Steve Chia
Encyclopedia
Steve Chia Kiah Hong is a politician
from Singapore
. He is the former Secretary-General
and current Treasurer
of the opposition
National Solidarity Party (NSP). He served as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
(NCMP) from 2001 to 2006, during which time the NSP was part of the Singapore Democratic Alliance
(SDA).
by a juvenile court
following an incident where he and group of other boys broke into a school and committed vandalism
. In his book Called to Serve, Chia notes that the incident left him determined to turn his life around. He went on to graduate from Nanyang Junior College
in 1988.
During his national service
, Chia became an officer
in the Singapore Armed Forces
despite the discovery of an inborn heart defect late in his officer cadet training which resulted in him being put on light duties for the final two months of the course. His commanders were nevertheless impressed by his performance and wrote in to appeal for him to be commissioned as an officer. The appeal was approved, and he became the only person to have graduated from the Officer Cadet Course without taking the senior term Individual Physical Proficiency Test
(IPPT) and Standard Obstacle Course.
Chia then became a student at the National University of Singapore
(NUS), where he read Psychology
and Philosophy
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1994. He was active in student politics during his time at NUS, and was elected the President of the National University of Singapore Students' Union (NUSSU) in 1993.
in the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
in 1992, when he attended one of the National Solidarity Party's campaign rallies. (He had intended to attend a rally of the Singapore Democratic Party
, for whom Chia's Psychology lecturer Chee Soon Juan
was standing as a candidate, but he went to the wrong location and ended up at the NSP's rally instead.)
After graduating from NUS in 1995, Chia joined the NSP. At the 1997 general election, he was a member of the party's teams in the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
, and was defeated by the team from the governing People's Action Party
(PAP) by 36,920 votes (31%) to 82,182 (69%).
Prior to the 2001 general election, the National Solidarity Party joined the Singapore Democratic Alliance.
Chia stood as the SDA's candidate in the single-member constituency of Chua Chu Kang
at the 2001 general election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong
unexpectedly praised Chia, noting that he appeared to be more professional than many of the other opposition candidates. (Goh later claimed that he did so because he was confident that the PAP candidate in Chua Chu Kang would win, but wanted to help Chia claim and a Non-constituency MP's seat. In his book Called to Serve, Chia speculates that Goh did this because he remembered Chia from discussions they had had in 1993 about the establishment of the NUS Students' Trust Fund.) Chia was defeated by the PAP's Low Seow Chay by 8,143 votes (34.66%) to 14,489 (65.34%). As this was the highest percentage of the vote garnered by any opposition losing candidate at the election, Chia therefore became a Non-constituency MP.
At the 2006 general election, Chia improved his percentage of the vote in Chua Chu Kang, but still lost to the PAP's Gan Kim Yong
by 9,292 votes (39.63%) to 14,156 (60.37%). This was not enough to enable him to hold on to his NCMP seat as the team from the Workers' Party
in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
won 43.91% of the votes. (The Workers' Party's Sylvia Lim became the next NCMP.)
Chia contested a fourth time in the 2011 general election in a newly carved out district Pioneer Single Member Constituency
(Pioneer SMC) against Cedric Foo of the People's Action Party
who was already the MP for the district when it was part of the West Coast GRC. He however fell short again winning just 39.27% of the votes.
who worked in his home were discovered by his wife in his computer's "recycle bin
". His wife lodged a police report. Chia insisted that his maid had agreed to pose for the photos and that he did not force her to do so. He noted that he had an interest in nude photography, and even showed the press nude photos that he had taken of himself (with his back to the camera) to prove this. Police investigations found no evidence that an offence had been committed.
In 2006, Chia was fined following an incident when he drove a car through a red light, causing a crash with a bus.
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...
. He is the former Secretary-General
Secretary-General
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
and current Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of the opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
National Solidarity Party (NSP). He served as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament
Non-Constituency Members of Parliament are members of the opposition parties who are appointed as members of the Parliament of Singapore even though they had lost in the parliamentary election....
(NCMP) from 2001 to 2006, during which time the NSP was part of the Singapore Democratic Alliance
Singapore Democratic Alliance
The Singapore Democratic Alliance is an alliance of political parties in Singapore. The SDA was formed shortly before the 2001 general election to provide a common grouping under which different opposition parties could stand as a united front in elections against the ruling People's Action Party...
(SDA).
Biography
In 1985, at the age of 15, Chia was sentenced to two years' probationProbation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
by a juvenile court
Juvenile court
A juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
following an incident where he and group of other boys broke into a school and committed vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
. In his book Called to Serve, Chia notes that the incident left him determined to turn his life around. He went on to graduate from Nanyang Junior College
Nanyang Junior College
Nanyang Junior College is a junior college which is part of the education system in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to the GCE 'A' Level examinations....
in 1988.
