Yeoh Ghim Seng

Yeoh Ghim Seng (22 June 1918 – 3 June 1993) was a Singaporean politician who served as Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore between 1970 and 1988.

Yeoh was one of the longest-serving speakers of any parliament in the world. Yeoh served briefly as the acting president of Singapore between the death of Yusof Ishak on 23 November 1970 and the inauguration of President Benjamin Sheares on 2 January 1971.

Early life and education Yeoh was born on 22 June 1918 in Ipoh. He received his early education at St. Michael's Institution and at Penang Free School. Yeoh studied medicine at the Cambridge University, England in the 1940s and was attached to hospitals in England. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1950.

In 1968, Yeoh was appointed deputy speaker and elected speaker two years later. Yeoh became the acting President, per the duties of the speaker, the following day.

In 1977, Minister of law, environment, science and technology, E. W. Barker, congratulating him on his re-election to yet another term as speaker, said that if not for Yeoh's commitment to surgery, he "could with ease and distinction occupy one of the front benches on this side of the House".

In 1977, he also became the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization's (AIPO) first president.

Yeoh retired from politics in 1988.

Yeoh died on 3 June 1993 of lung cancer at the Singapore General Hospital. He had five daughters and 15 grandchildren.