Tan Siew Sin
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Tun
Tan Siew Sin was Malaya
's (later Malaysia's) first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years, and president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA, later Malaysian Chinese Association
).
, Tan Siew Sin was born on 21 May 1916 in Malacca
and educated at Malacca High School in Malacca
and then at Raffles College in Singapore
. Before then, he went to a Girls School which his father decided to, that is Suydaim Girls School which is now the Methodist High School
.
In 1935, he felt ill and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis
. He fully recovered after an operation in Switzerland
for treatment. Three years later, he moved on to his higher education in the field of law in England
and graduated with First Class Honour at the Middle Temple
, one of the four inns of court
in London
.
Tan Siew Sin took over as president of the MCA in November 1961, and became Minister of Finance from 1959-1974 . He held on to both positions until retiring for health reasons on 8 April 1974. After resignation he became an advisor to the government on economic issues.
.
His widow, Catherine Lim Cheng Neo, whom he married on February 8, 1947 was an active campaigner for family planning
. They had three daughters.
In Kuala Lumpur, there is a street, Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin (formerly Jalan Silang) which was renamed after him in 2003.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Tan Siew Sin was Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
's (later Malaysia's) first Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister for 15 years, and president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA, later Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
).
Early life
The only son of Malaysian statesman and MCA founder Tan Cheng LockTan Cheng Lock
Tun Dato Sri Sir Cheng-lock Tan, DPMJ, KBE was a Malaysian Chinese businessman and a key public figure who devoted his life to fighting for the rights and the social welfare of the Chinese community in Malaya...
, Tan Siew Sin was born on 21 May 1916 in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
and educated at Malacca High School in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
and then at Raffles College in 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...
. Before then, he went to a Girls School which his father decided to, that is Suydaim Girls School which is now the Methodist High School
Methodist High School
Methodist High School was established in Kanpur, India in 1874 as the Girls' High School by the American Missionary Educationist Isabella Thoburn, as a sister school with Isabella Thoburn College of Lucknow.-History:...
.
In 1935, he felt ill and was diagnosed as having tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He fully recovered after an operation in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for treatment. Three years later, he moved on to his higher education in the field of law in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and graduated with First Class Honour at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, one of the four inns of court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Tan Siew Sin took over as president of the MCA in November 1961, and became Minister of Finance from 1959-1974 . He held on to both positions until retiring for health reasons on 8 April 1974. After resignation he became an advisor to the government on economic issues.
Deaths
Tan Siew Sin died on 17 March 1988 in Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
His widow, Catherine Lim Cheng Neo, whom he married on February 8, 1947 was an active campaigner for family planning
Family planning
Family planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
. They had three daughters.
In Kuala Lumpur, there is a street, Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin (formerly Jalan Silang) which was renamed after him in 2003.