Chai Chong Yii

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chai.
Chai Chong Yii
Chai in 1977
Member of Parliament representing Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency
In office
12 October 1972 – 17 August 1988
Preceded byconstituency established
Succeeded byOng Chit Chung
Personal details
Born1935
China
Died3 May 2022 (aged 87)
Singapore
CitizenshipChina (1935–1967)
Singapore (1968–2022)
SpouseKhor Phaik Tin
Children3
Alma materNanyang University

Chai Chong Yii (蔡崇語, 1935 – 3 May 2022) was a China-born Singaporean former politician. A former member of the People's Action Party (PAP), he served as the Member of Parliament representing Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency from 1972 to 1988.

He also served as Minister of State and later Senior Minister of State of Education from 1972 to 1974 and 1975 to 1981 respectively, the Minister of State of Communications from 1974 to 1975, and the Senior Minister of State of Culture from January 1981 to May 1981.

Early life and education

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Chai was born in 1935 in China to peasants. His family migrated to Malaya (present-day Malaysia) when the Japanese started attacking coastal China. He spent his childhood in Taiping, Perak and attended Chung Ling High School and Nanyang University. He worked as a hawker and primary school teacher before entering Nanyang University. He took accounting and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor in Commerce. He worked at Shell for 6 years before serving as the bursar of Nanyang University from 1965 to 1972.[1][2]

Political career

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Chai had originally wanted to contest in the 1968 general election but was not able to due to having gotten his Singaporean citizenship in 1967, too late to place himself on the electoral register.[1] He made his political debut at the 1972 general election, contesting for Member of Parliament (MP) representing Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC) against Rengaswamy Vetrivelu of United National Front.[3] Chai was elected with 73.78% of the vote and was also appointed as Minister of State of Education.[4][5]

In 1975, he was appointed Senior Minister of State of Education.[6] Chai contested at the 1976 general election for MP representing Bukit Batok SMC against Sulaiman bin Jaffar of Singapore Justice Party. He was elected with 84.57% of the vote.[7] From 1978 to 1979, he and the rest of the Education Ministry introduced the Special Assistance Plan in schools.[8][9] In 1979, he laid the cornerstone of Bukit Batok Community Centre.[10] In the 1980 general election, he contested for MP representing Bukit Batok SMC again, being elected unopposed.[11]

At the 1984 general elections, he contested for MP of Bukit Batok SMC again, against Tan Jue Kit of United People's Front. He was elected with 78.27% of the vote.[12] After this win, residents of Bukit Batok wanted to spend $4,000 on an advertisement to congratulate him. Chai instead donated the money to the Community Chest of Singapore.[13] In 1988, he opened Bukit View Secondary School.[14] He retired from politics that same year.[15] Post his political career, Chai served as the auditor for PAP till 1996 and served as the Trade Representative to Taiwan from 1991 to 1994.[16][2]

Personal life

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While he worked at Shell, he met his future wife Khor Phaik Tin, who studied at Teacher's College in Kuala Lumpur.[2] In 2014, he and other retired PAP MPs wrote an essay on their experiences.[17]

Death

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Chai died on 3 May 2022 at 87. He was survived by his wife, 3 children, and 6 grandchildren.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Tan, Wang Joo (24 September 1972). "The way to the top —how six new MPs went up the ladder". The Straits Times. p. 10. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. ^ a b c Chin, Soo Fang (4 May 2022). "Ex-parliamentarian Chai Chong Yii dies at 87". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  3. ^ Singh, Pakir (31 August 1972). "UNF has not inspired confidence". New Nation. p. 6. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "ELECTION SCORECARD". New Nation. 1 September 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ Pang, Cheng Lian (21 December 1972). "SINGAPORE 1972-1973". New Nation. p. 8. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ Fong, Leslie (3 June 1975). "CABINET SURPRISE". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ "New Nation 1976 Election Guide". New Nation. 22 December 1976. p. 13. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ Fong, Leslie; Koh, Yan Poh; Tan, June (1 December 1978). "PLAN FOR NINE TOP SCHOOLS". The Straits Times. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ "Chai: Special assistance plan hatched a few months ago". The Straits Times. 1 December 1978. p. 16. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "BUKIT BATOK CENTRE". The Business Times. 17 December 1979. p. 12. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. ^ "37 seats for the PAP". New Nation. 13 December 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "ELECTION '84 RESULTS". The Straits Times. 23 December 1984. p. 8. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ "'Congrats' money well spent". The Straits Times. 29 January 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "$7m school". The Straits Times. 15 July 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ "Tribute to MPs stepping down". The Business Times. 22 August 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. ^ Lim, Soon Neo (5 April 1993). "Advantages of combining strengths". The Business Times. p. 43. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. ^ Leong, Weng Kam (8 July 2014). "Ex-MPs put together personal stories to inspire the young". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Chai Chong Yii, former Senior Minister of State and first MP for Bukit Batok, dies aged 87". CNA. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
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