Vivian Balakrishnan

Vivian Balakrishnan was born in 1961 in Singapore to an Indian Tamil father and a Chinese mother with ancestry from Fuqing, Fujian.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/coming-to-india-is-like-coming-home/20100111.htm|title=Coming to India is like coming home|website=Rediff|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330102313/https://www.rediff.com/news/report/coming-to-india-is-like-coming-home/20100111.htm|url-status=live}}

He was educated at Anglo-Chinese School and National Junior College before he was conferred the President's Scholarship in 1980 to study medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. He served two terms as the president of the NUS Student Union, and later the chairman of the union council.

Balakrishnan chose a postgraduate specialisation in ophthalmology and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1991.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Balakrishnan had worked at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London between 1993 and 1995 as a specialist senior registrar, where he subspecialised in paediatric ophthalmology.

When Balakrishnan returned to Singapore, he became a consultant ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre and National University Hospital, and an associate professor of ophthalmology at the National University of Singapore in 1998.

In 1999, he became the medical director of the Singapore National Eye Centre, and later the chief executive officer of the Singapore General Hospital in 2000.{{cite web |url=http://vivian.balakrishnan.sg/pages/about-vivian-balakrishnan |title=About Vivian Balakrishnan – Vivian Balakrishnan |publisher=Vivian.balakrishnan.sg |date=22 June 2011 |access-date=2011-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729082044/http://vivian.balakrishnan.sg/pages/about-vivian-balakrishnan |archive-date=29 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} Balakrishnan was also the commanding officer of the 2nd Combat Support Hospital of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) between 1999 and 2002.

In the 1990s, he hosted the series Health Matters on Singapore television.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan|title=Dr Vivian BALAKRISHNAN|date=2014-10-20|website=Prime Minister‘s Office Singapore|language=en|access-date=2018-04-03|archive-date=28 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328230632/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan|url-status=live}}

File:Julie Bishop, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs with Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs (ASEAN summit, Manila, 6 August 2017).jpg in 2017|left]]

File:Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan speaks at the East Asia Summit (29965116508) (cropped).jpg

Balakrishnan made his political debut in the 2001 general election as part of the five-member PAP team contesting in Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC and won by an uncontested walkover.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2001.html |title=Singapore Elections Department |publisher=Elections.gov.sg |date=3 January 2011 |access-date=2011-07-10 |archive-date=1 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301215216/http://www.elections.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2001.html |url-status=live }} He was subsequently appointed Minister of State for National Development, and Chairman of the Remaking Singapore Committee in 2002. He was later appointed Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry in 2004.[http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328230632/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan |date=28 March 2015 }}. cabinet.gov.sg, April 2018.

In 2004, Balakrishnan was appointed acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. He was made a full member of the Cabinet in 2005.

During the 2006 general election, Balakrishnan was part of a five-member PAP team led by Lim Swee Say, contesting in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC and won with a walkover.{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=2006 Parliamentary Election Results |url=http://www.elections.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2006.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405110146/http://www.elections.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2006.html |archive-date=5 April 2011 |access-date=22 January 2012 |publisher=Singapore Elections Department}}{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=Walkovers 2006 |url=http://www.ge.sg/ge2006/walkover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122124818/http://www.ge.sg/ge2006/walkover/ |archive-date=22 November 2011 |access-date=22 January 2012 |publisher=General Elections}}

