Howe Yoon Chong (b. July 1923, China–d. 21 August 2007, Singapore) was the first chief executive officer (CEO) of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) when it was established in 1960 and head of the civil service from 1975 to 1979. After a civil service career ...

David Saul Marshall (b. 12 March 1908, Singapore–d. 12 December 1995, Singapore), Singapore’s first elected chief minister from 6 April 1955 to 7 June 1956, was a diplomat, top-notch criminal lawyer, leader of the Labour Front and founder of the Workers’ Party. ...

Goh Keng Swee (Dr) (b. 6 October 1918, Malacca–d. 14 May 2010, Singapore) has often been called the “economic architect” of Singapore for his great contributions to the development of Singapore into a prosperous nation during his terms as minister for finance and ...

Lim Kim San (b. 30 November 1916, Singapore–d. 20 July 2006, Singapore) was a former politician best known for his contributions to public housing in the 1960s during his term as chairman of the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Throughout his political career, ...

Sinnathamby Rajaratnam (b. 25 February 1915, Jaffna, Sri Lanka–d. 22 February 2006, Singapore), better known as S. Rajaratnam, was a former journalist, co-founder of the People's Action Party (PAP), first minister for foreign affairs in post-independence Singapore, ...

Teh Cheang Wan (b. 3 March 1928, China–d. 14 December 1986, Singapore) was a trained architect widely known for his contributions to Singapore’s early public housing plans, particularly while he was heading the Housing and Development Board in its early stage and ...

Tay Eng Soon (Dr) (b. 20 January 1940, Singapore–d. 5 August 1993, Singapore), was an academic specialising in nuclear energy who served in the Ministry of Education for over 12 years. He entered into politics in 1980 when he was elected unopposed as a People’s ...

Jek Yeun Thong (b. 1930, Singapore–d. 2018, Singapore) was a former politician who held the ministerial portfolios of labour, culture as well as science and technology. He was one of the first-generation leaders of the People’s Action Party (PAP).

Cabinet 2001 was announced by Goh Chok Tong, then prime minister of Singapore, on 17 November 2001. The swearing-in ceremony was held on 23 November 2001 in the presence of S. R. Nathan, then president of Singapore, at the State Room in The Istana. It was the last ...

Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay (b. 30 March 1934, Klang, Malaya), more commonly known as J. Y. Pillay, served as a top-ranking civil servant for 34 years from 1961 to 1995. He is one of the pioneers who helped build the economy of post-independence Singapore. One of his ...

Olivia Lum Ooi Lin (b. 1962, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia – ) is the founder, group chief executive officer and president of Hyflux Ltd., a leading Singapore-based water treatment company in Asia. Her rags-to-riches story is held up by many as an inspiring example of ...

Christopher Chia (Dr) (b. 1954, Singapore–) is the former chief executive of the National Library Board (NLB) and of the Media Development Authority (MDA), former director of the Information Technology Institute and founding deputy director of the Information Communication ...

John Tan Thoon Lip (b. 22 February 1910, Singapore–d. 14 March 1959, Singapore), a lawyer and public official, was the first Asian registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Ip Yiu Tung (b. 1949, Hong Kong–) is the former group chairman and chief executive officer of restaurant chain Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holding. After joining Crystal Jade in 1992, he turned the ailing restaurant into a successful restaurant chain with multiple ...

Bernard Ming-Deh Harrison (b. 1951, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya–) was the executive director of the Singapore Zoo from 1981 to 2002, and the chief executive officer of Wildlife Reserves Singapore from 2000 to 2002. Credited with having a creative and innovative vision, ...

Ong Eng Guan (b. 1925, Malacca–d. 2008, location unknown) was a trained accountant, politician and former minister. He was the mayor of Singapore from 1957 to 1959 and the minister for national development between 1959 and 1960 while a member of the People’s Action ...

Ahmad bin Ibrahim (b. 1927, Penang–d. 21 August 1962, Singapore) was a unionist, Malay political leader, elected member of the 1955 Legislative Assembly and the minister for health in the first cabinet of the People’s Action Party (PAP) government in 1959. He died ...

Seet Ai Mee (Dr) (b. 31 March 1943, Singapore–) was Singapore’s first female Cabinet minister. She assumed the position in July 1991 when she was appointed Acting Minister for Community Development in a cabinet reshuffle. Seet is also known for her contributions ...

Goh Chok Tong (b. 20 May 1941, Singapore–) was Singapore’s second prime minister (PM), serving in the office from 28 November 1990 to 11 August 2004. Goh first entered politics as a People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate in the 1976 general election. He was elected ...

Kenneth Michael Byrne (b. 13 May 1913, Singapore–d. 14 May 1990, Singapore), or K. M. Byrne, was Singapore’s first minister for labour and law. He was one of nine ministers who made up the first cabinet of the People’s Action Party (PAP) government, which was also ...