Teo Chee Hean
Encyclopedia
Teo Chee Hean is a politician
from Singapore
. A member of the governing People's Action Party
(PAP), he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs
and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security
, and a Member of Parliament
(MP) for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency
(GRC).
Teo has previously served as Singapore's Minister for Defence (2003-11), Minister for Education
(1997-2003) and Minister for the Environment (1996-97). Prior to entering politics, he was a Rear Admiral
in the Republic of Singapore Navy
, and served as Singapore's Chief of Navy from 1991-92.
. He enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) in 1972 and received his commission as a naval officer at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute
in 1973. He was awarded the President's Scholar
ship and the SAF Scholarship in 1973 to study Electrical Engineering and Management Science at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
(First Class Honours) degree in 1976. He continued with his studies at Imperial College London
, obtaining a Master of Science
degree (with distinction) in Computing Science in 1977.
in 1986, where he graduated with a Master of Public Administration
degree and was named a Littauer
Fellow.
Teo assumed command of the Republic of Singapore Navy as Chief of Navy in 1991 and was promoted to the rank of Commodore (later re-designated to Rear Admiral) in July 1991.
On 7 December 1992, Teo left the Navy to seek election into Parliament.
in the Marine Parade by-election on 19 December 1992.
Following his election, Teo served as a Minister of State in the Ministries of Finance, Communications and Defence.
In April 1995, Teo was appointed the Acting Minister for the Environment and Senior Minister of State for Defence. In January 1996, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Second Minister for Defence.
At the 1997 general election, Teo was elected as an MP for tPasir Ris GRC
. In the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed the Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence.
At the 2001 general election, Teo was elected as an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and re-appointed as Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence. On 1 August 2003, he was appointed Minister for Defence and Minister in charge of the Singapore Civil Service.
At the 2006 general election, Teo was re-elected as an MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC. He led the team six-member PAP team to victory in the constituency with 68.7% of the votes.
On 26 March 2009, Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong
appointed Teo as one of two Deputy Prime Ministers with effect from 1 April 2009. He held this appointment alongside his roles of Minister for Defence and Minister in charge of the Civil Service.
At the 2011 general election, Teo led the PAP team in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC to victory with 64.79% of the votes.
On 18 May 2011, Teo was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security. He also remains a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Singapore Civil Service.
Currently, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is away from Singapore, Teo serves as Singapore's Acting Prime Minister.
Within the PAP, Teo is the First Assistant Secretary General on the party's Central Executive Committee
.
, on a part-time basis. They have a son and a daughter.
Teo's father Teo Cheng Guan was the Chairman of OCBC from 1989 to 1991. His great-granduncle Teo Eng Hock was a rubber magnate who lent Dr Sun Yat-Sen
the use of his villa (now known as Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
) as the Singapore branch of the Tong Meng Hui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance).
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 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), he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Home Affairs (Singapore)
The Minister for Home Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore. Formed in 1970, it replaced the post of Minister for the Interior and Defence with the split of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence into the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs....
and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security
Co-ordinating Minister for National Security
Co-ordinating Minister for National Security is an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore, currently held by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean....
, and a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency
Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency
Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The constituency consists of Pasir Ris town, Punggol town, a small northern part of Hougang, and Compassvale, in central Sengkang...
(GRC).
Teo has previously served as Singapore's Minister for Defence (2003-11), Minister for 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:...
(1997-2003) and Minister for the Environment (1996-97). Prior to entering politics, he was a Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
, and served as Singapore's Chief of Navy from 1991-92.
Early life
Teo was educated at Saint Michael's School and Saint Joseph's InstitutionSaint Joseph's Institution
Saint Joseph's Institution is a Catholic secondary school for male students in Singapore. It was founded in 1852 as "Saint John's Institution", and is the third oldest educational institution in Singapore .SJI provides an education to boys of all races and...
. He enlisted 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...
