Jek Yeun Thong
{{Short description|Singaporean politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Family name hatnote|Jek|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jek Yeun Thong
| native_name = {{nobold|易润堂}}
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|list=DUNU}}
| image = Jek Yeun Thong in 1963.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Jek in 1963
|office1 = Minister for Science and Technology
|term_start1 = 31 December 1976
|term_end1 = 25 September 1977
|primeminister1 = Lee Kuan Yew
|predecessor1 = Lee Chiaw Meng
|successor1 = E. W. Barker
|office2 = Minister for Culture
|term_start2 = 16 April 1968
|term_end2 = 25 September 1977{{cite web |url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/1stCab/PanelPDF/Section%201%20-%20Cabinet.pdf |title=First 10 cabinet ministers of Singapore |work=National Archives of Singapore |access-date=6 April 2020}}
|primeminister2 = Lee Kuan Yew
|predecessor2 = Othman Wok
|successor2 = Ong Teng Cheong (acting)
|office3 = Minister for Labour
|term_start3 = 19 October 1963
|term_end3 = 15 April 1968
|primeminister3 = Lee Kuan Yew
|predecessor3 = Ahmad Ibrahim
|successor3 = S. Rajaratnam
|constituency_MP4 = Queenstown SMC
|parliament4 = Singapore
|term_start4 = 21 September 1963
|term_end4 = 17 August 1988
|predecessor4 = Lee Siew Choh
|successor4 = Chay Wai Chuen
| office5 = Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Singapore
| term_start5 = 2 November 1963{{cite web |url=https://www.parlimen.gov.my/files/hindex/pdf/DR-02111963.pdf |title=PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT |work=Dewan Rakyat |access-date=19 August 2019}}
| term_end5 = 9 August 1965
| predecessor5 = Position established
| successor5 = Position abolished
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|7|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Singapore, Straits Settlements, British Malaya
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|6|3|1930|7|29|df=y}}
| death_place = Singapore
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| other_names =
| known_for =
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = Politician
| party = People's Action Party
| religion =
| spouse = Huang Kek Chee
| children = 2
| parents =
| relatives =
}}
Jek Yeun Thong {{postnominals|list=DUNU}} ({{lang-zh|s=易润堂|p=Yì Rùntáng}}; 29 July 1930 – 3 June 2018) was a Singaporean politician who served as Minister for Science and Technology between 1976 and 1977, Minister for Culture between 1968 and 1977 and Minister for Labour between 1963 and 1968.
Political career
In 1955, Jek's foray into politics began when he assisted the People's Action Party (PAP) during the 1955 general election. He was appointed to the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) as a political secretary in 1957. That same year, due to his communist beliefs, he was detained under the Internal Security Act by Lim Yew Hock's government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/jek-yeun-thong-made-notable-contributions-showed-strong-sense-of-dedication-to-singapore |title=Jek Yeun Thong made notable contributions, showed strong sense of dedication to Singapore, says PM Lee |date=6 June 2018|website=The Straits Times}}
He was eventually released and when the PAP formed the Government, he held the posts of Assistant Treasurer and then Treasurer on the Central Executive Committee of the PAP between 1959 and 1976. Apart from serving as the deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), he also served as Minister of Culture for 12 years between 1968 and 1978.{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pap-old-guard-minister-jek-yeun-thong-dies-at-age-87|title=PAP Old Guard minister Jek Yeun Thong dies, aged 87|last=hermesauto|date=6 June 2018}}{{cite web|title=10 Men, 10 Years: A Decade of Nation-Building - Archives Online|url=http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/10-men-10-years|website=www.nas.gov.sg|publisher=National Archives of Singapore|access-date=3 January 2018|archive-date=24 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024162000/http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/10-men-10-years|url-status=dead}}
Additionally, he also served as Minister for Science and Technology between 1976 and 1977. He is credited for being one of the 10 ministers who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement in 1965.{{cite news|last1=Grosse|first1=Sara|title=Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yeun Thong, Othman Wok to be honoured at NDP|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ong-pang-boon-jek-yeun-thong-othman-wok-to-be-honoured-at-ndp-8241444|access-date=3 January 2018|work=Channel NewsAsia|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162225/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ong-pang-boon-jek-yeun-thong-othman-wok-to-be-honoured-at-ndp-8241444|url-status=dead}}
Together with Lee Khoon Choy, Jek was appointed as the government representatives on the Joint-Government-University Liaison Committee in 1960 to reform Nanyang University.
Jek was considered as one of the 'Old Guard'—the first generation of leaders of independent Singapore.{{cite news|title=Three Old Guard ministers honoured|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/three-old-guard-ministers-honoured|access-date=3 January 2018|work=The Straits Times|date=10 August 2015|language=en}}
One of his final major public appearances was at the National Day Parade of 2015 in remembrance of Lee Kuan Yew.{{cite web|title=Jek Yeun Thong leaves home for NDP 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfDdPwIItk|website=Youtube|publisher=Straits Times|access-date=3 January 2018|date=9 August 2015}}
Death
Jek died at home at the age of 87 on 3 June 2018. A private wake and funeral was held in accordance with his wishes. As a mark of respect, the government ordered the state flag on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast on 7 June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20180606-865010|title=建国元勋易润堂逝世 享年88岁|date=6 June 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-government-extends-condolences-after-death-of-jek-10397712|title=Singapore's Government extends condolences after death of PAP pioneer Jek Yeun Thong}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and many other political figures in Singapore offered their condolences to Jek's family.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/president-halimah-ministers-pay-tribute-to-former-labour-minister-jek-yeun-thong |title=President Halimah, ministers pay tribute to former labour minister Jek Yeun Thong |date=6 June 2018|website=The Straits Times}}
Jek was survived by his 84-year-old wife Huang Kek Chee, his two sons Kian Jin and Kian Yee (aged 59 and 55 respectively), and five grandchildren.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pap-old-guard-minister-jek-yeun-thong-dies-at-age-87|title=PAP Old Guard minister Jek Yeun Thong dies, aged 87 |date=6 June 2018|website=The Straits Times}}
Honours and awards
Jek was awarded the Second Class of the Order of Nila Utama in 1990.
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- Lam, Peng Er and Tan, Kevin (Ed.) (2000). Lee's lieutenants : Singapore's old guard. Singapore: Allen & Unwin. {{ISBN|1-86508-172-8}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jek, Yeun Thong}}
Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore
Category:People's Action Party politicians
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Singapore
Category:Singaporean people of Cantonese descent