Charles Chong
Charles Chong You Fook (Chinese: 张有福; pinyin: Zhāng Yǒufú; born 24 June 1953) is a former Singaporean politician. Chong retired as Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and MP for Punggol East SMC following his retirement from politics after 32 years on 23 June 2020.
Charles Chong You Fook | |
|---|---|
张有福 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Acting | |
| In office 7 August 2017 – 11 September 2017 | |
| President | Tony Tan Keng Yam |
| Preceded by | Halimah Yacob (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Tan Chuan-Jin (PAP)[1] |
| Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore | |
| In office 17 October 2011 – 23 June 2020 | |
| President | Tony Tan Keng Yam (2011-2017) Halimah Yacob (2017-present) |
| Speaker | Halimah Yacob (2013-2017) Tan Chuan-Jin (2017-present) |
| Preceded by | Indranee Rajah (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Christopher de Souza (PAP) Jessica Tan (PAP) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Punggol East SMC | |
| In office 11 September 2015 – 23 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Li Lian (WP) |
| Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
| Majority | 1,156 (3.52%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Joo Chiat SMC | |
| In office 7 May 2011 – 25 August 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Chan Soo Sen (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Edwin Tong (Marine Parade GRC - Joo Chiat Division) (PAP) |
| Majority | 388 (2.02%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC (Punggol Central) | |
| In office 25 October 2001 – 19 April 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Lim Chun Leng (Cheng San GRC: Punggol Central) (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Teo Ser Luck (PAP) |
| Majority | 61,704 (37.40%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Pasir Ris GRC (Pasir Ris Elias) | |
| In office 2 January 1997 – 18 October 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Teo Chee Hean (Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC-Pasir Ris West) (PAP) |
| Majority | 33,503 (41.80%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Eunos GRC (Pasir Ris) | |
| In office 31 August 1991 – 16 December 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Teo Choong Tee(Changi SMC) (PAP) |
| Succeeded by | Teo Chee Hean(Pasir Ris GRC-Pasir Ris Central) (PAP) |
| Majority | 4,160 (4.76%) |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Sembawang GRC (Nee Soon East) | |
| In office 3 September 1988 – 14 August 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Seat created |
| Succeeded by | Ho Peng Kee (PAP) |
| Majority | 20,718 (40.20%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1953 |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Political party | People's Action Party (1988) |
| Education | Sydney Technical College |
A former member of the country's governing People's Action Party (PAP), Chong was a Member of Parliament representing Punggol East Single Member Constituency (SMC), and was the Acting Speaker of Parliament for a month, following the resignation of former Speaker Halimah Yacob on 7 August 2017. He was previously Chairman of the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) Council, which governs the NPCC and National Civil Defence Cadet Corps.
Political career
Chong represented Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in Yishun East from 1988 to 1991, Eunos GRC between 1991 and 1996 in Pasir Ris, Pasir Ris GRC in Elias from 1997 to 2001, Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC in Punggol Central from 2001 to 2011, Joo Chiat Single Member Constituency (SMC) from 2011 to 2015, and Punggol East SMC from 2015 to 2020.
In the 2006 general elections, the PAP contested Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC against the Singapore Democratic Alliance. The PAP won with 68.70% of the votes in this GRC. In the 2001 general elections, the GRC was not contested and resulted in a walkover for Chong and his party in this GRC.
Chong contested the Joo Chiat SMC in the 2011 general elections after its incumbent MP, Chan Soo Sen, retired from politics.[2] He won 9,666 or 51.02% of the votes against Yee Jenn Jong from the Workers' Party. Chong was elected Deputy Speaker in the 12th Parliament.
In the 2015 general elections, the PAP fielded Chong in the opposition-held Punggol East SMC and unseated the incumbent Lee Li Lian of the Workers' Party with 51.76% of the vote. His victory was brought into question by Workers' Party Png Eng Huat because Chong had made a wild accusation against the Punggol East Town Council of missing funds worth $22.5 million just two days before polling day, it left the Workers' Party unable to respond in time due to the Cooling-off day restrictions of the Election Department.[3]
In Dec 2016, Chong announced he was diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis three years ago and had a liver transplant on 1 Dec 2016, which his younger son Glenn, donated part of his liver. He was given 8 weeks Medical Leave and his duty was covered by Teo Chee Hean during his absence.[4]
On 11 January 2018, Chong was appointed chairman of the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods.[5] His appointment attracted controversy as he is accused of spreading falsehood during the 2015 general election by insinuating that Punggol East SMC ran into financial troubles after the Workers' Party took over from PAP in 2013.[6]
He is the longest serving PAP back-bencher in Parliament and served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Singapore, as well as Acting Speaker when Halimah Yacob quit Parliament to stand for elected presidency.
Chong announced his retirement from politics on 27 June 2020.[7]
Personal life
Charles Cho received his primary education in St. Michael's School and secondary education at Saint Joseph's Institution. He studied othopedic surgeon at UC San Diego.
Chong is married and has two children. He is a Roman Catholic.
References
- Chia, Lianne (11 September 2017). "Tan Chuan-Jin becomes Singapore's 10th Speaker of Parliament".
- Choo, Evelyn (27 March 2011). "GE: Charles Chong to stand in Joo Chiat SMC". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- Stolarchuk, Jewel (18 February 2018). "Where is the unaccounted $22.5 million town council funds? Hougang MP challenges Charles Chong – The Independent News". The Independent SG.
- Au-Yong, Rachel (21 December 2016). "Punggol East MP Charles Chong recovering from liver transplant; son donated part of his liver".
- Yuen, Sin (11 January 2018). "Select Committee on fake news named; includes two ministers, WP's Pritam Singh". The Straits Times.
- Xu, Terry (17 January 2018). "Charles Chong's million-dollar surplus claim in General Election 2015". The Online Citizen.
- Sholihyn, Ilyas (27 June 2020). "Longest-serving PAP backbencher Charles Chong to retire". Asiaone. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
External links
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