Tan Chuan-Jin

Singaporean politician

Tan Chuan-Jin (simplified Chinese: 陈川仁; traditional Chinese: 陳川仁; pinyin: Chén Chuānrén; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Chhoan-jîn; born 10 January 1969) is a Singaporean politician. He served asSpeaker of the Parliament of Singapore from 11 September 2017 to 17 July 2023.[1]

Tan Chuan-Jin
陈川仁
Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore
In office
11 September 2017 – 17 July 2023
DeputyCharles Chong
Lim Biow Chuan
Christopher de Souza
Jessica Tan
Preceded byHalimah Yacob
Succeeded bySeah Kian Peng
Minister for Social and Family Development
In office
9 April 2015 – 10 September 2017
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byChan Chun Sing
Succeeded byDesmond Lee
Minister for Manpower
In office
1 May 2014 – 4 May 2015
Acting: 1 August 2012 – 30 April 2014
Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
Preceded byTharman Shanmugaratnam
Succeeded byLim Swee Say
Senior Minister of State for National Development
In office
1 August 2012 – 31 August 2013
MinisterKhaw Boon Wan
Member of Parliament
for Marine Parade GRC
(Kembangan–Chai Chee)
In office
7 May 2011 – 17 July 2023
Preceded byConstituency established
Majority20,143 (15.52%)
Personal details
Born (1969-01-10) 10 January 1969 (age 55)
Singapore
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations
People's Action Party
(2011–2023)
Children2
Alma materLondon School of Economics (BSc)
King's College London (MA)
National University of Singapore (MPA)
Military service
Branch/serviceSingapore Army
Years of service1987–2011
RankBrigadier-General
CommandsCommander, Army Training and Doctrine Command
Commander, 3rd Division
Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Plans)
Commander, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade
Army Attaché, Jakarta
Commanding Officer, 3rd Guards Battalion

Education change

Tan studied at the Anglo-Chinese School, Raffles Junior College, London School of Economics, King's College London and National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.[2]

Military career change

Tan enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces in 1987 and was commissioned as an officer in the Singapore Army before attaining the rank Brigadier-General. On 25 March 2011, Tan retired from the Singapore Armed Forces to enter politics.[2][3]

Political career change

Tan was announced as a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate joining the five-member PAP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC during the 2011 general election. Tan became a Member of Parliament representing the Kembangan–Chai Chee ward of Marine Parade GRC.[4]

On 1 August 2012, he was appointed Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of National Development and Acting Minister for Manpower.

On 1 September 2013, Tan gave up his appointment at the Ministry of National Development and became Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Manpower while continuing to serve as Acting Minister for Manpower.

On 1 May 2014, he was promoted to full Minister.

On 9 April 2015, Tan gave up his portfolio as Minister for Manpower and became Minister for Social and Family Development as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.

During the 2015 general election, Tan joined a five-member PAP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC. After the election, Tan continued serving as Minister for Social and Family Development.

On 11 September 2017, he resigned his Cabinet roles and became the 10th Speaker of Parliament.

Tan still hold his parliamentary seat in Kembangan–Chai Chee after his five-member PAP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC won during the 2020 general election. After the election, he continued serving as Speaker of Parliament.

On 11 July 2023, Tan made a public apology to Worker's Party's Member of Parliament, Jamus Lim after a clip of him using unparliamentary language during a parliamentary sitting on 17 April. Tan was heard saying "fucking populist" to Lim after he had given a speech. Lim accepted his apology.[5][6]

Resignation change

On 17 July 2023, both Tan resigned from Parliament and as member of the PAP due to "propriety and personal conduct". Prime Minister and PAP's Secretary-General Lee Hsien Loong said that Tan, who is married, had an extramarital affair. He had an extramarital affair with another Member of Parliament, Cheng Li Hui, since 2020.

When Lee found out that the extramarital affair in February 2023, Tan had offered his resignation. Lee asked Tan to ensure his ward was taken care of. However, in July 2023, Lee found out Tan continued the affair. Therefore, Lee decided to remove Tan from the PAP immediately.[7][8]

Personal life change

Tan is married with two children.

References change

  1. hermesauto (2020-08-20). "Tan Chuan-Jin to be nominated Speaker, Indranee to be Leader of the House, when Parliament reopens". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The Singapore Cabinet Office: Cabinet Appointment". web.archive.org. 2013-09-29. Archived from the original on 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2023-01-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Former commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  4. "PARL | MP". www.parliament.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  5. "Explainer: Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin's use of 'unparliamentary language' — what are the House's rules on such conduct?". TODAY. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  6. "Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin apologises for using 'unparliamentary language'". CNA. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  7. "Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui resign from Parliament, Tan says he's 'fallen short' in areas of personal conduct". TODAY. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  8. siti_aishah_sulaiman (2023-07-19). "PMO | PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Q&A Segment at the Press Conference on the Resignations of Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and MP Cheng Li Hui". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. Retrieved 2023-09-03.