Prime Minister of Singapore
Encyclopedia
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
(MP) who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.
The office of Prime Minister dates back to 1959 and was appointed at first by the Governor of Singapore then the Yang di-Pertuan Negara
(vice-regal head of state), when Singapore achieved self-governance
as the State of Singapore within the British Empire
. The title of Prime Minister remained unchanged after the merger
with the Federation of Malaya
, Sarawak
and British North Borneo, while Singapore was a state in the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, and after independence in 1965.
Lee Kuan Yew
was the first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 and retired on 26 November 1990. Lee was succeeded by Goh Chok Tong
and was conferred the title of Senior Minister
in the Prime Minister's Office. Goh retired on 12 August 2004 and was succeeded by Lee Kuan Yew's son Lee Hsien Loong
. Goh was appointed Senior Minister, and the elder Lee Minister Mentor
.
(1) Ong Teng Cheong and Tony Tan served under more than one Prime Minister during their time as Deputy Prime Minister.
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
of the Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
of 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...
. The President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament
Members of the Singapore Parliament
The following is a historical list of members for the current and past ten Parliaments of Singapore:-See also:*1st Parliament of Singapore*2nd Parliament of Singapore*3rd Parliament of Singapore*4th Parliament of Singapore*5th Parliament of Singapore...
(MP) who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.
The office of Prime Minister dates back to 1959 and was appointed at first by the Governor of Singapore then the Yang di-Pertuan Negara
Yang di-Pertuan Negara
Yang di-Pertuan Negara, meaning "Head of State" in Malay, was used as an official title at various times in Sabah, Singapore and Brunei.-Singapore:...
(vice-regal head of state), when Singapore achieved self-governance
Self-governance of Singapore
The self-governance of Singapore was carried out in several stages. After the British joined Singapore once more and started, without much success, dealing with post war problems, Singapore already was not happy with the British as their leaders. Since Singapore's founding in 1819, Singapore had...
as the State of Singapore within the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. The title of Prime Minister remained unchanged after the merger
Singapore in Malaysia
On 16 September 1963, which was also Lee Kuan Yew's 40th birthday, Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya alongside Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia...
with the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
, Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
and British North Borneo, while Singapore was a state in the Federation of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965, and after independence in 1965.
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 the first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990 and retired on 26 November 1990. Lee was succeeded by 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...
and was conferred the title of Senior Minister
Senior Minister
Senior Minister is a political office in the political system of Singapore taken by a prime minister or senior cabinet minister when he or she retires from that office, but still has something to offer the government based on his or her long experience...
in the Prime Minister's Office. Goh retired on 12 August 2004 and was succeeded by Lee Kuan Yew's son Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
. Goh was appointed Senior Minister, and the elder Lee Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor
Minister Mentor is a Singapore cabinet position created in 2004 as part of a leadership transition.The newly appointed Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong , announced Lee Kuan Yew's new title together with the naming of his Cabinet on August 12, 2004...
.
