Koh Poh Koon
Koh Poh Koon (Chinese: 许宝琨; pinyin: Xú Bǎokūn; born 1972) is a Singaporean politician and former colorectal surgeon who has been serving as Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment since 2022 and Senior Minister of State for Manpower since 2021. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Tampines Central division of Tampines GRC since 2020.
The Honourable Koh Poh Koon | |
|---|---|
| 许宝琨 | |
| Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment | |
| Assumed office 13 June 2022 Serving with Amy Khor | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Grace Fu |
| Senior Minister of State for Manpower | |
| Assumed office 15 May 2021 Serving with Zaqy Mohamad | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Tan See Leng |
| Senior Minister of State for Health | |
| In office 27 July 2020 – 12 June 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Gan Kim Yong (2011–2021) Ong Ye Kung (2021–present) |
| Preceded by | Lam Pin Min (2017–2020) Amy Khor (2017–2020) Edwin Tong (2018–2020) |
| Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 1 May 2017 – 26 July 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lim Hng Kiang (2004–2018) S. Iswaran (2015–2018) Chan Chun Sing (2018–2021) |
| Senior Minister of State for National Development | |
| In office 1 May 2017 – 30 April 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lawrence Wong |
| Second Minister | Desmond Lee |
| Preceded by | Desmond Lee |
| Minister of State for Trade and Industry | |
| In office 1 January 2016 – 30 April 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lim Hng Kiang S. Iswaran |
| Minister of State for National Development | |
| In office 1 January 2016 – 30 April 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Hsien Loong |
| Minister | Lawrence Wong |
| Preceded by | Desmond Lee |
| Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress | |
| In office 22 May 2018 – 14 May 2021 | |
| Secretary-General | Ng Chee Meng |
| Succeeded by | Chee Hong Tat |
| Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC (Tampines Central) | |
| Assumed office 10 July 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Heng Swee Keat |
| Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC (Yio Chu Kang) | |
| In office 11 September 2015 – 23 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Seng Han Thong |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1972 (age 51–52) Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | National University of Singapore (MBBS, MMed) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Colorectal surgeon |
Prior to entering politics, Koh was a colorectal surgeon and medical researcher. He made his political debut in the 2013 by-elections as a PAP candidate contesting in Punggol East SMC against candidates from three other opposition parties, garnering 43.37% of the vote and losing to the Workers' Party's Lee Li Lian, who won 54.5% of the vote.
In the 2015 general election, Koh contested in Ang Mo Kio GRC as part of a six-member PAP team and won with 78.64% of the vote. Koh was elected as the Member of Parliament representing the Yio Chu Kang ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC. In the 2020 general election, he joined the PAP team contesting in Tampines GRC and won with 66.41% of the vote.
Koh had served as Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Minister of State for National Development concurrently between 2016 and 2017 and later Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry between 2017 and 2020 and Senior Minister of State for National Development between 2017 and 2018.
He also served as Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) between 2018 and 2021.