Yeo Cheow Tong
Encyclopedia
Yeo Cheow Tong is a former politician
from Singapore
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he served in the Cabinet
from 1990 to 2006, and was a Member of Parliament
from 1984 to 2011.
Yeo was educated at Anglo-Chinese School
, before receiving a Colombo Plan
Scholarship in 1967 to study at the University of Western Australia
, where he received a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical)
degree. He worked for Singapore's Economic Development Board
(EDB) from 1972–75, before entering the private sector.
In 1984, Yeo was elected a Member of Parliament for Hong Kah constituency. The following year, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Health
and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
. In 1988, he became the Acting Minister for Health
, before becoming a full member of the Cabinet in 1990. He went on to hold a number of different Cabinet positions including Minister for Community Development
(1991–94), Minister for Trade and Industry
(1994–97), Minister for the Environment (1997–99), Minister for Communications and Information Technology
(1999–2001), and Minister for Transport
(2001–06).
In June 2006, Yeo resigned from the Cabinet to return to the private sector. He continued to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
until 2011, when he retired from politics.
Yeo is married to lawyer Helen Yeo-Tan Cheng Hoong.
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 served in 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 1990 to 2006, and was 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...
from 1984 to 2011.
Yeo was educated at Anglo-Chinese School
Anglo-Chinese School
The Anglo-Chinese School ; is a family of Methodist schools in Singapore, and Indonesia.The name is usually abbreviated as "ACS", with the junior college as "ACJC", and its students and alumni referred to as "ACSians" , or "ACS boys" .ACS was the first school...
, before receiving a 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 in 1967 to study at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, where he received a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical)
Bachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
degree. He worked for Singapore's Economic Development Board
Economic Development Board
-Overview:The Economic Development Board is a statutory board of the Government of Singapore that plans and executes strategies to sustain Singapore as a leading global hub for business and investment....
(EDB) from 1972–75, before entering the private sector.
In 1984, Yeo was elected a Member of Parliament for Hong Kah constituency. The following year, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of 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...
and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries. It is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the office currently held by K...
. In 1988, he became the Acting 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...
, before becoming a full member of the Cabinet in 1990. He went on to hold a number of different Cabinet positions including Minister for Community Development
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports is a ministry of the Government of Singapore tasked with, from the government's point of view, building a "cohesive and resilient" society in Singapore.The MCYS often pursues vigorous social engineering campaigns of varying effectiveness and...
(1991–94), Minister for 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:...
(1994–97), Minister for the Environment (1997–99), Minister for Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts is a ministry of the Government of Singapore...
(1999–2001), and Minister for Transport
Ministry of Transport (Singapore)
The Ministry of Transport is a ministry in the Government of Singapore that administers and regulates land, sea and air transportation within the republic’s jurisdiction....
(2001–06).
In June 2006, Yeo resigned from the Cabinet to return to the private sector. He continued to serve as a Member of Parliament for the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency was a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the western area of Singapore. The constituency covered the areas of Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Upper Bukit Timah, Jurong West and Lim Chu Kang...
until 2011, when he retired from politics.
Yeo is married to lawyer Helen Yeo-Tan Cheng Hoong.