During a Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on 9 March 2007 regarding the estimates of expenditure for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), an MP for Jalan Besar GRC, Lily Neo asked Balakrishnan whether the ministry would consider raising the Public Assistance rates for the purpose of ensuring recipients are able to have three meals a day, to which Balakrishnan replied with "How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?"{{cite web |url=https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/topic?reportid=005_20070309_S0004_T0001 |title=ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 2007 TO 31ST MARCH, 2007 |date=9 March 2007 |website=www.parliament.gov.sg |publisher=Singapore Parliament |access-date=9 December 2022 |quote=(Column: 3536) Dr Lily Neo: Sir, I want to check with the Minister again on the strict criteria on the entitlement for PA recipients. May I ask him what is his definition of "subsistence living"? Am I correct to say that, out of $260 per month for PA recipients, $100 goes to rental, power supply and S&C, and leaving them with only $5 a day to live on? Am I correct to say that any basic meal in any hawker centre is already $2.50 to $3.00 per meal? Therefore, is it too much to ask for just three meals a day as an entitlement for the PA recipients? Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?}}{{cite web |url=https://mothership.sg/2015/08/50-memorable-lines-that-can-only-be-made-in-spore/ |title=50 memorable lines that can only be Made in S'pore |date=10 August 2015 |website=www.mothership.sg |publisher=Mothership |access-date=9 December 2022 |quote=31. "How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?" - Then Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan}}{{cite web |url=https://theindependent.sg/whats-really-behind-a-ministers-real-happiness/ |title=What's Really Behind A Minister's Real Happiness? |date=10 January 2018 |website=www.theindependent.sg |publisher=The Independent News & Media Pte Ltd |access-date=9 December 2022 |quote=The gap between have and have nots, between Minister and ordinary Singaporean, is ironically best illustrated with remarks made by Vivian Balakrishnan himself some years ago. In an exchange in Parliament with MP Lily Neo, who was asking the government to allocate more money to the poor so they could afford three meals a day, the Minister retorted: “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”}} In 2011, Balakrishnan raised the public assistance scheme from $260 in 2007 to $400 for a single-person household.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2011 |title=More cash allowance for families on the Public Assistance scheme |url=http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4696142 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318201251/http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4696142 |archive-date=18 March 2012 |access-date=22 January 2012 |publisher=XIN MSN News}}

During the 2011 general election, Balakrishnan led a four-member PAP team which includes Liang Eng Hwa, Christopher de Souza and Sim Ann contesting in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC and won 60.1% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=8 May 2011 |title=PAP wins Holland–Bukit Timah GRC |work=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_666127.html |url-status=live |access-date=9 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724043000/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_666127.html |archive-date=24 July 2011}} This was the first time Holland–Bukit Timah GRC were being contested since its formation in 2001.{{Cite web |last=Derrick Paulo |date=7 May 2011 |title=Drama over video, YOG and economic policies |url=https://www.todayonline.com/SingaporeVotes/EDC110507-0000027/Drama-over-video,-YOG-and-economic-policies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508231615/https://www.todayonline.com/SingaporeVotes/EDC110507-0000027/Drama-over-video,-YOG-and-economic-policies |archive-date=8 May 2011 |access-date=22 January 2012 |publisher=Today}}

During the political campaign for the 2011 general election, Balakrishnan said that the candidates from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) did not have any plans for the constituency, and their selection of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC was an opportunistic act.{{Cite web |last=Judith Tan |date=23 April 2011 |title='Strange bedfellows' in SDP team |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_660255.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812041720/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_660255.html |archive-date=12 August 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |work=The Straits Times}} He suggested that they were trying to suppress a certain YouTube video featuring a member of their team{{Cite web |last=Julia NG |date=25 April 2011 |title=GE: Reform Party former vice-chairman Alec Tok joins SDP |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124726/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124144352/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124726/1/.html |archive-date=24 November 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}} and that it raised questions about their agenda and motivation.{{Cite web |last=Faris Mokhtar |date=24 April 2011 |title=SDP, PAP clash over mystery video |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/sdp-hits-back-pap-criticisms-141142593.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428110734/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/sdp-hits-back-pap-criticisms-141142593.html |archive-date=28 April 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! News}}{{Cite web |last=Hoe Yeen Nie |date=25 April 2011 |title=GE: PAP questions Wijeysingha's political agenda in light of video |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124802/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124155157/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124802/1/.html |archive-date=24 November 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}} It was later discovered that the video included Vincent Wijeysingha at a forum discussing issues surrounding gay rights and section 377A of the Penal Code in Singapore.{{Cite web |last=Rachel Chan |date=26 April 2011 |title=PAP seeks SDP's position on video |url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110426-275633.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429045948/http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110426-275633.html |archive-date=29 April 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=AsiaOne News}}{{Cite web |last=Hoe Yeen Nie |date=26 April 2011 |title=GE: SDP says it is not pursuing gay agenda |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124829/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830162822/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1124829/1/.html |archive-date=30 August 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}} The PAP team issued a statement asking the SDP team whether they were pursuing a "gay agenda".{{Cite web |date=27 April 2011 |title=GE: SDP team raises objection against PAP's Sim Ann |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125166/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124173244/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125166/1/.html |archive-date=24 November 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}} The SDP denied it, saying that they were not pursuing the gay agenda and the issue was put to rest.{{Cite web |last=Julia Ng |date=27 April 2011 |title=GE: "Gay video" saga put to rest |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125274/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830030837/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1125274/1/.html |archive-date=30 August 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}} The PAP drew criticism from internet users in Singapore for their election strategy.{{Cite news |date=12 May 2011 |title=Low expectations |url=http://www.economist.com/node/18681827?story_id=18681827 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015044327/http://www.economist.com/node/18681827?story_id=18681827 |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |newspaper=The Economist}}

