Mah Bow Tan
Encyclopedia
Mah Bow Tan is a politician
from Singapore
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he is currently a Member of Parliament
(MP) representing the Tampines Group Representation Constituency
(GRC). He was a member of the Cabinet
from 1991 to 2011, serving as the Minister for Communications
(1991-99), Minister for the Environment (1993-95) and Minister for National Development (1999-2011).
) and St Joseph's Institution
. He then received the President's Scholar
ship and Colombo Plan
Scholarship to study at the University of New South Wales
(UNSW) in Australia
, where he graduated in 1971 with a First Class Honours degree in Industrial Engineering
, winning the University Medal (the prize for the top student in each department). He also completed a Master of Engineering
degree in Operations Research in 1973. (He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
by UNSW in 2001.)
Mah started his career at the Singapore Bus Service
(SBS). He worked at the organisation from 1973 to 1983, rising to become its General Manager
. He was then seconded to Singapore News and Publications Ltd (SNPL) as the Chief Executive Officer
of the Singapore Monitor newspaper. From 1985 to 1988, he served as the Group General Manager of SNPL and Group General Manager (Co-ordination) of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
.
, when he stood unsuccessfully in constituency of Potong Pasir, where he was defeated by Chiam See Tong
of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party
. (Prime Minister
Lee Kuan Yew
was thought to have played a role in Mah's defeat, having been seen as being unnecessarily dismissive in comparing Chiam's average GCE 'O' Level results to Mah's stellar academic achievements.)
In 1988, Mah was elected as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Tampines GRC, winning 61% of the vote. He was re-elected as an MP for Tampines GRC at the 1991 general election
with 59.48% of the vote, and by walkover at the 1997 general election
. At the 2001 general election, he was re-elected with 73.34% of the vote over the slate from the Singapore Democratic Alliance
(SDA). At the 2006 general election, he was re-elected with 68.51% of the votes over the SDA. At the 2011 general election, he was re-elected with 57.22% of the votes against the National Solidarity Party.
In 1990, Mah was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry
and Ministry of Communications
by Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong
. He was appointed Acting Minister for Communications in 1991, concurrently holding the post of Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
Mah served as Singapore's Minister for Communications from 1991-99. He concurrently served as the Minister for the Environment from 1993-95. He was appointed Minister for National Development in 1999.
Mah also served as Deputy Leader of the House in the Parliament of Singapore
from 2002-07, and as Leader of the House from 2007-11.
Mah has also held several other public service positions, including Chairman of the Board of Directors NTUC Comfort from 1983–86; Chairman of the National Productivity Board, National Productivity Council and Skills Redevelopment Fund Advisory Council; Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies from 1990–2002; and President of the Football Association of Singapore
from 1999-2004.
Mah is a passionate soccer fan. He also enjoys travelling, photography
and golf
.
The Flower Dome and Heritage Garden have named the dendrobium Mah Bow Tan in his honour.
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 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 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 Tampines Group Representation Constituency
Tampines Group Representation Constituency
Tampines Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency in the eastern region of Singapore...
(GRC). He was a member of the Cabinet
Cabinet of Singapore
The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government...
from 1991 to 2011, serving as the Minister for Communications
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is a ministry of the Government of Singapore...
(1991-99), Minister for the Environment (1993-95) and Minister for National Development (1999-2011).
Education and early career
Mah was educated at St Michael's School (now known as St Joseph's Institution JuniorSaint Joseph's Institution Junior
Saint Joseph's Institution Junior is a Catholic primary school for male students in Singapore. Prior to 2007, the school was known as St Michael's School.-History:...
) and St Joseph's Institution
Saint Joseph's Institution
Saint Joseph's Institution is a Catholic secondary school for male students in Singapore. It was founded in 1852 as "Saint John's Institution", and is the third oldest educational institution in Singapore .SJI provides an education to boys of all races and...
. He then received the 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 Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
Scholarship to study at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(UNSW) in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he graduated in 1971 with a First Class Honours degree in Industrial Engineering
Industrial engineering
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering dealing with the optimization of complex processes or systems. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis...
, winning the University Medal (the prize for the top student in each department). He also completed a Master of Engineering
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
degree in Operations Research in 1973. (He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by UNSW in 2001.)
Mah started his career at the Singapore Bus Service
Singapore Bus Service
Singapore Bus Services was a public bus operator in Singapore formed in 1973 with the merger of three private bus companies, namely the Amalgamated Bus Company Limited, the Associated Bus Services Limited and the United Bus Limited...
(SBS). He worked at the organisation from 1973 to 1983, rising to become its General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
. He was then seconded to Singapore News and Publications Ltd (SNPL) as the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Singapore Monitor newspaper. From 1985 to 1988, he served as the Group General Manager of SNPL and Group General Manager (Co-ordination) of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
.
Political career
Mah first entered politics at the 1984 general electionSingaporean general election, 1984
General elections were held in Singapore on 22 December 1984. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 77 of the 79 seats, marking the first time since 1963 that they had not won every seat...
, when he stood unsuccessfully in constituency of Potong Pasir, where he was defeated by 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....
of the opposition 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...
. (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...
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...
was thought to have played a role in Mah's defeat, having been seen as being unnecessarily dismissive in comparing Chiam's average GCE 'O' Level results to Mah's stellar academic achievements.)
In 1988, Mah was elected as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Tampines GRC, winning 61% of the vote. He was re-elected as an MP for Tampines GRC at the 1991 general election
Singaporean general election, 1991
General elections were held in Singapore on 31 August 1991. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 77 of the 81 seats...
with 59.48% of the vote, and by walkover at the 1997 general election
Singapore general election, 1997
The 1997 Singapore parliamentary election was an election in Singapore which was held on 2 January 1997. 765,332 out of the eligible 1.8 million voters voted and selected their next government...
. At the 2001 general election, he was re-elected with 73.34% of the vote over the slate from 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...
(SDA). At the 2006 general election, he was re-elected with 68.51% of the votes over the SDA. At the 2011 general election, he was re-elected with 57.22% of the votes against the National Solidarity Party.
In 1990, Mah was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Trade and Industry is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation of policies related to the development of trade and industry in Singapore.-Mission:...
and Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is a ministry of the Government of Singapore...
by 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...
. He was appointed Acting Minister for Communications in 1991, concurrently holding the post of Minister of State for Trade and Industry.
Mah served as Singapore's Minister for Communications from 1991-99. He concurrently served as the Minister for the Environment from 1993-95. He was appointed Minister for National Development in 1999.
Mah also served as Deputy Leader of the House in the Parliament of Singapore
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...
from 2002-07, and as Leader of the House from 2007-11.
Mah has also held several other public service positions, including Chairman of the Board of Directors NTUC Comfort from 1983–86; Chairman of the National Productivity Board, National Productivity Council and Skills Redevelopment Fund Advisory Council; Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies from 1990–2002; and President of the Football Association of Singapore
Football Association of Singapore
The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...
from 1999-2004.
Personal life
Mah is married to Dr Sheryn Kaye Von Senden. The couple has two sons and two daughters.Mah is a passionate soccer fan. He also enjoys travelling, photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
The Flower Dome and Heritage Garden have named the dendrobium Mah Bow Tan in his honour.