Mak Pak Shee

In this Chinese name, the family name is Mak.

Mak Pak Shee (Chinese: 麦柏士; pinyin: Mài Bǎishì) was a Singaporean politician.

Career

An African Chinese with Cantonese ancestry,^[1] Mak was the leader of the Singapore-based Labour Party. He left the party in August 1950.^[2] When he was in the Cabinet, he held the position of Junior Minister.^[3] In his book One Man's View of the World (2013), Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew described Mak as a "fixer – somebody who facilitated the fulfilment of favours for a fee".^[1]

Lawsuits

In July 1948, Mak was meted a fine of S$250 for inappropriately including the honorifics "MB, BS" in his name.^[4]

Personal life

Mak had eight sons. His third son, Mak Kok Hoe, died aged eight in February 1957 and was buried at Bidadari Cemetery.^[5]

References

1. Lee, Kuan Yew (6 August 2013). One Man's View of the World. Singapore: Straits Times Press. pp. 300–301. ISBN 9789814342568.
2. "Mak Pak Shee Quits Labour Party". The Straits Times. 5 August 1950. p. 4 – via NewspaperSG.
3. Kim Wah Yeo (1973). Political Development in Singapore, 1945-55. NUS Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8214-0486-7.
4. "False Title". The Straits Times. 22 July 1948. p. 7 – via NewspaperSG.
5. "Minister's son dies". The Straits Times. 27 February 1957. p. 4 – via NewspaperSG.