At the same election, the SDP candidates raised the issue of government spending for the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, which Balakrishnan had overseen as Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, saying that the budget exceeded the initial estimates of S$104 million by over three times.{{Cite web |last=Chitra Rajaram |date=4 May 2011 |title=GE: Balakrishnan on YOG, teammates counter SDP's proposals |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1126811/1/.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819051450/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1126811/1/.html |archive-date=19 August 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}}{{Cite web |last=Ong Hwee Hwee |date=5 May 2011 |title=MCYS minister defends YOG budget |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_664815.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225193319/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_664815.html |archive-date=25 December 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |work=The Straits Times}} Balakrishnan acknowledged that they had got the initial estimates wrong as it was the first time that an event of that scale was organised in Singapore. He asserted that the increased budget did not affect other programmes of the ministry, and that 70% of the spending for the event went into paying local firms for their services.{{Cite web |last=Ewen Boey |date=5 May 2011 |title=MCYS minister: We miscalculated on YOG budget |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/dr-vivian-balakrishnan-addresses-yog-budget-rally-195633119.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711053116/http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/dr-vivian-balakrishnan-addresses-yog-budget-rally-195633119.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 |access-date=23 January 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! News}} He declared that his team had spent less than the finalised budget amount and did not waste money.

On 21 May 2011, Balakrishnan was appointed Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, taking over from Yaacob Ibrahim.{{Cite web |title=The Singapore Cabinet Office: Cabinet Appointments |url=http://www.cabinet.gov.sg/content/cabinet/appointments.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623235820/http://www.cabinet.gov.sg/content/cabinet/appointments.html |archive-date=23 June 2011 |access-date=2011-07-10 |publisher=Cabinet.gov.sg}} After the 2015 general election, Balakrishnan was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.{{Cite web |last=superadmin |date=2014-10-20 |title=Dr Vivian BALAKRISHNAN |url=http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328230632/http://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/dr-vivian-balakrishnan |archive-date=28 March 2015 |access-date=2018-01-28 |website=Prime Minister‘s Office Singapore |language=en}}

In response to a parliamentary question on 5 January 2021 regarding the use of data from the contact tracing app developed during the COVID-19 pandemic known as TraceTogether, the Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan replied that under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Police can access TraceTogether data for the purpose of criminal investigations,{{cite web |date=5 January 2021 |title=Police can use TraceTogether data for criminal investigations |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/police-can-use-tracetogether-data-for-criminal-investigations-0 |access-date=8 December 2022 |website=www.straitstimes.com |publisher=SPH Media Limited |quote=The police can obtain any data under Singapore's jurisdiction for the purposes of criminal investigations, and this includes TraceTogether data, Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan told the House on Monday (Jan 4).}} despite Balakrishnan's assurance to the public 8 months earlier in June 2020 that TraceTogether data will only be used for contact tracing purposes.{{cite web |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/criminal-procedure-code-trace-together-vivian-balakrishnan-081742915.html |title=I didn't think of Criminal Procedure Code when speaking earlier about TraceTogether: Vivian Balakrishnan |date=5 January 2021 |website=www.sg.news.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo News Singapore |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=During a Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) press conference in June last year, Dr Balakrishnan emphasised that the TraceTogether app and token are not meant to be used to detect offences and breaches of rules, but rather for effective contact tracing. “(The) TraceTogether app, TraceTogether running on a device, and the data generated (are) purely for contact tracing. Period,” he said at the time.}} Balakrishnan later said in Parliament "I take full responsibility for this mistake. And I deeply regret the consternation and anxiety caused".{{cite web |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/vivian-balakrishnan-takes-full-responsibility-tracetogether-saga-092901870.html |title=Vivian Balakrishnan takes 'full responsibility' over TraceTogether saga |date=2 February 2021 |website=www.sg.news.yahoo.com |publisher=Yahoo News Singapore |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=The Singapore government has acknowledged its error in failing to state that TraceTogether (TT) is not exempt from the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). “I take full responsibility for this mistake. And I deeply regret the consternation and anxiety caused,” said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, in Parliament on Tuesday (2 February). “Perhaps I was so enamoured by what I thought was the ingenuity and brilliance of (the TT system) that I got blindsided.”}}

