also served as the [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) from 1954 to 1981, and as the [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[University of Singapore]] from 1968 to 1975. After he left the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] in 1981, he continued to serve as a [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) on the [[Backbencher|backbenches]] until he retired from politics in 1988.  
|name            = Dr Toh Chin Chye<br>杜进才
|image            = Toh chin chye.jpg
|office            = [[Prime Minister of Singapore#List of deputy prime ministers|Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore]]
|president      = [[Yusof bin Ishak]]
|deputy          =
|term_start    = 5 June 1965
|term_end      = 2 August 1968
|predecessor  = None, new post
|successor      = [[Goh Keng Swee]]
|office2          = [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]]
|deputy2        =
|term_start2  = 1954
|term_end2    = 1981
|predecessor2 = None, new post
|successor2    = [[Ong Teng Cheong]]
|office3          = Minister for Science and Technology
|primeminister3  = [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
|deputy3              =
|term_start3        = 1968
|term_end3        = 1975
|predecessor3      = None, new post
|successor3          = None, post abolished
|office4                = [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]]
|primeminister4  = [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
|term_start4        = 2 June 1975
|term_end4        = 5 January 1978
|predecessor4      = Unknown
|successor4          = [[Howe Yoon Chong]]
|office5                = [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[National University of Singapore]]
|deputy5              =
|term_start5        = 1968
|term_end5        = 1975
|predecessor5      = Lim Tay Boon
|successor 5        = Kwan Sai Kheong
|constituency_MP6 = [[Rochor|Rochor SMC]]
|parliament6            = Singapore
|term_start6            = 1959
|term_end6            = 1988
|predecessor6          = Constituency established
|successor6              = Constituency abolished
|majority6              =
|birth_date              = {{birth date|1921|12|10}}
|birth_place              = [[Perak]], [[Federated Malay States]]
|death_date              = {{death date and age|2012|2|3|1921|12|10}}
|death_place            = [[Singapore]]
|party                        = [[People's Action Party]]
|spouse                    = Yeap Sui Phek (deceased)
|children                    = '''Daughter: '''Toh Ai Chu (deceased)
|alma_mater            = [[Raffles College]],<br>[[University of London]],<br>[[National Institute for Medical Research]]
}}
{{Chinese name|[[Toh#People named Toh|Toh]]}}
 
'''Toh Chin Chye''' ({{zh|s=杜进才 |t=杜進才 |p=Dù Jìncái|poj=Tō͘ Chìn-châi}}; December 10, 1921 &ndash; February 3, 2012) was a [[politician]] from [[Singapore]]. He was a prominent member of the country's first generation of political leaders after Singapore became independent in 1965, serving as [[Prime Minister of Singapore#List of deputy prime ministers|Deputy Prime Minister]] (1965–1968), Minister for Science and Technology (1968–1975) and [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]] (1975–1981). He also served as the [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) from 1954 to 1981, and as the [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[University of Singapore]] from 1968 to 1975. After he left the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] in 1981, he continued to serve as a [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) on the [[Backbencher|backbenches]] until he retired from politics in 1988.  


==Career==
==Career==
===Academic career===
===Academic career===
Toh began his career as an academic. He was [[Reader (academic rank)|Reader]] in [[Physiology]] at the University of Singapore from 1958 to 1964. He became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore while concurrently serving as the Minister for Science and Technology from 1968 to 1975.<ref name="nus" />
Toh began his career as an academic. He was [[Reader (academic rank)|Reader]] in [[Physiology]] at the University of Singapore from 1958 to 1964. He became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore while concurrently serving as the Minister for Science and Technology from 1968 to 1975.


===Political career===
===Political career===
Toh became politically active during his time as a university student in [[London]], when he served as the Chairman of the Malayan Forum, an anti-colonial group for students from [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Singapore (which included two future [[Prime minister|Prime Ministers]] of Singapore and [[Malaysia]], [[Lee Kuan Yew]] and [[Tun Abdul Razak]]) which met regularly for discussions and debates on the future of the Malayan region.  
Toh became politically active during his time as a university student in [[London]], when he served as the Chairman of the Malayan Forum, an anti-colonial group for students from [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Singapore (which included two future [[Prime minister|Prime Ministers]] of Singapore and [[Malaysia]], [[Lee Kuan Yew]] and [[Tun Abdul Razak]]) which met regularly for discussions and debates on the future of the Malayan region.  


