Lee Boon Yang
Lee Boon Yang (simplified Chinese: 李文献; traditional Chinese: 李文獻; pinyin: Lǐ Wén Xiàn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lí Bûn-hiàn; born 1 October 1947) is a Singaporean business executive and a former politician and veterinarian. He is the current chairman of Keppel Corporation and Singapore Press Holdings. Lee served in the Cabinet of Singapore from July 1991 to April 2009 in various portfolios, including Minister for Defence, Minister for Manpower, and Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Jalan Besar GRC from 1984 to 2011, representing the governing People's Action Party (PAP). He left politics in 2011.
Lee Boon Yang | |
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李文献 | |
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office | |
In office 1 July 1991 – 2 January 1992 | |
Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
Minister for Manpower | |
In office 2 January 1992 – 12 May 2003 | |
Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
Preceded by | Lee Yock Suan |
Succeeded by | Ng Eng Hen |
Minister for Defence | |
In office 2 July 1994 – 1 August 1995 | |
Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong |
Preceded by | Yeo Ning Hong |
Succeeded by | Tony Tan Keng Yam |
Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts | |
In office 12 May 2003 – 1 April 2009 | |
Prime Minister | Goh Chok Tong Lee Hsien Loong |
Preceded by | David Lim Tik En |
Succeeded by | Lui Tuck Yew |
Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Jalan Besar) | |
In office 1988 – 18 April 2011 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Singapore | 1 October 1947
Political party | People's Action Party(1984-2015) |
Spouse(s) | Yap Mee Mee |
Relations | Lee Boon Wang (brother) Chua Mia Tee (brother-in-law) |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | University of Queensland |
Career
Lee Boon Yang began his career as a veterinary surgeon. He worked as a research and development officer in the Singapore government's Primary Production Department from 1972 to 1981. From 1981 to 1984, Dr. Lee worked at US Feed Grains Council as Assistant Regional Director and later as Senior Project Manager for Primary Industries Enterprise.[1]
Political career
Lee was first elected to the Singapore Parliament in 1984. He was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary in 1985, and went on to hold positions in the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Communications and Information, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Home Affairs.
Lee was brought into the Cabinet in 1991 as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. He was made Minister for Labour in 1992 (the role was renamed Minister for Manpower in 1998), and held this post until 2003. He also served concurrently as Minister for Defence from 1994-5. He became Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts in 2003 and served in that post until 2009.
Lee retired from the Cabinet on 1 April 2009. He remained a Member of Parliament for the Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency (Jalan Besar GRC) until his retirement from politics in 2011.
Post-political career
Lee was appointed as the chairman of the board of Keppel Corporation in 2009, after leaving his cabinet position.[2] He is also the chairman of Singapore Press Holdings, taking over from former president Tony Tan since 23 June 2011.[3]
Keppel Bribery Scandal
On 6 January 2018, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) issued a strongly worded statement for Lee Boon Yang and his entire board of directors to resign over dereliction of its duty to oversee the company's executives, resulting in the largest bribery case in Singapore's history going undetected. However, after investigations, Lee Boon Yang was found not responsible. The Board of Directors is not responsible for the day to day operations of the company.
Personal life
Lee was awarded a Colombo Plan scholarship and studied veterinary science at University of Queensland (UQ).[4] He graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 1971. In 2015, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by UQ.[4] He is younger brother of Lee Boon Wang, a landscape painter and Lee Boon Ngan, who married the painter Chua Mia Tee.[5] He is married to Yam Mee Mee and has a daughter.[6]
References
- "Dr Lee Boon Yang to helm SPH Board".
- "Keppel Corporation - Dr Lee Boon Yang". Keppel Corporation. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- "About SPH - SPH Corporate Profile". SPH. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- "UQ alumnus awarded honorary doctorate". alumni.uq.edu.au. 1 Jan 2015. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
- hermes (2016-05-10). "Cancer-stricken artist Lee Boon Wang misses show opening". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
- https://www.finanznachrichten.de/pdf/20090424_172943_BN4_52496AA7AD39C651482575A20033C0CF.1.pdf
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Lee Yock Suan as Minister for Labour |
Minister for Labour 2 January 1992 – 31 March 1998 |
Succeeded by Ng Eng Hen as Acting Minister for Manpower |
Minister for Manpower 1 April 1998 – 12 May 2003 | ||
Preceded by Yeo Ning Hong |
Minister for Defence 2 July 1994 – 1 August 1995 |
Succeeded by Tony Tan Keng Yam |
Preceded by David Lim Tik En |
Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts 12 May 2003 – 1 April 2009 |
Succeeded by Lui Tuck Yew |