Andrew Fong Sip Chee, PJG (Chinese: 邝摄治; 28 June 1938 – 5 December 1992) was a Singaporean former politician. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Fong served as the Minister of State for Culture from 1981 to 1985, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Stamford Constituency from 1963 to 1976, and the MP representing Kampong Chai Chee Constituency from 1977 to 1988.
Fong Sip Chee | |
|---|---|
| 邝摄治 | |
 Fong in 1983 | |
| Minister of State for Culture | |
| In office 2 May 1981 – 1 January 1985 | |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | position abolished |
| Member of Parliament representing Stamford Constituency | |
| In office 22 October 1963 – 6 December 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Fung Yin Ching |
| Succeeded by | constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament representing Kampong Chai Chee Constituency | |
| In office 7 February 1977 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Sha'ari Tadin |
| Succeeded by | constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Fong Sip Chee 28 June 1938 Singapore, Straits Settlements |
| Died | 5 December 1992 (aged 54) Singapore General Hospital, Singapore |
| Children | 2; including Arthur |
| Awards | Pingat Jasa Gemilang, 1990 |
Fong also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Culture[1] and to the Ministry of Labour[2] from 1963 to 1971 and 1972, respectively, and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour[3] from 1972 to 1981.
Early life
editFong was born on 28 June 1938 in the Straits Settlements and attended Beatty Secondary School.[4] Before joining politics, Fong served as a housing expert.[1]
Career
editHe made his political debut at the 1963 general election, contesting for Member of Parliament (MP) representing Stamford Constituency against Teo Hock Guan of Barisan Sosialis, Lim Chung Min of United People's Party, and Lal Behari Singh of Singapore Alliance Party.[5] He was elected with 53.27% of the vote.[6]
In the 1968 general election, Fong contested for MP of Stamford Constituency again, being elected unopposed. He also headed a 21-member study mission to 4 other Asian countries, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Japan.[7]
During the 1972 general election, he contested for MP of Stamford Constituency again, against Chiang Seok Keong of Workers' Party (WP), where he won with 71.77% of the vote.[8][9] He was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour.[2][3]
In the 1976 general election, after the dissolution of Stamford Constituency, Fong contested for MP of Kampong Chai Chee Constituency against J. B. Jeyaretnam from WP.[10] He won with 59.92% of the vote.[11] In the next general election, he contested for MP of Kampong Chai Chee Constituency again, against Leong Yew Thong of United Front, where he was elected with 81.22% of the vote.[12] In 1980, he wrote a book titled The PAP Story – the Pioneering Years, about the history of the PAP.[13]
At the 1984 general election, Fong contested for MP of Kampong Chai Chee Constituency again, against Seow Khee Leng of Singapore United Front. He was elected with 57.16% of the vote.[14] He retired from politics in 1988.[15]
Personal life
editIn 1990, Fong was awarded the Pingat Jasa Gemilang.[16] His son, Arthur Fong, went on to be a banker and politician.
Death
editOn 5 December 1992, Fong died of lung cancer at the Singapore General Hospital. He was survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and a granddaughter. He had been admitted to the hospital on 12 October, having stayed there till his death.[17]
References
edit- ^ a b Yeo, Joseph (19 October 1963). "Three new faces among the Ministers' Secretaries". The Straits Times. p. 9. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ a b "VICTORY ALL THE WAY: TOH". The Straits Times. 24 August 1972. p. 28. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ a b "New Cabinet will be sworn in tonight at Istana". The Straits Times. 16 September 1972. p. 30. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Veteran politician Fong Sip Chee dies". The Straits Times. 6 December 1992. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Singapore polls nominations". The Straits Times. 13 September 1963. p. 5. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "THIS IS THE WAY THE VOTING WENT". The Straits Times. 22 September 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "S'pore team leaves today on four-nation tour". The Straits Budget. 22 May 1968. p. 8. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Where they'll stand..." New Nation. 23 August 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "ELECTION SCORECARD". New Nation. 1 September 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Jeya face-to-face with 'rat-catcher' Fong". The Straits Times. 24 December 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Bid to improve life in Chai Chee..." The Straits Times. 24 January 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "WHO FIGHTS WHOM AND WHERE ..." The Straits Times. 14 December 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Fong Sip Chee's diary now an open book". The Straits Times. 19 January 1980. p. 6 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ Ee, Boon Lee; Loong, Swee Yin (16 November 1984). "Constituency that's run with military precision". Singapore Monitor. p. 6. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Raja, Barker among PAP MPs not contesting". The Straits Times. 20 August 1988. p. 16. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Ahli politik" [Politicians]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 9 August 1990. p. 6. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
- ^ "Veteran politician Fong Sip Chee dies". The Straits Times. 6 December 1992. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via NewspaperSG.