Zulkifli bin Mohammed

Zulkifli bin Mohammed (born 8 August 1948[1]) is a former Singaporean politician. A member of the ruling People's Action Party, Zulkifli was involved in politics for 14 years before retiring from politics in 1996.

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

The Honourable Zulkifli bin Mohammed MP
Personal details
Born	(1948-08-08) August 8, 1948 Colony of Singapore
Nationality	Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Profession	Politician

Early life

Zulkifli studied political science at the University of Singapore and graduated with honours in 1970.[1] Following his graduation, Zulkifli worked for Shell Eastern Petroleum. He would continue to work at the firm until his election to parliament.[2] Although Malays were exempted from the National Service draft beginning in 1967[3][4], Zulkifli volunteered for the People's Defence Force Volunteer Unit and was an Infantry Officer between 1967 and 1977.[2] In 1983, Zulkifli was elected as the president of Majlis Pusat, otherwise known as the Central Council of Malay Cultural Organisations.[1]

Career

Political career

In 1984, Zulkifli ran for election as a PAP candidate in Eunos SMC; he had previously turned down the nomination for the 1976 and 1980 General Elections.[1] He won 64.81% of the votes against Singapore United Front candidate Chong Tung Shang.[5] Following the formation of the GRC system in 1988, Eunos SMC became part of 3-person Eunos GRC. The PAP team contesting the election included Chew Heng Ching and Tay Eng Soon. The election in Eunos GRC was the closest in the 1988 General Election, with the PAP team narrowly beating the Workers' Party with 50.89% of the votes.[6] The WP team comprised Lee Siew Choh, Mohd Khalit B Md Baboo, and Francis Seow. In the 1991 election, Zulkifli switched places with Sidek bin Saniff and joined the PAP team for Jalan Besar GRC. The team ran uncontested for parliament.[7]

Zulkifli was the Political Secretary for Community Development from 1986 to 1991.[8] In the first Goh Chok Tong cabinet, Zulkifli was the Political Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong between 1991 and 1993 until Ong's election to the presidency.[8] Zulkifli's last position in the cabinet was as the Political Secretary to Minister without Portfolio, now known as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.[8]

While serving as a Member of Parliament, Zulkifli kept his position as the president of Majilis Pusat.[9] He was also Deputy Director and subsequently Director of Community Development at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).[2]

Post-political career

After Zulkifli stepped down as an MP, he became a Vice-President of Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association and Executive Director of NTUC Eldercare Co-operative Limited.[2] Zulkifli was the Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore National Co-operatives Federation between 2005 and 2009.[2]

References

1. Lee, Edwin. (2008). Singapore : the unexpected nation. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS). ISBN 978-981-230-797-2. OCLC 751689444.
2. "Portrait of Mr. Zulkifli Mohammed, Political Secretary for Community Development - BookSG - National Library Board, Singapore". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
3. Peled, Alon (3 March 1993). "A Question of Loyalty: Ethnic Minorities, Military Service and Resistance". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
4. Li, Tania, 1959- (1989). Malays in Singapore : culture, economy, and ideology. Singapore: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-588914-2. OCLC 18815023.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
5. "ELD | 1984 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
6. "ELD | 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
7. "ELD | 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
8. "Portrait of Mr. Zulkifli Mohammed, President of Majlis Pusat - BookSG - National Library Board, Singapore". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
9. "A Divided Malay House". Asiaweek. 1987.

Parliament of Singapore
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Eunos SMC 1984 – 1988	GRC system established
New constituency	Member of Parliament for Eunos GRC (Eunos) 1988 – 1991	Succeeded by Sidek bin Saniff
Preceded by Sidek bin Saniff	Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC (Kolam Ayer) 1991 – 1997	Succeeded by Yaacob Ibrahim