Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong AC (Chinese: 吴作栋; pinyin: Wú Zuòdòng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Chok-tòng; born 20 May 1941) is a Singaporean former politician who served as the second Prime Minister of Singapore from 1990 to 2004, and Secretary-General of the People's Action Party from 1992 to 2004. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade SMC from 1976 to 1988, and Marine Parade GRC from 1988 to 2020.
The Honourable Goh Chok Tong SPMJ AC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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吴作栋 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Goh in 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd Prime Minister of Singapore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 November 1990 – 12 August 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Wee Kim Wee Ong Teng Cheong S. R. Nathan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Ong Teng Cheong Lee Hsien Loong Tony Tan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lee Kuan Yew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary-General of the People's Action Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 November 1992 – 6 November 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Ong Teng Cheong Tony Tan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Lee Kuan Yew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Lee Hsien Loong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament for Marine Parade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 23 December 1976 – 23 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Constituency established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Tan See Leng (PAP) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Marine Parade SMC (1976–1988) Marine Parade GRC (1988–2020) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Goh Chok Tong 20 May 1941 Singapore, Straits Settlements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | People's Action Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Tan Choo Leng (m. 1965) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Singapore (BA) Williams College (MA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 吳作棟 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 吴作栋 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prior to his appointment as prime minister, he was the country's deputy prime minister, where he advocated for the Medisave, a scheme that allows Singaporeans to set aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future medical expenses. Goh also advocated for the Edusave Awards, a monetary reward for students who did well in school based on either their academic achievements or character, to enshrine meritocracy.
During his tenure as prime minister, political reforms like the introduction of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP), to allow more oppositions into Parliament, Group Representation Constituency (GRC), to make sure that the minorities are represented in Parliament and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), to have independent opinions in Parliament since all NMPs are non-partisan, were also proposed by Goh when he was serving as Deputy Prime Minister after assuming the responsibility of the government in a carefully managed leadership transition. Goh enacted the Elected President scheme in 1991 as presidents before were appointed by Parliament. He also introduced the Vehicle Quota Scheme to limit the number of vehicles in the city-state.
On 12 August 2004, Goh was succeeded by Lee Hsien Loong, the eldest son of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and was subsequently appointed as a senior minister in the Cabinet and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) between 2004 and 2011.
He resigned from the Cabinet in 2011 before stepping down as a Member of Parliament (MP) and retired from politics in 2020. He was given the honorary title Emeritus Senior Minister in 2011 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.