Toh Chin Chye

Toh Chin Chye (Dr) (b. 10 December 1921, Batu Gajah, Taiping, Perak -) was the co-founder and Chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP) and served as the Member of Parliament for Rochore since 1959, Deputy Prime Minister when Singapore attained independence in 1965, Minister for Science and Technology and Minister for Health. He was also the Chairman of Singapore Polytechnic and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore.

Early life and education
He completed secondary education at St. George's School in Perak. In 1946, he graduated with first Class Diploma in Science from Raffles College, Singapore. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physiology at National Institute for Medical Research, London in 1949. As a student in London, he became the Chairman of Malayan Forum, an anti-colonial group of Malayan and Singapore students fighting for the independence of Malaya and Singapore. He returned to Singapore in 1953 and joined the University of Malaya as a lecturer.

Political career
Toh, together with Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and S. Rajaratnam, formed the People's Action Party in 1954 and became the first Chairman overseeing the party's organisation and policy-making. In the 1959 general election, he was elected as the Legislative Assemblyman for Rochore constituency. When Singapore attained self-government, he led a committee set up to design the state crest, state anthem and state flag which were unveiled on 3 December 1959 at City Hall and became the National Flag and National Anthem when Singapore gained independence in 1965.

He was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister when Singapore attained independence in 1965. He relinquished the post in 1968 and became the Minister for Science and Technology and served till 1975.

He was also the Chairman of Singapore Polytechnic and Vice-chancellor of the University of Singapore.He established the faculties of Engineering and Architecture in the University of Singapore and introduced professional courses such as business administration and accountancy so as to support Singapore's industrialisation efforts. He prompted the move of the University from Bukit Timah to Kent Ridge and intiated the setting up of the National University Hospital.

On 2 June 1975, he was appointed as the Minister of Health. He stepped down from the post in 1981 and became a backbencher. As a backbencher, he was noted for his outspoken views on various government policies such as the Medisave Scheme and the age limit on CPF withdrawal.

He retired from politics in 1988 to pave way for the younger generation to lead Singapore.

In appreciation for his twenty-nine years of service as Member of Parliament for Rochore, a Toh Chin Chye Benevolent Fund for the elderly was set up by the Rochore Citizens Consultative Committee.

Timeline
1946 : Demonstrator, Raffles College, Philosophy Department.
1947 - 1949 : Demonstrator, Raffles College, Chemistry Department.
1953 : Lecturer, Department of Physiology, University of Malaya, Singapore.
1953 : Founder-Secretary, University of Malaya Society.
1954 - 1981 : Co-founder and Chairman, People's Action Party.
1958 - 1964 : Reader in Physiology, University of Singapore.
1959 - 1968 : Deputy Prime Minister
1959 - 1975 : Chairman, Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors.
1959 - 1988 : Member of Parliament for Rochore.
1964 : Research Associate, University of Singapore
1968 - 1975 : Minister for Science and Technology.
1968 - 1975 : Vice-Chancellor, University of Singapore.
1970 - 1975 : Chairman, Board of Governors, Regional Institute for Higher Education and Development.
1973 - 1975 : Chairman, Applied Research Corporation.
2 Jun 1975 - 5 Jan 1981 : Minister for Health.
1988 : Retired from politics
1990 : Adviser to Steamers Maritime Holdings.

Awards
1976 : Honorary Doctor of Letters, University of Singapore
1990 : Order of Nila Utama (First Class) for "contributions to Singapore during those critical times before and during the merger with Malaysia."
2001 : Toh Chin Chye Professorship in Molecular Biology "for his dedication and his contributions as leader, educationist, teacher and public servant."

Publication
Recession and universities. (1975). Singapore: Regional Institute of Higher Education and Development.
(Call no.: RSING 331.1142 TOH)

Family
Father: Toh Kim Poh.
Mother : Tah Chuan Bee.
Wife: Yeap Sui Phek.
Daughter: One.



Author
Jenny Tien



References 
Biographical notes of the President, Prime Minister and ministers. (1977). Singapore: Publicity Division, Ministry of Culture.
(Call no.: RSING 328.59570922 BIO)

Chew, M. (1996). Leaders of Singapore (pp.83-99). Singapore: Resource Press.
(Call no.: RSING920.059597 CHE)

Low, K. C., & Dunlop, P. K. G. (Eds.). (2000). Who's who in Singapore (p. 270). Singapore: Who's Who Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 920.05957 WHO)

Lam, P. E., & Tan, Y. L. K. (Eds.). (1999). Lee's lieutenants: Singapore's old guard (pp. 2-15). Australia: Allen & Unwin.
(Call no.: RSING 320.95957 LEE)

Singapore Chronicles: A special commemorative history of Singapore (pp. 42-47). (1995). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

21 who helped to shape Singapore. (1990, November 10). The Straits Times, p. 31. 

Kudos to man of ideas. (1990, August 9). The Straits Times, p. 26.

Chok Tong's handsome tribute to 14 veterans. (1988, August 22). The Straits Times, Singapore, p. 17.

Office of the President. (2003). Speech by Professor Shih Choon Fong, NUS President And Vice-Chancellor, at the Launch of the Toh Chin Chye Professorship In Molecular Biology, 25 October 2001, Parliament House. Retrieved March 18, 2003, from www.nus.edu.sg/president/speeches/tohccprofessorship.htm


Further Readings
Chopard, K. (1989). Rochore: Eyewitness. Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 CHO) 



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Politicians--Singapore
Pioneers--Singapore
Law and government>>Public administration>>Cabinet (Government Councils)

Librarian Recommendations
>> National coat of arms (State crest)
>> The national flag of Singapore
>> The Singapore national anthem


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