In September 2021, during a debate in Parliament about the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, a hot mic picked up Balakrishnan referring to Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party as "illiterate" and questioning how Leong got into Raffles Institution (RI) in a conversation with fellow PAP MPs on the front bench. Balakrishnan was subsequently called by Leong to apologise.{{cite web |url=https://mothership.sg/2021/09/pap-minister-call-lmw-illiterate/ |title=Vivian Balakrishnan apologises to Leong Mun Wai after 'He's illiterate' comment picked up by Parliament live mic |date=15 September 2021 |website=mothership.sg |publisher=Mothership |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has apologised to Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai for private comments made in Parliament yesterday (Sep. 14) where he allegedly called the latter "illiterate".}}{{cite web |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/vivian-balakrishnan-apology-leong-mun-wai-parliament-private-comments-2179996 |title=Vivian Balakrishnan apologises to Leong Mun Wai for 'private comments' made during Parliament session |date=15 September 2021 |website=www.channelnewsasia.com |publisher=Mediacorp Pte Ltd |access-date=8 December 2022 |quote=In a video of the sitting, which was livestreamed on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Communications and Information, a voice can be heard saying "he's illiterate", after Manpower Minister Tan See Leng replied to a question from Mr Leong.}}

In 2023, Balakrishnan and K. Shanmugam were investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for their rentals of state-owned bungalows at Ridout Road. The CPIB reported that they did not find any criminal wrongdoing or improper conduct.{{cite news |last1=Ho |first1=Grace |title=Ridout Road bungalow rentals: CPIB finds no corruption or wrongdoing by Shanmugam, Vivian |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ridout-road-bungalow-rentals-cpib-finds-no-corruption-or-wrongdoing-by-shanmugam-vivian |access-date=3 August 2023 |work=The Straits Times |date=28 June 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/shanmugam-vivian-have-done-nothing-wrong-and-retain-his-full-confidence-pm-lee-on-ridout-road|title=Shanmugam, Vivian have done nothing wrong and retain my full confidence: PM Lee on Ridout Road saga|first=Yan Han|last=Goh|date=4 July 2023|newspaper=The Straits Times|access-date=6 July 2023}}

