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Lee Boon Yang (Chinese: 李文献; pinyin: Lǐ Wénxiàn; born 1 October 1947) is a Singaporean former politician who served as Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts between 2003 and 2009, Minister for Manpower between 1992 and 2003, and Minister for Defence between 1994 and 1995. A former member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Jalan Besar ward of Jalan Besar GRC between 1984 and 2011.
Lee Boon Yang | |
|---|---|
| 李文献 | |
| Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts | |
| In office 12 May 2003 – 31 March 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong |
| Second Minister | Vivian Balakrishnan (2006–2008) |
| Preceded by | David Lim Tik En |
| Succeeded by | Lui Tuck Yew |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 2 July 1994 – 31 July 1995 2nd Minister: 7 September 1991-1 July 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Yeo Ning Hong |
| Succeeded by | Tony Tan |
| Minister for Manpower | |
| In office 2 January 1992 – 12 May 2003 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Preceded by | Lee Yock Suan |
| Succeeded by | Ng Eng Hen |
| Minister in the Prime Minister's Office | |
| In office 1 July 1991 – 1 January 1992 | |
| Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
| Party Whip of the People's Action Party | |
| In office 13 September 1988 – 31 March 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Yiok Seng |
| Succeeded by | Lim Swee Say |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Jalan Besar) | |
| In office 3 September 1988 – 18 April 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Himself (Jalan Besar) |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Tong (Moulmein-Kallang GRC - Jalan Besar) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Jalan Besar | |
| In office 22 December 1984 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Chan Chee Seng |
| Succeeded by | Himself (Jalan Besar GRC - Jalan Besar) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1947 Colony of Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party (1984–2011) |
| Spouse | Yap Mee Mee |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Lee Boon Wang (brother) Chua Mia Tee (brother-in-law) |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland (BVSc) |
Lee retired from politics in 2011, and served as Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings between 2011 and 2022.
Lee was awarded a Colombo Plan scholarship to study veterinary science at the University of Queensland, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree in 1971.[1]
In 2015, Lee was conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Queensland.[1]
Lee began his career as a veterinary surgeon and worked as a research and development officer in the Singapore Government's Primary Production Department between 1972 and 1981.
Lee subsequently worked at the US Feed Grains Council as Assistant Regional Director and later Senior Project Manager for Primary Industries Enterprise between 1981 and 1984.[2]
Political career
Lee was first elected into Parliament in 1984.
He was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary in 1985, and went on to hold positions in the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Communications and Information, Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Lee was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in 1991. He served as Minister for Labour between 1992 and 2003. He also served as Minister for Defence between 1994 and 1995 concurrently. He was subsequently appointed Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts in 2003, where he served until 2009.
Lee resigned from the Cabinet in 2009 but remained as a Member of Parliament on the backbenches until his retirement from politics in 2011.[citation needed]
Post-political career
Lee was appointed Chairman of the Board of Keppel Corporation in 2009, after resigning from the Cabinet, where he served until 2021.[3][4][5]
He also served as Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings between 2011 and 2022, before he was succeeded by Christopher Lim.[6][7]
Lee has an elder brother Lee Boon Wang, a landscape painter and a sister Lee Boon Ngan.[8]
Lee is married to Yap Mee Mee and they have a daughter.[9]
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