Yeoh Ghim Seng
Encyclopedia
Yeoh Ghim Seng was Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
from 1970 to 1989.
He received his early education at St. Michael's Institution in his hometown of Ipoh
(in Malaysia) and at Penang
Free School. He studied medicine at Cambridge University in the 1940s and was on attachment to hospitals there before becoming a Fellow
of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
in 1950. In 1951, he returned to Malaya
to become consultant surgeon to the Singapore General Hospital
. When he was appointed Professor of Surgery at the then University of Malaya
in 1955, he was one of the first locals to hold that chair. He resigned the chair in 1962 to set up what became a lucrative private practice, but continued to train medical graduates from the university. A six-footer, Yeoh was described once as "the biggest but fastest Asian surgeon".
Yeoh's political career began in 1966, when he was recruited by the People's Action Party
to stand in a by-election in Joo Chiat
. He won by a walkover
and served as the constituency's MP
for 22 years.
His preoccupation with medicine precluded a ministerial appointment; instead, he was made Deputy Speaker in 1968, and elected Speaker two years later. In 1977, Minister of Law, Environment, Science and Technology, Mr E. W. Barker, congratulating him on his re-election to yet another term as Speaker, said that if not for Dr. Yeoh's commitment to surgery, he "could with ease and distinction occupy one of the front benches on this side of the House".
In 1977, he also became the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization's (AIPO) first president.
Yeoh was a Public Service Star (B.B.M.) recipient, an active Rotarian
, and a Justice of the Peace
who also served as chairman of various boards including the Detainees' Aftercare Association and the University of Singapore Council. The National University of Singapore
created the Yeoh Ghim Seng Professorship in Surgery in his honour.
At the time of his death (of lung cancer
), he was survived by his wife, five daughters and 15 grandchildren.
Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
The speaker of the Parliament of Singapore is the head officer in the Parliament of Singapore.The role of the Speaker in Singapore is similar to that in most Commonwealth legislatures. The Speaker presides over the Parliament and enforces the rules in the Standing Orders of Parliament to allow for...
from 1970 to 1989.
He received his early education at St. Michael's Institution in his hometown of Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
(in Malaysia) and at Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
Free School. He studied medicine at Cambridge University in the 1940s and was on attachment to hospitals there before becoming a Fellow
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons is a professional qualification to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland...
of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
in 1950. In 1951, he returned to 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...
to become consultant surgeon to the 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....
. When he was appointed Professor of Surgery at the then University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
in 1955, he was one of the first locals to hold that chair. He resigned the chair in 1962 to set up what became a lucrative private practice, but continued to train medical graduates from the university. A six-footer, Yeoh was described once as "the biggest but fastest Asian surgeon".
Yeoh's political career began in 1966, when he was recruited by 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....
to stand in a by-election in Joo Chiat
Joo Chiat
Joo Chiat is a residential conservation area in the eastern part of Singapore, and is located between Geylang Serai and Marine Parade Road. Joo Chiat Road is the main road in the area with rows of shophouses for residential and commercial purposes.-History:...
. He won by 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...
and served as the constituency's MP
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,...
for 22 years.
His preoccupation with medicine precluded a ministerial appointment; instead, he was made Deputy Speaker in 1968, and elected Speaker two years later. In 1977, Minister of Law, Environment, Science and Technology, Mr E. W. Barker, congratulating him on his re-election to yet another term as Speaker, said that if not for Dr. Yeoh's commitment to surgery, he "could with ease and distinction occupy one of the front benches on this side of the House".
In 1977, he also became the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization's (AIPO) first president.
Yeoh was a Public Service Star (B.B.M.) recipient, an active Rotarian
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, and a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
who also served as chairman of various boards including the Detainees' Aftercare Association and the University of Singapore Council. The National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
created the Yeoh Ghim Seng Professorship in Surgery in his honour.
At the time of his death (of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
), he was survived by his wife, five daughters and 15 grandchildren.