Chan Chun Sing
Encyclopedia
Chan Chun Sing is a politician
from Singapore
. A member of the country's governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he is currently the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
, and a Minister of State
at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
. He has been a Member of Parliament
(MP) representing the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency
since the 2011 general election. Prior to entering politics, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces
, where he rose to the rank of Major-General
and served as Singapore's Chief of Army from 2010 to 2011.
Lee Kuan Yew
, and was declared elected on Nomination Day (27 April 2011) in a walkover
. Chan became the representative of the Buona Vista
ward in the constituency (replacing Lim Swee Say
).
Following the general election, Chan was appointed the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and a Minister of State at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
from 1987 to 2011. His appointments included Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
(1998-2000), Army Attaché in Jakarta
(2001-03), Commander of the 10th Singapore Infantry Brigade (2003-04), Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department (2005-07), Commander of the 9th Division / Chief Infantry Officer (2007-09), and Chief of Staff - Joint Staff (2009-10).
Chan was appointed the Chief of Army on 26 March 2010 (replacing Major-General Neo Kian Hong
). He left the Singapore Armed Forces on 25 March 2011 in order to stand for Parliament (and was replaced as Chief of Army by Brigadier-General Ravinder Singh
).
and Raffles Junior College
.
In 1988, Chan was awarded a President's Scholar
ship and Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom
at Cambridge University
, where he completed a degree in Economics at Christ's College
.
In 2005, Chan completed the Sloan Fellows Programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) under a Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. A member of the country's governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP), he is currently the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports is a ministry of the Government of Singapore tasked with, from the government's point of view, building a "cohesive and resilient" society in Singapore.The MCYS often pursues vigorous social engineering campaigns of varying effectiveness and...
, and a Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is a ministry of the Government of Singapore...
. He has been a Member of Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
(MP) representing the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency
Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency
Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency is currently a five-member Group Representation Constituency in central Singapore....
since the 2011 general election. Prior to entering politics, he served in the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
, where he rose to the rank of Major-General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and served as Singapore's Chief of Army from 2010 to 2011.
Political career
Chan was a PAP candidate in the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency at the 2011 general election. The PAP's team in the constituency was led by former Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
, and was declared elected on Nomination Day (27 April 2011) in a walkover
Walkover
In British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
. Chan became the representative of the Buona Vista
Buona Vista
Buona Vista is a neighbourhood and subdivision of the city-state of Singapore, but is often referenced as a town. As a major subdivision, it is served by the Buona Vista MRT Station which links it up with the MRT system. It also has a bus terminal.-Geography:...
ward in the constituency (replacing Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress....
).
Following the general election, Chan was appointed the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and a Minister of State at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
Military career
Chan served in the Singapore ArmySingapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
from 1987 to 2011. His appointments included Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment
Singapore Infantry Regiment
The Singapore Infantry Regiment is the main formation of the Singapore Army. It consists of eight full-time battalions and a number of National Service , or Reservist battalions.-History:...
(1998-2000), Army Attaché in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
(2001-03), Commander of the 10th Singapore Infantry Brigade (2003-04), Head of the Joint Plans and Transformation Department (2005-07), Commander of the 9th Division / Chief Infantry Officer (2007-09), and Chief of Staff - Joint Staff (2009-10).
Chan was appointed the Chief of Army on 26 March 2010 (replacing Major-General Neo Kian Hong
Neo Kian Hong
Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong is the Chief of Defence Force and former Chief of the Singapore Army. He was Chief of Army from March 20, 2007 to March 26, 2010....
). He left the Singapore Armed Forces on 25 March 2011 in order to stand for Parliament (and was replaced as Chief of Army by Brigadier-General Ravinder Singh
Ravinder Singh (general)
Major-General Ravinder Singh s/o Harchand Singh is the current Chief of the Singapore Army, having replaced the retiring Chan Chun Sing on 25 March 2011. Before taking up the post, he was deputy secretary of technology at Mindef....
).
Education
Chan was educated at Raffles InstitutionRaffles Institution
Raffles Institution , founded in 1823, is the oldest centre for pre-tertiary learning in Singapore. It is an independent school in Singapore providing secondary and pre-university education. RI consists of a boys-only secondary section , and a coeducational pre-university section...
and Raffles Junior College
Raffles Junior College
Raffles Institution offers the Raffles Programme at Year 5 and 6 . It is located in Bishan beside the Year 1-4 school campus of Raffles Institution. The Principal is Mrs Lim Lai Cheng...
.
In 1988, Chan was awarded a President's Scholar
President's Scholar
A President's Scholar is a recipient of the most prestigious class of university undergraduate scholarships awarded to Singapore citizens by the Government of Singapore. In most years, only 2-4 President's Scholarships are awarded...
ship and Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he completed a degree in Economics at Christ's College
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
.
In 2005, Chan completed the Sloan Fellows Programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(MIT) under a Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.