Toh was among the founder members of the People's Action Party and the party's Chairman from its formation in 1954 to 1981, save for a brief period in 1957 when leftists, who dominated the common membership in 1957, elected leftist leaders and took over the party leadership. The founding members were restored when many of the leftist leaders were arrested by [[Lim Yew Hock]] in his anticommunist crackdown, allowing for the restoration of the original "basement group" of Toh, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, ''et al'' to the [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|Central Executive Committee]] (CEC). Following this, Toh implemented a cadres system to prevent from the newcomer "ordinary members", including leftist sympathisers, from having undue influence over the membership of the CEC.  
Toh was among the founder members of the People's Action Party and the party's Chairman from its formation in 1954 to 1981, save for a brief period in 1957 when leftists, who dominated the common membership in 1957, elected leftist leaders and took over the party leadership. The founding members were restored when many of the leftist leaders were arrested by [[Lim Yew Hock]] in his anti-communist crackdown, allowing for the restoration of the original "basement group" of Toh, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, ''et al'' to the [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|Central Executive Committee]] (CEC). Following this, Toh implemented a cadres system to prevent from the newcomer "ordinary members", including leftist sympathisers, from having undue influence over the membership of the CEC.  


Toh was elected as a PAP member for [[Rochor]] in the [[Singaporean general election, 1959|1959 Singapore general election]].
Toh was elected as a PAP member for [[Rochor]] in the 1959 general election.


Toh was a key member of Lee Kuan Yew's faction in their fight against their rivals within the party.  
Toh was a key member of [[Lee Kuan Yew]]'s faction in their fight against their rivals within the party.  


Following the PAP's victory at the 1959 elections, the members of the party's Central Executive Committee voted to decide whether Lee, as the party's [[Secretary-General]], or the party's [[Treasurer]], [[Ong Eng Guan]] (who served as the [[Mayor]] on the [[City Council of Singapore|City Council]] from 1957–59), should take up the newly-created post of [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]. The vote was tied (6-6), and Toh, as the party's Chairman, used his [[casting vote]] in favour of Lee.  
Following the PAP's victory at the 1959 elections, the members of the party's Central Executive Committee voted to decide whether Lee, as the party's [[Secretary-General]], or the party's [[Treasurer]], [[Ong Eng Guan]] (who served as the [[Mayor]] on the [[City Council of Singapore|City Council]] from 1957–59), should take up the newly-created post of [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]. The vote was tied (6-6), and Toh, as the party's Chairman, used his [[casting vote]] in favour of Lee.  
Line 80: Line 27:
==Personal life==
==Personal life==
===Education===
===Education===
Toh completed his secondary education at [[St. George's Institution, Malaysia|St George's Institution]] in [[Taiping, Perak|Taiping]], [[Perak]], and then continued his studies at [[Raffles College]] and the [[University of London]]. He subsequently received a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in Physiology from the [[National Institute for Medical Research]] in London.<ref name="nus">{{cite web | url=http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/biovcTohChinChye.htm | title=Toh Chin Chye | publisher=[[National University of Singapore]] | accessdate=June 21, 2011}}</ref>
Toh completed his secondary education at [[St. George's Institution, Malaysia|St George's Institution]] in [[Taiping, Perak|Taiping]], [[Perak]], and then continued his studies at [[Raffles College]] and the [[University of London]]. He subsequently received a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in Physiology from the [[National Institute for Medical Research]] in London.[http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/biovcTohChinChye.htm]


===Retirement===
===Retirement===
Line 89: Line 36:


===Death===
===Death===
Toh passed away in his sleep on Friday, 3rd February 2012 at 9:30am (GMT+8).<ref>[http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_762613.html Former deputy PM & PAP founding member Toh Chin Chye dies ]</ref>
Toh passed away in his sleep on Friday, 3 February 2012 at 9:30am (GMT+8).[http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_762613.html]


==Notes==
==Notes==
<small>
[http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/96/0202/feat2.html Toh award libel damages]
#{{note|1}} [http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/96/0202/feat2.html Toh award libel damages]
</small>
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
 
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = ? }}
{{s-ttl | title =  [[Prime Minister of Singapore#List of deputy prime ministers|Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore]]
        | years = 5 June 1965 – 2 August 1968 }}
{{s-aft | after = ? }}
{{s-bef | before = ? }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister for Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]]
        | years = 2 June 1975 – 5 January 1981 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Howe Yoon Chong]] }}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new | party}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]]
        | years = 1954 – 1981 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Ong Teng Cheong]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Lim Tay Boh]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[National University of Singapore]]
        | years = 1968 – 1975 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Kwan Sai Kheong]]}}
{{s-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
[[Category:Politicians]]
| NAME              = Toh, Chin Chye
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Cabinet Minister
| DATE OF BIRTH    = December 10, 1921
| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
| DATE OF DEATH    = February 3, 2012
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toh, Chin Chye}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:People's Action Party politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of Singapore]]
[[Category:Immigrants to Singapore]]
[[Category:Politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:National University of Singapore faculty]]

