Cheo Chai Chen
Encyclopedia
Cheo Chai Chen is a politician
and businessman
from Singapore
. He served as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of Nee Soon Central
from 1991 to 1997, when he was a member of the Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP). Since 2006, he has been a member of the of the National Solidarity Party (NSP).
, where he studied in the Department of Government and Public Administration.
Cheo first stood for Parliament at the 1988 general election, where he was defeated by Ng Pock Too of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP) in Nee Soon Central. Ng won 57.6% of the votes in the constituency to Cheo's 38.5% (with a third candidate taking 3.9%).
At the 1991 general election, Cheo again stood against Ng in Nee Soon Central. And this time, in a surprise result, Cheo defeated Ng to win the constituency. Cheo won 12,709 votes (50.3%) to Ng's 12,541 votes (49.7%). Cheo was one of three SDP MPs to be elected – with the party's leader Chiam See Tong
retaining his seat in Potong Pasir
, and Ling How Doong
winning in Bukit Gombak
. The leader of the Workers' Party
, Low Thia Khiang
, was also elected in Hougang
, giving the opposition parties a total of four seats. At the previous election, Chiam had been the only opposition MP to win a seat, so the results were seen as a significant success for the opposition.
In 1994, Chiam resigned as the SDP's leader after a dispute with the rest of the party's Central Executive Committee (which included Cheo). After he publicly criticised them, the Central Executive Committee attempted to expel Chiam from the party (which would have forced him to vacate his parliamentary seat), but he won a court case to prevent them from doing so on procedural grounds.
The negative publicity surrounding the dispute with Chaim hurt the SDP's prospects at the next general election in 1997. Cheo was defeated in his bid to be re-elected as Nee Soon Central's MP by the PAP's Ong Ah Heng. Ong won 15,214 votes (61.3%) to Cheo's 9,591 (38.7%). Ling was also defeated in Bukit Gombak. Chiam joined the Singapore People's Party
(SPP) after Parliament was dissolved ahead of the election, and was re-elected as Potong Pasir's MP representing his new party. The SDP was thus left with no seats in Parliament.
At the 2001 general election, Cheo stood as a member of the SDP's team in the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
. The PAP's team won the contest with 79.7% of the votes to the SDP team's 20.3%.
In 2006, Cheo joined the National Solidarity Party. At the 2006 general election (in which the NSP's candidates stood under the banner of the Singapore Democratic Alliance
) Cheo was a candidate in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
. The PAP's team won the contest with 69.3% of the votes to 30.7%.
At the 2011 general election, Cheo was a member of the NSP's team in the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
. The PAP's team (which was led by former Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong
) defeated the NSP's team by 56.6% of the votes to 43.4%.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
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...
. He served as the 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) for the constituency of Nee Soon Central
Nee Soon Central Single Member Constituency
Nee Soon Central Single Member Constituency is a defunct Single Member Constituency in the northern area in Singapore. The seat consists of Yishun New Town with it consisting of Yishun Central and a few private housing estates in the vicinity...
from 1991 to 1997, when he was a member of the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(SDP). Since 2006, he has been a member of the of the National Solidarity Party (NSP).
Biography
Cheo is a graduate of Nanyang UniversityNanyang University
Nanyang University was a university in Singapore from 1956 to 1980. During its existence, it was Singapore's only Chinese language post-secondary institution...
, where he studied in the Department of Government and Public Administration.
Cheo first stood for Parliament at the 1988 general election, where he was defeated by Ng Pock Too of the 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) in Nee Soon Central. Ng won 57.6% of the votes in the constituency to Cheo's 38.5% (with a third candidate taking 3.9%).
At the 1991 general election, Cheo again stood against Ng in Nee Soon Central. And this time, in a surprise result, Cheo defeated Ng to win the constituency. Cheo won 12,709 votes (50.3%) to Ng's 12,541 votes (49.7%). Cheo was one of three SDP MPs to be elected – with the party's leader Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
retaining his seat in Potong Pasir
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency
Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency in the central region of Singapore.-Location:The SMC encompasses Potong Pasir, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Tannery...
, and Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. A member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , he served as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bukit Gombak from 1991 to 1997.-Political career:...
winning in Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak is a neighbourhood in the west-central area of the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. In the Malay language, bukit means hill and gombak a bunch or collection of something....
. The leader of the Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
, Low Thia Khiang
Low Thia Khiang
Low Thia Khiang is a politician and businessman from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Workers' Party, and since 1991 has been a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Hougang until 2011 where he contested and won in Aljunied GRC. He is in charge of the Bedok...
, was also elected in Hougang
Hougang Single Member Constituency
Hougang Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency whose borders roughly enclose the town of Hougang, located in the north-eastern area of Singapore. The boundary includes a portion of Hougang and is an opposition held seat with its Member of Parliament the Workers' Party's Yaw...
, giving the opposition parties a total of four seats. At the previous election, Chiam had been the only opposition MP to win a seat, so the results were seen as a significant success for the opposition.
In 1994, Chiam resigned as the SDP's leader after a dispute with the rest of the party's Central Executive Committee (which included Cheo). After he publicly criticised them, the Central Executive Committee attempted to expel Chiam from the party (which would have forced him to vacate his parliamentary seat), but he won a court case to prevent them from doing so on procedural grounds.
The negative publicity surrounding the dispute with Chaim hurt the SDP's prospects at the next general election in 1997. Cheo was defeated in his bid to be re-elected as Nee Soon Central's MP by the PAP's Ong Ah Heng. Ong won 15,214 votes (61.3%) to Cheo's 9,591 (38.7%). Ling was also defeated in Bukit Gombak. Chiam joined the Singapore People's Party
Singapore People's Party
The Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
(SPP) after Parliament was dissolved ahead of the election, and was re-elected as Potong Pasir's MP representing his new party. The SDP was thus left with no seats in Parliament.
At the 2001 general election, Cheo stood as a member of the SDP's team in the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency was a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the western area of Singapore. The constituency covered the areas of Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Upper Bukit Timah, Jurong West and Lim Chu Kang...
. The PAP's team won the contest with 79.7% of the votes to the SDP team's 20.3%.
In 2006, Cheo joined the National Solidarity Party. At the 2006 general election (in which the NSP's candidates stood under the banner of the Singapore Democratic Alliance
Singapore Democratic Alliance
The Singapore Democratic Alliance is an alliance of political parties in Singapore. The SDA was formed shortly before the 2001 general election to provide a common grouping under which different opposition parties could stand as a united front in elections against the ruling People's Action Party...
) Cheo was a candidate in the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency
Not to be confused with the smaller ward that existed since pre-indepence era named as Jalan Besar Single Member Constituency, which is also where the ex-minister Lee Boon Yang made his first debut there....
. The PAP's team won the contest with 69.3% of the votes to 30.7%.
At the 2011 general election, Cheo was a member of the NSP's team in the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central, eastern and north-eastern areas of Singapore. The constituency consists of a section of Bedok, Chai Chee, Geylang, Kaki Bukit, Kallang, Kembangan, Marine Parade, Mountbatten,...
. The PAP's team (which was led by former Prime Minister
Prime 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...
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
) defeated the NSP's team by 56.6% of the votes to 43.4%.