Tay Eng Soon

Singaporean politician
鄭永順
Senior Minister of State for EducationIn office
13 September 1988 – 5 August 1993Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok TongMinisterTony Tan
Goh Keng SweeMinister of State for Communications and InformationIn office
2 January 1985 – 17 February 1986Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterYeo Ning HongMinister of State for EducationIn office
1 April 1981 – 12 September 1988Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterTony TanMember of the Singapore Parliament
for Eunos GRC
(Tampines North)In office
3 September 1988 – 5 August 1993Preceded byConstituency establishedSucceeded byConstituency abolishedMember of the Singapore Parliament
for River Valley SMCIn office
23 December 1980 – 2 September 1988Preceded byTan Eng Liang (PAP)Succeeded byConstituency abolished Personal detailsBorn
Tay Eng Soon

(1940-01-20)20 January 1940
Singapore, Straits SettlementsDied5 August 1993(1993-08-05) (aged 53)
SingaporePolitical partyPeople's Action PartyEducationAnglo-Chinese SchoolAlma materUniversity of Bristol (BS)
University College London (PhD)
University of Singapore

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.

Early life and education

Tay 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

Tay 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

Tay 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

One 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

References

  1. ^ a b c "UNIVERSITY POST FOR OUR ONLY NUCLEAR SCIENTIST". The Straits Times. 1 October 1970. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "SIM Library: About Us". Singapore Institute of Management. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital". Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "ITE centre to be named after Tay Eng Soon". AsiaOne. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2022.

External links

  • "Member Profile: Tay Eng Soon, Dr". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.