Revision as of 21:17, 13 May 2012

Toh Chin Chye (杜进才) (December 10, 1921 – February 3, 2012) was a politician from Singapore. He was a prominent member of the country's first generation of political leaders after Singapore became independent in 1965, serving as Deputy Prime Minister (1965–1968), Minister for Science and Technology (1968–1975) and Minister for Health (1975–1981). He also served as the Chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP) from 1954 to 1981, and as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore from 1968 to 1975. After he left the Cabinet in 1981, he continued to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) on the backbenches until he retired from politics in 1988.

Career

Academic career

Toh began his career as an academic. He was Reader in Physiology at the University of Singapore from 1958 to 1964. He became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore while concurrently serving as the Minister for Science and Technology from 1968 to 1975.

Political career

Toh became politically active during his time as a university student in London, when he served as the Chairman of the Malayan Forum, an anti-colonial group for students from Malaya and Singapore (which included two future Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew and Tun Abdul Razak) which met regularly for discussions and debates on the future of the Malayan region.

Toh was among the founder members of the People's Action Party and the party's Chairman from its formation in 1954 to 1981, save for a brief period in 1957 when leftists, who dominated the common membership in 1957, elected leftist leaders and took over the party leadership. The founding members were restored when many of the leftist leaders were arrested by Lim Yew Hock in his anti-communist crackdown, allowing for the restoration of the original "basement group" of Toh, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, et al to the Central Executive Committee (CEC). Following this, Toh implemented a cadres system to prevent from the newcomer "ordinary members", including leftist sympathisers, from having undue influence over the membership of the CEC.

Toh was elected as a PAP member for Rochor in the 1959 general election.

Toh was a key member of Lee Kuan Yew's faction in their fight against their rivals within the party.

Following the PAP's victory at the 1959 elections, the members of the party's Central Executive Committee voted to decide whether Lee, as the party's Secretary-General, or the party's Treasurer, Ong Eng Guan (who served as the Mayor on the City Council from 1957–59), should take up the newly-created post of Prime Minister. The vote was tied (6-6), and Toh, as the party's Chairman, used his casting vote in favour of Lee.

Toh was a tenacious fighter in the battle against the Barisan Sosialis party, a splinter group from the PAP. He managed to defeat Barisan Chairman Lee Siew Choh by a mere 89 votes in the 1963 Singapore general election, his narrowest electoral victory.

Toh held several Cabinet portfolios in pre- and post-independence Singapore, including Deputy Prime Minister (1959–68), Minister for Science and Technology (1968–75) and Minister for Health (1975–81). He was also University of Singapore's Vice-Chancellor from 1968 to 1975. His stint at the university drew mixed reactions from staff and students alike. While his role to reorient the university's focus to suit the fledging nation's needs was applauded, he was also perceived as authoritarian, especially when he clamped down on student demonstrations and political activities.

Toh stepped down from the Cabinet and party chairmanship in 1981. He served out a further two parliamentary terms as a vocal backbencher, during which time he criticised his own party on a regular basis. He retired from Parliament at the 1988 general election.

Contributions

Toh was generally considered one of the founding fathers of modern Singapore that along with Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and S. Rajaratnam, for helping to lead Singapore during the nation's formative years.

Personal life

Education

Toh completed his secondary education at St George's Institution in Taiping, Perak, and then continued his studies at Raffles College and the University of London. He subsequently received a PhD in Physiology from the National Institute for Medical Research in London.[1]

Retirement

File:Dr Toh.PNG
Dr Toh in his later years

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 to pay his last respects to former president Wee Kim Wee. He was seen being assisted by two men and a walking stick as he walked. In February 2006, Toh was featured again in The Straits Times paying his last respects to the late former Deputy Prime Minister S Rajaratnam at his home in Chancery Lane.

Toh was briefly back in the spotlight in 1996 when he was mistaken for the culprit in a "hit and run" motor accident by The New Paper, who published the story on the front page. The culprit was in fact another individual who was also named Toh Chin Chye. Toh was subsequently awarded damages in a libel suit against the paper.Template:Ref

Death

Toh passed away in his sleep on Friday, 3 February 2012 at 9:30am (GMT+8).[2]

Notes

Toh award libel damages

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