Yong Nyuk Lin

Yong Nyuk Lin (24 June 1918 – 29 June 2012) was a Singaporean politician who served as the Minister for Communications between 1968 and 1975, Minister for Health between 1963 and 1968, and Minister for Education between 1959 and 1963.

A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Geylang West Constituency between 1959 and 1979. Yong also served as Singapore's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 1975 and 1977.

Early life and education Yong was born on 24 June 1918 in Seremban, Negri Sembilan and studied in Singapore at Raffles College, graduating with a degree in Science.

He worked as a science teacher before switching to insurance, where he joined Overseas Assurance Company in 1941. He served as the general manager of Overseas Assurance Company for 18 years before he resigned to stand for the 1959 general election in Singapore.

Political career

MP for Geylang West SMC (1959–1979) At the 1959 general election, he contested for Member of Parliament (MP) for Geylang West Single Member Constituency (SMC) against Kwek Sam Hock from Singapore People's Alliance. He was elected with 67.60% of the vote.

In the 1963 general election, Yong contested as MP for Geylang West SMC again, against Un Hon Kun from Barisan Sosialis, Kum Teng Hock from United People's Party, and Mohd. bin Haji Ya'acob from Singapore Alliance Party. He was elected with 43.635% of the vote.

In the 1968 general election, he contested for MP for Geylang West SMC again and was elected unopposed in a walkover. In the next election, he contested for Geylang West SMC again against Quek Doh Lam of Workers' Party, Yong was elected with 69.28% of the vote.

In the 1976 general election, Yong contested for MP of Geylang West SMC again, against Lim Tiong Hock from United Front. He was elected with 71.18% of the vote.

Minister for Education (1959–1963) While he served as Minister for Education, he planned to overhaul Singapore's education system, introducing a unified education programme and making Malay the national language.

In 1959, Yong proposed building larger indoor sports halls with higher ceilings, suitable for playing badminton, as current indoor sports halls were about 25 feet.

He was also an advocate for education, stating that, "The past is history and heritage of the world. Education is a key to that treasury. The drain-sweeper is entitled to hold that key, and I am to see that he gets it."

In 1960, Yong proposed an idea of post-primary, where students who fail their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) would take two more years of primary school before joining a normal secondary school. He also had plans for schools in the future to be multi-leveled, wanting schools to have 4 levels as the standard.

Minister for Health (1963–1968) In 1963, Yong became the Minister for Health following a cabinet reshuffle. In 1964, he announced the expansion of Thomson Road Hospital (now known as Toa Payoh Hospital). Yong had also stated plans to employ more doctors to help ease congestion in hospitals.

He opened the completed extension to Thomson Road Hospital in 1965. In 1966, Yong introduced a scheme at hospitals for victims of factory or traffic accidents to help pay for most of their expenses.

In 1967, he stated plans to halve Singapore's birthrate from 30 per thousand to 15 per thousand by 1970, by the time the five-year family planning programme, launched last year, ends.

Minister for Communications (1968–1975) In 1968, while he served as the Minister for Communications, he proposed the idea of converting military bases for commercial use. In 1970, Yong announced the expansion and development of Singapore Airport (now known as Changi Airport) over the next ten years. He also introduced the Area Licensing Scheme, which imposed tolls on motorists.

He retired in 1979 and worked as a director at Singapore Land Ltd.

Personal life In 1990, Yong received the 50x50px Order of Nila Utama on National Day. His wife, Kwa Geok Lan, was the sister to lawyer Kwa Geok Choo making him the brother-in-law to the first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Death Yong died on 29 June 2012 at 94.