Seng Han Thong
Encyclopedia
Seng Han Thong is a Singapore
an politician. He is a member of the People's Action Party
, and represents the Yio Chu Kang
constituency in the Parliament of Singapore
.
. He attended Tuan Mong High School, graduating in 1967. Afterwards, he held various jobs including as a sales representative for a watch company and a certified interpreter in the judicial system of Singapore
. In 1974, he began a career in journalism, starting as a reporter for the Nanyang Siang Pau
, then moving to the Lianhe Zaobao
in 1982. From 1983 to 1984, he attended a management diploma course at the Singapore Institute of Management
, while rising through the ranks at his new company. While studying for a Master of Business Administration
between 1990 and 1993 at Brunel University
in London
, he became deputy chief editor of the Lianhe Zaobao in 1992. He became the general manager of Singapore Press Holdings
' Chinese newspaper division in 1996.
; he was returned to his seat in 2001, and then in 2006 was elected to represent the Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
.
In May 2006, Seng was attacked by a constituent of his, a 74-year old disgruntled former taxi driver who felt that Seng was not taking any action to help him regain his lost taxi licence. The man later made a public apology to Seng, and the charges were dropped. Media reports in 2010 recalled the event when the man carried a knife with a 12 centimetres (4.7 in) blade to the Subordinate Courts of Singapore
building in an attempt at public suicide and was sentenced to two weeks in jail. Just a month later, the man died at the age of 78 due to a lung infection.
In January 2009, Seng suffered another attack by one of his constituents; a 70-year old man set him on fire by pouring paint thinner
on his back and then igniting him with a cigarette lighter. The man was believed to be mentally ill. Seng suffered burns to roughly 15 percent of his body, and received treatment at Singapore General Hospital
. He took time off to recover from his injuries, and resumed his duties in July 2009.
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...
an politician. He is a member of the 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....
, and represents the Yio Chu Kang
Yio Chu Kang
Yio Chu Kang is a sub-urban area in the northeast of Singapore, with proximity to the Ang Mo Kio, Seletar and Serangoon areas. Deriving its name from the Yio Chu Kang Village, it is still known for lush greenery and low-density housing with high-rise public housing in its southern fringes...
constituency 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...
.
Early life
Seng is BuddhistBuddhism in Singapore
As of 2010, 33.6% of Singaporeans identified themselves as Buddhist. Adherents of Buddhism are mostly of the Chinese majority ethnic group, although small minorities of Sinhalese and Thai Buddhists do exist as well....
. He attended Tuan Mong High School, graduating in 1967. Afterwards, he held various jobs including as a sales representative for a watch company and a certified interpreter in the judicial system of Singapore
Judicial system of Singapore
The full Judicial power in Singapore is vested in the Supreme Court as well as subordinate courts by the Constitution of Singapore. The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. The Court of Appeal exercises appellate criminal and civil jurisdiction, while the High Court...
. In 1974, he began a career in journalism, starting as a reporter for the Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau
Nanyang Siang Pau or Nanyang Business Daily was founded by philanthropist-entrepreneur Tan Kah Kee on 6 September 1923 in Singapore, currently published in Malaysia...
, then moving to the Lianhe Zaobao
Lianhe Zaobao
Nanyang Sin-Chew Lianhe Zaobao , commonly abbreviated as Lianhe Zaobao , is the largest Singapore based Chinese-language newspaper with a daily circulation of about 176,000. Published by Singapore Press Holdings , it was formed on March 16, 1983 as a result of a merger between Nanyang Siang Pau and...
in 1982. From 1983 to 1984, he attended a management diploma course at the Singapore Institute of Management
Singapore Institute of Management
The Singapore Institute of Management is Singapore's largest and most comprehensive provider of private tertiary education and professional training. It was founded by the Singapore Economic Development Board in 1964. SIM offers diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as a...
, while rising through the ranks at his new company. While studying for a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
between 1990 and 1993 at Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he became deputy chief editor of the Lianhe Zaobao in 1992. He became the general manager of Singapore Press Holdings
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...
' Chinese newspaper division in 1996.
Career
Seng was first elected to parliament in 1996, representing the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation ConstituencyAng 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...
; he was returned to his seat in 2001, and then in 2006 was elected to represent the Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency was a single member constituency in the north-eastern area, Singapore. The boundary surrounds the town centre of Ang Mo Kio New Town. However, Yio Chu Kang is not part of the constituency but in the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency instead...
.
In May 2006, Seng was attacked by a constituent of his, a 74-year old disgruntled former taxi driver who felt that Seng was not taking any action to help him regain his lost taxi licence. The man later made a public apology to Seng, and the charges were dropped. Media reports in 2010 recalled the event when the man carried a knife with a 12 centimetres (4.7 in) blade to the Subordinate Courts of Singapore
Subordinate Courts of Singapore
The Subordinate Courts of Singapore is one of the two tiers of the court system in Singapore, the other tier being the Supreme Court. The Subordinate Courts comprise the District and Magistrate Courts—both of which oversee civil and criminal matters—as well as specialised family, juvenile,...
building in an attempt at public suicide and was sentenced to two weeks in jail. Just a month later, the man died at the age of 78 due to a lung infection.
In January 2009, Seng suffered another attack by one of his constituents; a 70-year old man set him on fire by pouring paint thinner
Paint thinner
A paint thinner is a solvent used to thin oil-based paints or clean up after their use, although all such solvents have other uses. Commercially, "paint thinner" is usually a name for mineral spirits.Products used as paint thinners include:*Mineral spirits...
on his back and then igniting him with a cigarette lighter. The man was believed to be mentally ill. Seng suffered burns to roughly 15 percent of his body, and received treatment at Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
. He took time off to recover from his injuries, and resumed his duties in July 2009.
External links
- Member's Profile on the site of the Parliament of Singapore