On 12 March 2025, Minister for Law and Home Affairs, Shanmugam was confronted by two women from Monday of Palestine Solidarity group at his Meet-The-People session to address the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-13 |title=Meet-the-People Session is not a protest venue, says Shanmugam after 2 women cause commotion |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/meet-the-people-session-is-not-a-protest-venue-shanmugam-after-confrontation-with-two-women |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} The confrontation was recorded on video and lasted seven minutes.{{Cite web |title=Minister Shanmugam Declines to Press Charges After Sisters Disrupt Meet-The-People Session_the_public_and |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/877329358_122342248 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=www.sohu.com}} On 13 March, Calvin Cheng, in a Facebook post, offered to send the activist group to Gaza, provided they do not return to Singapore and also told their Facebook followers to leave Singapore for Gaza.{{Cite news |last=Sun |first=David |date=2025-04-03 |title=Masagos says he disagrees with ex-NMP Calvin Cheng’s views on the Israel-Palestine conflict |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/masagos-says-he-disagrees-with-ex-nmp-calvin-chengs-views-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict |access-date=2025-04-14 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Kimberly |date=2025-04-10 |title=‘Hot potato’: Singapore’s criticism of ex-NMP seen as bid to cool tensions |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3306044/singapores-top-officials-pm-criticise-ex-nmp-calvin-cheng-over-gaza-post |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} It was later discovered that Balakrishnan and Senior Minister of State for National Development and Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How had liked the post by Cheng.{{Cite news |last=Hamzah |first=Aqil |date=2025-04-02 |title=Vivian says he did not ‘like’ FB post offering to relocate S’poreans to Gaza; Meta investigating |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/vivian-says-he-did-not-like-fb-post-offering-to-relocate-sporeans-to-gaza-meta-investigating |access-date=2025-04-14 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}} Tan claimed that he had accidentally like the post after Monday of Palestine Solidarity had questioned him about Cheng's post and had since “unliked” the Facebook post. Balakrishnan claimed he did not like the post and had since gotten Meta, the owner and operator of Facebook, to investigate unauthorised activity on his Facebook account.

He is married to Joy Balakrishnan, and they have a daughter and three sons.{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/foreign-minister-vivian-balakrishnan-is-now-a-grandpa-possibly-the-youngest-in-cabinet|title=Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan is now a grandpa, possibly the youngest in Cabinet|last=Chew|first=Hui Min|date=2016-01-01|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-08-09|language=en|archive-date=9 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809135137/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/foreign-minister-vivian-balakrishnan-is-now-a-grandpa-possibly-the-youngest-in-cabinet|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.pmo.gov.sg/cabinet/Dr-Vivian-BALAKRISHNAN Vivian Balakrishnan] on Prime Minister's Office
• [https://www.parliament.gov.sg/mps/list-of-current-mps/mp/details/vivian-balakrishnan Vivian Balakrishnan] on Parliament of Singapore
• [http://Vivian.Balakrishnan.Sg Vivian Balakrishnan's Blog]

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{S-bef| before = Yaacob Ibrahim }}

{{S-ttl| title = Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports

| years = 2005 – 2011
Acting: 2004 – 2005}}

{{S-aft| after = Chan Chun Sing |as=Acting Minister }}

{{s-bef| before = Yaacob Ibrahim}}

{{s-ttl| title = Minister for the Environment and Water Resources

| years = 2011 – 2015}}

{{s-aft| after = Masagos Zulkifli }}

{{s-new| office}}

{{s-ttl| title = Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative

| years = 2014 – 2021}}

{{s-aft| after = Josephine Teo }}

{{s-bef| before = K. Shanmugam}}

{{s-ttl| title = Minister for Foreign Affairs

| years = 2015 – present}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-par | sg}}

{{s-new | constituency}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for
Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC

| years = 2001 – 2006}}

{{s-non | reason=Constituency abolished}}

{{s-new | constituency}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for
Holland–Bukit Timah GRC

| years = 2006 – present

| alongside =
(2006 – 2011): Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Lim Swee Say, Christopher de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa
(2011 – 2015): Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa
(2020 – 2025): Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza, Edward Chia
(2025 – present): Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza, Edward Chia

}}

{{s-inc}}

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef | before = Lim Swee Say}}

{{s-ttl | title = Chairman of Young PAP

| years = 2004 – 2008}}

{{s-aft | after = Teo Ser Luck}}

{{s-end}}

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{{APEC Foreign Ministers}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balakrishnan, Vivian}}

Category:Members of the Cabinet of Singapore

Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore

Category:People's Action Party politicians

Category:Singaporean ophthalmologists

Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

Category:President's Scholars

Category:Anglo-Chinese School alumni

Category:National Junior College alumni

Category:National University of Singapore alumni

Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent

Category:Singaporean Tamil politicians

Category:Singaporean Christians

Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order

Category:Environment ministers of Singapore

Category:Singaporean politicians of Indian descent

Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Singapore

Category:Singaporean politicians of Chinese descent