Yaw Shin Leong

Yaw Shin Leong (; 2 June 1976 – 10 November 2023) was a Singaporean businessman and politician. A former member of the Workers' Party (WP), he was the Member of Parliament for Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 2011 and 2012. He was succeeded by Png Eng Huat.

Early life Yaw's father died when he was 13. His widowed mother then scrimped and saved to bring up both his younger sister and himself, and support them through tertiary education.

Yaw served as a medic with the Singapore Armed Forces.

Education Yaw had his secondary and pre-university education in Bukit Panjang Government High School and Jurong Junior College. He held a Bachelor of Arts (BA, Merit) degree in Political Science & Sociology from National University of Singapore. He also held a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Western Sydney.

Career Yaw joined the WP in June 2001 and joined the Central Executive Committee (CEC) at some point in time. He remained in the CEC until 7 February 2012, when he suddenly resigned from the post of Treasurer.

In the 2006 general election, Yaw led the WP team contesting Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which was anchored by then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Made up largely of young, first-time candidates under the age of 35, the team was dubbed the "suicide squad" by the media, and then-chair of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Lim Boon Heng, predicted that the PAP team would win 80 to 85% of the votes, putting the WP at risk of losing their Ang Mo Kio deposit. However, Yaw's team managed to secure more than one-third of the votes.

Appointments under WP Member (Jun 2001 – Feb 2012) Legislative Assistant (LA), Low Thia Khiang's MP Office (2001–2005) Town Councillor, Hougang Town Council (HGTC) (2001–2005) Secretary, Hougang Constituency Committee (HGCC) (2001–2005) Secretary, GRC Area Committee (2003–2005) Secretary, Northern Area Committee (NAC) (2005–2006) Co-Secretary, Eastern Area Committee (EAC) (2005–2006) Deputy Organising Secretary, CEC (2002–2005) Chairman, Youth Action Committee (YAC) (2001–2005) Exco Member, WP Youth Wing (WPYW) (2005–2006) Webmaster (2001–2004) Organising Secretary, CEC (2006 – 6 June 2011) Chairman, Central Area Committee (CAC) (2006–2011) Treasurer, CEC (7 June 2011 – 7 February 2012) Chairman, HGCC (2011–2012) Vice-chairman, Aljunied–Hougang Town Council (AHTC) (2011–2012) Vice-chairman, Hougang Constituency Education Trust (HCET) (2011–2012)

Expulsion from party

In January 2012, news of a rumoured extramarital affair with a fellow member of the Workers' Party broke out. Yaw said he did not intend to respond to the rumours. A married Chinese woman also claimed to have had an affair with Yaw.

After Yaw's resignation of his treasurer post, netizens queried and speculated on the reason for his resignation.

On 15 February 2012, the WP announced that Yaw had been expelled with immediate effect, citing "several indiscretions in his private life" as grounds for expulsion. The CEC invited Yaw to explain himself several times, but he failed to attend the meetings. He was admonished for "[breaking] the faith, trust and expectations of the Party and People".

On 22 February 2012, Yaw emailed the then-Speaker of Parliament, Michael Palmer, to say that he would not be contesting his expulsion. As a result, his seat was deemed vacant from the date of his expulsion on 14 February 2012.

Yaw resided in Myanmar from late 2016 after he was expelled by the Workers' Party.

Career outside of politics Yaw founded and managed an enrichment programme development firm, Eduhearts Consultancy from 2005 to 2012.

Death Yaw died on 10 November 2023 when he collapsed while having his morning jog in Beijing.