List of Prime Ministers of Singapore
| № | Prime Minister | Term of office | Electoral Mandate | Constituency Constituencies of Singapore Constituencies in Singapore are electoral divisions which may be represented by single or multiple seats in the Parliament of Singapore. Constituencies are classified as either single member or group representation constituencies... |
Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... 李光耀 |
5 June 1959 — 28 November 1990 days |
1959 54.10% 1963 46.90% 1968 Singaporean general election, 1968 General elections were held in Singapore on 19 April 1968, the first after independence from Malaysia. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 58 seats, the first of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat... 94.34% 1972 Singaporean general election, 1972 General elections were held in Singapore on 2 September 1972. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 65 seats, the second of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat... 70.40% 1976 Singaporean general election, 1976 General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1976. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 69 seats, the third of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat... 74.10% 1980 Singaporean general election, 1980 General elections were held in Singapore on 23 December 1980. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won all 75 seats, the last of four consecutive elections in which they repeated the feat... 77.70% 1984 Singaporean 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... 64.80% 1988 Singaporean general election, 1988 General elections were held in Singapore on 3 September 1988. The result was a victory for the People's Action Party, which won 80 of the 81 seats... 63.20% |
Tanjong Pagar SMC Tanjong Pagar Single Member Constituency Tanjong Pagar Single Member Constituency is a former single member constituency in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore from 1955 to 1991 and absorbed into Tanjong Pagar GRC.... (1955–1991) Tanjong Pagar GRC Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency is currently a five-member Group Representation Constituency in central Singapore.... (1991-) |
|
| 2 | 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... 吴作栋（吳作棟） |
28 November 1990 — 12 August 2004 days |
1991 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... 61.00% 1997 65.00% 2001 75.30% |
Marine Parade SMC Marine Parade Single Member Constituency Marine Parade Single Member Constituency is a former single member constituency in Marine Parade, Singapore from 1976 to 1988 and absorbed into Marine Parade GRC.... (1976-1988) Marine Parade GRC 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,... (1988-) |
|
| 3 | Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.... 李显龙（李顯龍） |
12 August 2004 — Incumbent days |
2006 66.60% 2011 60.14% |
Teck Ghee SMC Teck Ghee Single Member Constituency Teck Ghee Single Member Constituency is a former single member constituency in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore from 1984 to 1991 and absorbed into Ang Mo Kio GRC.... (1984-1991) Ang Mo Kio GRC Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency in the north eastern region of Singapore... (1991-) |
List of deputy prime ministers
The role of Deputy Prime Minister is the second highest post and senior Cabinet Minister in Singapore. The holder will sometimes assume the role of Acting Prime Minister when the PM is temporarily absent from Singapore. Since the mid-1980s, Singapore has usually had two Deputy Prime Ministers at a time.| № | Deputy Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toh Chin Chye Toh Chin Chye Toh Chin Chye is a prominent first generation political leader in Singapore. He completed his Secondary education in St. George's Institution and continued his studies at Raffles College and the University of London. Subsequently, Toh received his PhD at the National Institute for Medical... 杜进才（杜進才） |
5 June 1959 — 2 August 1968 days |
|
| 2 | Goh Keng Swee Goh Keng Swee Goh Keng Swee was the second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1984, and a Member of Parliament for the Kreta Ayer constituency for a quarter of a century. Born in Malacca in the Straits Settlements into a Peranakan family, he came to Singapore at the age of two years... 吴庆瑞（吳慶瑞） |
1 March 1973 — 3 December 1984 days |
|
| 3 | S. (Sinnathamby) Rajaratnam சி. இராசரத்தினம் |
1 June 1980 — 2 January 1985 days |
|
| 4 (a) |
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... 吴作栋（吳作棟） |
2 January 1985 — 28 November 1990 days |
|
| 4 (b) |
Ong Teng Cheong Ong Teng Cheong Ong Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:... (1) 王鼎昌 |
2 January 1985 — 1 September 1993 days |
|
| 5 (a) |
Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.... 李显龙（李顯龍） |
28 November 1990 — 12 August 2004 days |
|
| 5 (b) |
Tony Tan Keng Yam (1) 陈庆炎（陳慶炎） |
1 August 1995 — 1 September 2005 days |
|
| 6 (a) |
S. (Shunmugam) Jayakumar சி. ജയകുമാര് |
12 August 2004 — 1 April 2009 days |
|
| 6 (b) |
Wong Kan Seng Wong Kan Seng Wong Kan Seng is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2011... 黄根成（黃根成） |
1 September 2005 — 21 May 2011 days |
|
| 7 (a) |
Teo Chee Hean Teo Chee Hean Teo Chee Hean is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, and a Member of Parliament for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group... 张志贤（張志賢） |
1 April 2009 — Incumbent days |
|
| 7 (b) |
Tharman Shanmugaratnam Tharman Shanmugaratnam Tharman Shanmugaratnam is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Minister for Manpower. He previously served as the Minister for Education from 2003 to 2008... தர்மன் சண்முகரத்தினம் |
21 May 2011 — Incumbent days |
(1) Ong Teng Cheong and Tony Tan served under more than one Prime Minister during their time as Deputy Prime Minister.