Tay Eng Soon (Chinese: 鄭永順; pinyin: Zhèng Yǒngshùn; 20 January 1940 – 5 August 1993) was a Singaporean academic and politician who served as Senior Minister of State for Education from 1988 until his death in 1993.

Tay Eng Soon
鄭永順
Senior Minister of State for Education
In office
13 September 1988 – 5 August 1993
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok Tong
MinisterTony Tan
Goh Keng Swee
Minister of State for Communications and Information
In office
2 January 1985 – 17 February 1986
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
MinisterYeo Ning Hong
Minister of State for Education
In office
1 April 1981 – 12 September 1988
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
MinisterTony Tan
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Eunos GRC
(Tampines North)
In office
3 September 1988 – 5 August 1993
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for River Valley SMC
In office
23 December 1980 – 2 September 1988
Preceded byTan Eng Liang (PAP)
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Tay Eng Soon

(1940-01-20)20 January 1940
Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died5 August 1993(1993-08-05) (aged 53)
Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
EducationAnglo-Chinese School
Alma materUniversity of Bristol (BS)
University College London (PhD)
University of Singapore

Early life and education

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Tay was born in Singapore on 20 January 1940. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School,[1] before graduating from the University of Bristol with a Bachelor of Science with first class honours degree in electrical engineering.

Tan was later awarded a scholarship by the Royal Society and went on to obtain a PhD in microwave engineering from the University College London in 1966.[1] He also completed a diploma in business administration at the University of Singapore in 1979.

Political career

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Tay was a Member of Parliament for River Valley Constituency with walkovers in both 1980 and 1984 General Election.

He was appointed Minister of State for Education in 1981 and Senior Minister of State for Education in 1988.

Tay was part of a three-member PAP team against the Worker's Party team for Eunos GRC. The PAP defeated WP with 50.89% of the valid votes in the 1988 general election.

During the 1991 General Election, Tay was part of the four-member PAP team against the Worker's Party team. The PAP team defeated the WP team for the second time with 52.28% of the valid votes. Tay was a Member of Parliament of Eunos GRC for Tampines North ward from 1988 to 1993 as he died on 5 August 1993 due to heart failure while his term in office.[2]

Personal life

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Tay was married to Rosalyn Carson, a scientist,[1] and had 2 daughters and a son.[2]

Tay was hospitalised on 2 August 1993 and died of acute heart failure on 5 August.[2]

Legacy

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One of the two libraries at the Singapore Institute of Management is named after him, in recognition of Tay's contributions to the SIM's UK Open University Degree Programme.[3]

The Tay Eng Soon Health Sciences Award,[4] Tay Eng Soon Gold Medal,[5] and Tay Eng Soon Convention Centre at ITE College Central[6] are named after him.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "UNIVERSITY POST FOR OUR ONLY NUCLEAR SCIENTIST". The Straits Times. 1 October 1970. p. 8. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Ng, Wei Joo (6 August 1993). "Dr Tay Eng Soon dies of acute heart failure". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. ^ "SIM Library: About Us". Singapore Institute of Management. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Ang Mo Kio - Thye Hua Kwan Hospital". Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Ex-Hong Kah Lite awarded Outstanding Graduate in ITE". Hong Kah Secondary School. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. ^ "ITE centre to be named after Tay Eng Soon". AsiaOne. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
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