Sam Tan (politician)

Sam Tan Chin Siong (Chinese: 陈振泉; pinyin: Chén Zhènquán, born (1958-10-13)13 October 1958) is a Singaporean former politician.^[1] A member of the governing People's Action Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Radin Mas division of Tanjong Pagar GRC between 2006 and 2011 and Radin Mas SMC between 2011 and 2020.^[2]

Sam Tan PBM
陈振泉
Minister of State for Social and Family Development
In office 1 May 2018 – 26 July 2020
Minister	Desmond Lee
Succeeded by	Sun Xueling
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
In office 1 May 2017 – 26 July 2020
Minister	Vivian Balakrishnan
Succeeded by	Chee Hong Tat
Minister of State for Manpower
In office 1 October 2015 – 30 April 2018
Minister	Lim Swee Say Josephine Teo
Succeeded by	Zaqy Mohamad
Deputy Party Whip of the People's Action Party
In office 28 September 2015 – 6 June 2019
Party Whip	Chan Chun Sing
Succeeded by	Sim Ann Zaqy Mohamad
Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
In office 1 May 2014 – 30 April 2018
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth
In office 1 May 2014 – 30 September 2015
Minister	Lawrence Wong
Mayor of Central Singapore District
In office 27 May 2011 – 26 May 2014
Prime Minister	Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded by	Zainudin Nordin
Succeeded by	Denise Phua
Member of Parliament for Radin Mas SMC
In office 7 May 2011 – 23 June 2020
Preceded by	Chong Weng Chiew (PAP)
Succeeded by	Melvin Yong (PAP)
Member of Parliament for
In office 27 April 2006 – 18 April 2011
Preceded by	Chong Weng Chiew (PAP)
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-13) 13 October 1958 (age 66) Colony of Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Alma mater	National University of Singapore (BA)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tan.

Tan had served as Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth between 2014 and 2015, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office between 2014 and 2018, Minister of State for Manpower between 2015 and 2018, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs between 2017 and 2020 and Minister of State for Social and Family Development between 2018 and 2020.^[3] He had also served as Mayor of Central Singapore District between 2011 and 2014.

Early life and education

Tan attended Tuan Mong High School and Hwa Chong Junior College before graduating from the National University of Singapore in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts with honours degree.

Tan started his career at the People's Association (PA), where he served as Deputy Executive Director between 1992 and 1997. He subsequently became Executive Director of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) in 1997.^[4] From 2007 to 2009, he served as the chief executive officer of Business China.

Political career

Tan made his political debut in the 2006 general election contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.^[5]

Tan was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry, and Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Communications and the Arts concurrently from July 2009 to October 2009. He was subsequently promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary in November 2009, and served until May 2011.^[6]

During the 2011 general election, Tan contested in the newly created Radin Mas SMC. Tan faced a challenge from veteran Yip Yew Weng of the National Solidarity Party after two other political parties, Reform Party and Singapore Democratic Alliance withdrew in favour of the NSP.^[7] Tan won by a large margin, garnering 67.10% of the vote.^[8]

Tan was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports in May 2011. He was also appointed Mayor of Central Singapore District.^[6]

On 28 September 2015, it was announced that Tan will become Minister of State for Manpower from 1 October 2015.^[9]

On 29 June 2020, Tan announced that he will not contest in the 2020 general election.^[10]

Awards

• PBM (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat) Public Service Medal (2002)

References

• Parliament of Singapore - CV of Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong

1. Sam Tan - Sam Tan is with Melvin Yong 杨益财. | Facebook, retrieved 2020-06-29
2. http://www.elections.gov.sg/gazette%5CG_ParE2011%5C2011-05-09%20Candidates%20declared%20to%20have%20been%20elected.pdf#zoom=100 Archived 2011-06-24 at the Wayback Machine Singapore Election Department : Gazette Notification on Candidates declared to have been elected Members of Parliament (2011)
3. "PM Lee announces new Cabinet lineup". Straits Times. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
4. {title}, archived from the original on 2011-08-27, retrieved 24 May 2011
5. Singapore Elections. "2006 General Elections". Archived from the original on 2012-04-24.
6. "CV of Sam Tan Chin Siong". Singapore Parliament. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
7. "Four-cornered fight in Radin Mas?". Archived from the original on 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
8. Singapore Elections. "GE 2011". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30.
9. "Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-28. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
10. Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (29 June 2020). "GE2020: PAP announces Tanjong Pagar, Radin Mas line-up; no Chia Shi-Lu, Sam Tan". CNA. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.

Parliament of Singapore
Preceded by Chong Weng Chiew	Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC (Radin Mas) 2006 – 2011	Constituency redrawn
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Radin Mas SMC 2011 – 2020	Succeeded by Melvin Yong
Government offices
Preceded by Zainudin Nordin	Mayor of the Central Singapore district 27 May 2011 – 26 May 2014	Succeeded by Denise Phua