Ahmad Ibrahim (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
Ahmad bin Ibrahim was a former Singapore
an Member of Parliament
, Health Minister and Labour Minister in the 1950s and 1960s. He was an active unionist, Malay political leader, elected Independent member of the 1955 Legislative Assembly, Minister for Health
in the first cabinet of the People's Action Party
(PAP) government in 1959.
and was also educated there at the Penang Free School. In 1955, he stood for the Legislative Assembly elections and won as an independent candidate, representing Sembawang. A former first branch secretary of All-Singapore Fire Brigade Employees Union, and Vice-President of the Naval Base Labour Union, he was co-opted into the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1956; and under the PAP banner in 1959 he was re-elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly. When the PAP government formed its first Cabinet that year, Ahmad Ibrahim served in the cabinet as the Minister for Health, and was also appointed Assistant Secretary-General of the PAP's Central Executive Committee.
In a September 1961 Cabinet reshuffle, he was made Minister for Labour. He died at the Singapore General Hospital
after a prolonged illness, on 21 August 1962 while serving as the Minister of Labour. He was accorded a state funeral, attended by Singapore's Head-of-State Yusof Ishak
, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
, other Cabinet Ministers, and the public who paid respects at his home, and at the 'lying-in-state' ceremony at the Istana.
, 2 schools (Ahmad Ibrahim Primary and Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School) and a mosque are named after him in 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...
an 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...
, Health Minister and Labour Minister in the 1950s and 1960s. He was an active unionist, Malay political leader, elected Independent member of the 1955 Legislative Assembly, Minister for Health
Ministry of Health (Singapore)
The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
in the first cabinet 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....
(PAP) government in 1959.
Biography
Ahmad Ibrahim was born in PenangPenang
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...
and was also educated there at the Penang Free School. In 1955, he stood for the Legislative Assembly elections and won as an independent candidate, representing Sembawang. A former first branch secretary of All-Singapore Fire Brigade Employees Union, and Vice-President of the Naval Base Labour Union, he was co-opted into the PAP Central Executive Committee in 1956; and under the PAP banner in 1959 he was re-elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly. When the PAP government formed its first Cabinet that year, Ahmad Ibrahim served in the cabinet as the Minister for Health, and was also appointed Assistant Secretary-General of the PAP's Central Executive Committee.
In a September 1961 Cabinet reshuffle, he was made Minister for Labour. He died at 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....
after a prolonged illness, on 21 August 1962 while serving as the Minister of Labour. He was accorded a state funeral, attended by Singapore's Head-of-State Yusof Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak
Yusof bin Ishak was an eminent Singaporean politician and the first President of Singapore of Minangkabau descent. His portrait appears on the Singapore Portrait Series currency notes introduced in 1999.-Early life:...
, 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...
, other Cabinet Ministers, and the public who paid respects at his home, and at the 'lying-in-state' ceremony at the Istana.
Legacy
Today a road, Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim in JurongJurong
Jurong is the largest town in the western part of Singapore, consisting of 11 residential precincts, 14 industrial districts, 1 military zone and 1 Waterfront district. It resembles Woodlands, the largest town in the northern part of Singapore, which is smaller in size, has smaller industrial area...
, 2 schools (Ahmad Ibrahim Primary and Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School) and a mosque are named after him in 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...
.