Jek Yeun Thong

Jek Yeun Thong, DUNU (Second Class), (simplified Chinese: 易润堂; traditional Chinese: 易潤堂; pinyin: Yì Rùntáng; 29 July 1930 – 3 June 2018) was a politician from Singapore who was a first-generation member of the People's Action Party (PAP).

In this Chinese name, the family name is Jek (Yi).
Honourable Minister

Jek Yeun Thong
易润堂
Minister for Science and Technology
In office
31 December 1976 – 25 September 1977
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byLee Chiaw Meng
Succeeded byEdmund W. Barker
Minister for Culture
In office
16 April 1968 – 25 September 1977[1]
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byOthman Wok
Succeeded byOng Teng Cheong (acting)
Minister for Labour
In office
19 October 1963 – 15 April 1968
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byAhmad bin Ibrahim
Succeeded byS. Rajaratnam
Member of Parliament
for Queenstown
In office
21 September 1963 – 17 August 1988
Preceded byLee Siew Choh
Succeeded byChay Wai Chuen (Brickworks)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Singapore
In office
2 November 1963[2] – 9 August 1965
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1930-07-29)29 July 1930
Died3 June 2018(2018-06-03) (aged 87)
Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
OccupationPolitician

Political career

In 1955, Jek's foray into politics began when he assisted the PAP in the 1955 legislative assembly election. He was appointed to the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) as a political secretary in 1957. That same year he was detained under the Internal Security Act by the Lim Yew Hock government.

He eventually was released and when the People's Action Party came to power, from 1959 to 1976, he held the posts of Assistant Treasurer and then Treasurer on the Central Executive Committee of the PAP. Apart from serving as deputy chairman of the People's Association, he also served as Minister of Culture for 12 years from 1968-78.[3][4]

Additionally, he was also appointed Minister for Science and Technology in 1976 till 1977.[5] He is credited for being one of the 10 ministers who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement in 1965.[6]

Together with Lee Khoon Choy in 1960, Jek were appointed as the government representatives on the Joint-Government-University Liaison Committee to reform Nanyang University (commonly known as Nantah), which was eventually merged in 1980 with the University of Singapore to form the National University of Singapore.

Retirement (1990s-2018)

Jek was considered as one of the 'Old Guard' - the first generation of leaders of independent Singapore.[7]

Following Jek's death on 3 June 2018, Ong Pang Boon is the last living member (Old Guard) of the founding Singapore cabinet as of June 2018 [6][8] outliving Lee Kuan Yew, Othman Wok[9] and Chor Yeok Eng.

One of his last major public appearances was at the National Day Parade of 2015 in remembrance of Lee Kuan Yew.[10]

Death

Jek died at home at the age of 87 on 3 June 2018. A private wake and funeral was held in accordance with his wishes. As a mark of respect, the government ordered the state flag on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast on 7 June 2018.[11][12]

Honours and awards

Jek was awarded the Order of Nila Utama (Second Class) in 1990.

References
  1. "First 10 cabinet ministers of Singapore" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. "PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF). Dewan Rakyat. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  3. hermesauto (6 June 2018). "PAP Old Guard minister Jek Yeun Thong dies, aged 87".
  4. "10 Men, 10 Years: A Decade of Nation-Building - Archives Online". www.nas.gov.sg. National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  5. "First 10 cabinet ministers of Singapore" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  6. Grosse, Sara. "Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yeun Thong, Othman Wok to be honoured at NDP". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  7. "Three Old Guard ministers honoured". The Straits Times. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  8. "Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yeun Thong only remaining members of Singapore's first Cabinet".
  9. "After death of Othman Wok, only two members of independent Singapore's first Cabinet remain". The Straits Times. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  10. "Jek Yeun Thong leaves home for NDP 2015". Youtube. Straits Times. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  11. "建国元勋易润堂逝世 享年88岁". 6 June 2018.
  12. "Singapore's Government extends condolences after death of PAP pioneer Jek Yeun Thong".

Bibliography
  • Lam, Peng Er and Tan, Kevin (Ed.) (2000). Lee's lieutenants : Singapore's old guard. Singapore: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-172-8
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