(SAF) in 1972 and received his commission as a naval officer at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute
SAFTI Military Institute
The SAFTI Military Institute is a tri-service military training institution for officers of all ranks of the Singapore Armed Forces . Located within an 88 hectare campus in Jurong West, it was officially opened by the then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong on 25 August 1995...
in 1973. He was awarded the President's Scholar
President's Scholar
A President's Scholar is a recipient of the most prestigious class of university undergraduate scholarships awarded to Singapore citizens by the Government of Singapore. In most years, only 2-4 President's Scholarships are awarded...
ship and the SAF Scholarship in 1973 to study Electrical Engineering and Management Science at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(First Class Honours) degree in 1976. He continued with his studies at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, obtaining a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree (with distinction) in Computing Science in 1977.
Naval career
Teo held various command and staff appointments in the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Joint Staff. He pursued postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1986, where he graduated with a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
degree and was named a Littauer
Lucius N. Littauer
-External links:...
Fellow.
Teo assumed command of the Republic of Singapore Navy as Chief of Navy in 1991 and was promoted to the rank of Commodore (later re-designated to Rear Admiral) in July 1991.
On 7 December 1992, Teo left the Navy to seek election into Parliament.
Political career
Teo was elected as an MP for Marine Parade GRCMarine 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 the Marine Parade by-election on 19 December 1992.
Following his election, Teo served as a Minister of State in the Ministries of Finance, Communications and Defence.
In April 1995, Teo was appointed the Acting Minister for the Environment and Senior Minister of State for Defence. In January 1996, he was appointed Minister for the Environment and Second Minister for Defence.
At the 1997 general election, Teo was elected as an MP for tPasir Ris GRC
Pasir Ris Group Representation Constituency
Pasir Ris Group Representation Constituency is a former four member Group Representation Constituency that locates in the eastern part of Singapore at Pasir Ris...
. In the subsequent Cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed the Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence.
At the 2001 general election, Teo was elected as an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and re-appointed as Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence. On 1 August 2003, he was appointed Minister for Defence and Minister in charge of the Singapore Civil Service.
At the 2006 general election, Teo was re-elected as an MP for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC. He led the team six-member PAP team to victory in the constituency with 68.7% of the votes.
On 26 March 2009, 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...
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
appointed Teo as one of two Deputy Prime Ministers with effect from 1 April 2009. He held this appointment alongside his roles of Minister for Defence and Minister in charge of the Civil Service.
At the 2011 general election, Teo led the PAP team in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC to victory with 64.79% of the votes.
On 18 May 2011, Teo was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security. He also remains a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Singapore Civil Service.
Currently, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is away from Singapore, Teo serves as Singapore's Acting Prime Minister.
Within the PAP, Teo is the First Assistant Secretary General on the party's Central Executive Committee
Central Executive Committee (PAP)
The Central Executive Committee is the highest ruling committee within Singapore's People's Action Party and its "inner circle".-History:...
.
Involvement in the Singapore sports scene
Teo serves in leadership and advisory roles in several sports organisations in Singapore. He is the President of the Singapore National Olympic Council. He is also the advisor to the Singapore Dragon Boat Association.Family
Teo is married to Chew Poh Yim. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biochemistry from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (1977). She is the director of a business consultancy and teaches Marketing Management at the Nanyang School of Business, Nanyang PolytechnicNanyang Polytechnic
Nanyang Polytechnic is a Singaporean polytechnic located in Ang Mo Kio next to Yio Chu Kang MRT Station, Singapore.-History:*Established 1 April 1992...
, on a part-time basis. They have a son and a daughter.
Teo's father Teo Cheng Guan was the Chairman of OCBC from 1989 to 1991. His great-granduncle Teo Eng Hock was a rubber magnate who lent Dr Sun Yat-Sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
the use of his villa (now known as Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Not to be confused with Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall . The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is a double-storey colonial villa at Balestier in Singapore...
) as the Singapore branch of the Tong Meng Hui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance).