Seet Ai Mee
Encyclopedia
Dr. Seet Ai Mee is a former politician
from Singapore
. A member of the country's governing People's Action Party
(PAP), she served as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of Bukit Gombak
from 1988 to 1991. In 1991, she was made the Acting Minister for Community Development
. However she lost her seat in Parliament at the 1991 general election when she was defeated by Ling How Doong
of the Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP), and has not been active in politics since then.
and the High School at Malacca. She was then awarded a Colombo Plan
Scholarship to study Biochemistry
at the University of Adelaide
, where she graduated with First Class Honours in 1964. In 1969, she completed a PhD
in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Singapore. She then worked for the Ministry of Health
and the Singapore Institute of Standards and Research, before establishing a medical laboratory practice.
In 1988, Seet was elected to Parliament as the MP for Bukit Gombak. She defeated Ling How Doong of the SDP by 12,661 votes (53.5%) to 11,024 (46.5%). Later that year, she was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Education
and Ministry of Community Development.
In 1991, Seet was appointed the Acting Minister for Community Development. It was widely predicted that she would become the first woman to become a full member of the Cabinet
in Singapore after the general election.
But when the general election was held later that year, Seet faced a challenge from Ling again and was surprsingly defeated. Ling won 12,037 votes (51.4%) to 11,383 Seet's (48.6%). During the election campaign, an incident, which had occurred in the 1988 General Elections , where Seet washed her hands after shaking hands with a fishmonger
while campaigning in a market drew negative publicity and is thought to have contributed to her defeat.
After her election defeat, Seet became a Senior Visiting Fellow in the National University of Singapore Institute of South-East Asian Studies. She also went on to co-found the Dover Park Hospice, and served on the boards of several companies, charities and public organisations.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. A member of the country's governing People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP), she served as the Member of Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
(MP) for the constituency of Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak is a neighbourhood in the west-central area of the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. In the Malay language, bukit means hill and gombak a bunch or collection of something....
from 1988 to 1991. In 1991, she was made the Acting Minister for Community Development
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports is a ministry of the Government of Singapore tasked with, from the government's point of view, building a "cohesive and resilient" society in Singapore.The MCYS often pursues vigorous social engineering campaigns of varying effectiveness and...
. However she lost her seat in Parliament at the 1991 general election when she was defeated by Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong
Ling How Doong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. A member of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , he served as the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bukit Gombak from 1991 to 1997.-Political career:...
of the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(SDP), and has not been active in politics since then.
Biography
Dr Seet had her early education was at Methodist Girls' SchoolMethodist Girls' School
Methodist Girls' School is a girls' independent school, consisting of two sections - the Primary School and Secondary School, located in Bukit Timah, Singapore. It is affiliated to the Anglo-Chinese School family and the Methodist Church in Singapore...
and the High School at Malacca. She was then awarded a Colombo Plan
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the Asia-Pacific Region...
Scholarship to study Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, where she graduated with First Class Honours in 1964. In 1969, she completed a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Singapore. She then worked for the Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health (Singapore)
The Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors in the Republic of...
and the Singapore Institute of Standards and Research, before establishing a medical laboratory practice.
In 1988, Seet was elected to Parliament as the MP for Bukit Gombak. She defeated Ling How Doong of the SDP by 12,661 votes (53.5%) to 11,024 (46.5%). Later that year, she was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
and Ministry of Community Development.
In 1991, Seet was appointed the Acting Minister for Community Development. It was widely predicted that she would become the first woman to become a full member of the Cabinet
Cabinet of Singapore
The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government of Singapore together with the President of Singapore. It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of government...
in Singapore after the general election.
But when the general election was held later that year, Seet faced a challenge from Ling again and was surprsingly defeated. Ling won 12,037 votes (51.4%) to 11,383 Seet's (48.6%). During the election campaign, an incident, which had occurred in the 1988 General Elections , where Seet washed her hands after shaking hands with a fishmonger
Fishmonger
A fishmonger is someone who sells fish and seafood...
while campaigning in a market drew negative publicity and is thought to have contributed to her defeat.
After her election defeat, Seet became a Senior Visiting Fellow in the National University of Singapore Institute of South-East Asian Studies. She also went on to co-found the Dover Park Hospice, and served on the boards of several companies, charities and public organisations.