Sidek bin Saniff

Sidek bin Saniff (born 18 April 1938[1]) is a former Singaporean politician and activist. A member of the ruling People's Action Party, Sidek was involved in politics for 25 years before retiring in 2001.[1] He was instrumental in the formation of MENDAKI, a self-help group for the Malay community in Singapore.[1][2]

In this Malay name, the name Saniff is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Sidek.

The Honourable Sidek bin Saniff MP
Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment
In office 1997–2001
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong
Minister	Yeo Cheow Tong & Lee Yock Suan & Lim Swee Say
Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education
In office 1996–1997
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong
Minister	Lee Yock Suan
Minister of State for Ministry of Education
In office 1991–1995
Prime Minister	Goh Chok Tong
Minister	Tony Tan Keng Yam & Lee Yock Suan
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education
In office 1988–1991
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	Tony Tan Keng Yam
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry
In office 1981–1988
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	Tony Tan & Lee Hsien Loong
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs
In office 1981–1984
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	S Dhanabalan
Second Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture
In office 1980 – 1 May 1981
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	Ong Teng Cheong
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information
In office 1980 – 1 May 1981
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Minister	Ong Teng Cheong
Personal details
Born	(1938-04-18) April 18, 1938 Colony of Singapore
Nationality	Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Profession	Politician, teacher, activist

Early life

Sidek was the second child of 13 children. He became a Malay language teacher and an activist for the increased recognition of the Malay language in schools in Singapore.[1] As an activist, Sidek organised a demonstration outside the Ministry of Education for better salaries for Malay language teachers in the 1960s.[2]

Sidek was a teacher at now-defunct Maju Secondary School between 1968 and 1976.[3] He was also the President of the Singapore Malay Teachers' Union between 1970 and 1976.[3]

Political career

In 1976, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew invited Sidek to join the People's Action Party and contest as a candidate in the upcoming elections.[2] Sidek stood for election in Kolam Ayer SMC and won against United Front's Chetty Rajah with 72.5% of the votes against Chetty's 27.5%.[4] In the 1980 General Election, Sidek stood for election against another United Front candidate, Mohamed Monsor Rahman, and won 80.35% of the votes.[5] In the 1984 General Election, Sidek faced Royston George Scharenguivel from the Workers' Party. Sidek won 57.91% of the votes, a significant drop from his previous two election results.[6]

In 1988, the GRC system was established, resulting in Kolam Ayer SMC being part of 3-person Jalan Besar GRC. Sidek's team won 62.68% of the vote against candidates from the Workers' Party.[7] In 1991, Sidek joined the PAP team for Eunos GRC, switching places with Zulkifli bin Mohammed. The PAP team narrowly won the election with 52.38% of the votes cast against the WP team led by Lee Siew-Choh.[8] Lee's team had narrowly lost in the same GRC during the previous election in 1988.[7] Following the redrawing of boundaries for the 1997 General Election, Sidek was part of the PAP team contesting Aljunied GRC. The PAP team included future Foreign Minister George Yeo and Ker Sin Tze. The team won 67.02% of the votes against the SDP team.[9]

Sidek was the Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Second Parliamentary Secretary for Culture for a short period before the 1980 elections.[3][10] He became Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Social Affairs in the fifth Lee Kuan Yew cabinet.[10]

Sidek eventually rose to become the Senior Minister of State for Education and the Environment under then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He retired from politics in 2001.

References

1. Mokhtar, Faris (10 July 2018). "From Malay activist to politician; former PAP MP Sidek Saniff unveils memoir". TODAYonline. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
2. Zaccheus, Melody (11 July 2018). "Sidek Saniff's memoir tells of his path from protester to politician". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
3. "Portrait of Mr. Sidek Saniff, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry, and Social Affairs - BookSG - National Library Board, Singapore". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
4. "ELD | 1976 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
5. "ELD | 1980 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
6. "ELD | 1984 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
7. "ELD | 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
8. "ELD | 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
9. "ELD | 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
10. "5th Parliament of Singapore" (PDF).

Parliament of Singapore
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Kolam Ayer SMC 1976 – 1988	GRC system established
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Kolam Ayer) 1988 – 1991	Succeeded by Zulkifli bin Mohammed
Preceded by Zulkifli bin Mohammed	Member of Parliament for Eunos GRC (Eunos) 1991 – 1997	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC (Eunos) 1997 – 2001	Succeeded by Zainul Abidin Bin Mohamed Rasheed