During his national service
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
, Chia became an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
despite the discovery of an inborn heart defect late in his officer cadet training which resulted in him being put on light duties for the final two months of the course. His commanders were nevertheless impressed by his performance and wrote in to appeal for him to be commissioned as an officer. The appeal was approved, and he became the only person to have graduated from the Officer Cadet Course without taking the senior term Individual Physical Proficiency Test
Individual physical proficiency test
The Individual Physical Proficiency Test is a test of physical fitness used by the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force to determine the level of fitness of their members....
(IPPT) and Standard Obstacle Course.
Chia then became a student at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
(NUS), where he read Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1994. He was active in student politics during his time at NUS, and was elected the President of the National University of Singapore Students' Union (NUSSU) in 1993.
Political career
Chia first took an interest in national politics during a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency
Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central, eastern and north-eastern areas of Singapore. The constituency consists of a section of Bedok, Chai Chee, Geylang, Kaki Bukit, Kallang, Kembangan, Marine Parade, Mountbatten,...
in 1992, when he attended one of the National Solidarity Party's campaign rallies. (He had intended to attend a rally 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...
, for whom Chia's Psychology lecturer Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan
Chee Soon Juan, PhD is a politician and political activist from Singapore. He is currently the leader of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party ....
was standing as a candidate, but he went to the wrong location and ended up at the NSP's rally instead.)
After graduating from NUS in 1995, Chia joined the NSP. At the 1997 general election, he was a member of the party's teams in the Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency was a five-member Group Representation Constituency located in the western area of Singapore. The constituency covered the areas of Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Upper Bukit Timah, Jurong West and Lim Chu Kang...
, and was defeated by the team from the 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) by 36,920 votes (31%) to 82,182 (69%).
Prior to the 2001 general election, the National Solidarity Party joined the Singapore Democratic Alliance.
Chia stood as the SDA's candidate in the single-member constituency of Chua Chu Kang
Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency
Chua Chu Kang Single Member Constituency is a defunct Single Member Constituency located in the western region of Singapore. The constituency encompasses Choa Chu Kang New Town...
at the 2001 general election. During the election campaign, Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
unexpectedly praised Chia, noting that he appeared to be more professional than many of the other opposition candidates. (Goh later claimed that he did so because he was confident that the PAP candidate in Chua Chu Kang would win, but wanted to help Chia claim and a Non-constituency MP's seat. In his book Called to Serve, Chia speculates that Goh did this because he remembered Chia from discussions they had had in 1993 about the establishment of the NUS Students' Trust Fund.) Chia was defeated by the PAP's Low Seow Chay by 8,143 votes (34.66%) to 14,489 (65.34%). As this was the highest percentage of the vote garnered by any opposition losing candidate at the election, Chia therefore became a Non-constituency MP.
At the 2006 general election, Chia improved his percentage of the vote in Chua Chu Kang, but still lost to the PAP's Gan Kim Yong
Gan Kim Yong
Gan Kim Yong is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Health.-Education and early career:...
by 9,292 votes (39.63%) to 14,156 (60.37%). This was not enough to enable him to hold on to his NCMP seat as the team from the Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Singapore
The Workers' Party of Singapore is a centre-left opposition political party in Singapore. The party currently has six elected seats in Parliament, with the party's Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang, Chairman Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh serving as Members of...
in the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
won 43.91% of the votes. (The Workers' Party's Sylvia Lim became the next NCMP.)
Chia contested a fourth time in the 2011 general election in a newly carved out district Pioneer Single Member Constituency
Pioneer Single Member Constituency
Pioneer Single Member Constituency is a Single-Member Constituency in the Western Part of Singapore...
(Pioneer SMC) against Cedric Foo of the 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....
who was already the MP for the district when it was part of the West Coast GRC. He however fell short again winning just 39.27% of the votes.
Controversies
In 2003, while Chia was an NCMP, he was involved in a scandal when topless photos of a maidMaid
A maidservant or in current usage housemaid or maid is a female employed in domestic service.-Description:Once part of an elaborate hierarchy in great houses, today a single maid may be the only domestic worker that upper and even middle-income households can afford, as was historically the case...
who worked in his home were discovered by his wife in his computer's "recycle bin
Recycle bin (computing)
In computing, the trash is temporary storage for files that have been deleted in a file manager by the user, but not yet permanently erased from the physical media...
". His wife lodged a police report. Chia insisted that his maid had agreed to pose for the photos and that he did not force her to do so. He noted that he had an interest in nude photography, and even showed the press nude photos that he had taken of himself (with his back to the camera) to prove this. Police investigations found no evidence that an offence had been committed.
In 2006, Chia was fined following an incident when he drove a car through a red light, causing a crash with a bus.
External Links
- Page at NSP website
- Called to Serve - A compilation of Parliamentary Speeches & Questions (10th Singapore Parliament, 2002-2006) by NCMP Steve Chia Autobiography about himself and 10th Singapore Parliament.
- Steve Chia's campaign website for Pioneer SMC