Ch'ng Jit Koon

Ch'ng Jit Koon (1934 – 1 March 2024) was a Singaporean former politician. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency from 1968 to 1988, the MP for Tiong Bahru Group Representation Constituency from 1989 to 1991, and the MP for Bukit Merah Single Member Constituency from 1992 to 1996.

Ch'ng also served as the Second Adviser to Tanjong Pagar Grassroots from 1975 to 1996 and served as Senior Minister of State for Community Development from 1985 to 1991. He also introduced ministerial walkabouts. On 1 March 2024, Ch'ng died at 90.

Early life and education

Born in 1934, he was educated at Chung Cheng High School and Beatty Secondary School. Ch'ng got a Bachelor of Arts degree at Nanyang University and was also a member at the council at Nanyang University.

He was also the treasurer of the Nanyang University and the chairman of Tanglin Technical Secondary School Advisory Committee.

Career

Ch'ng made his political debut at the 1968 general election, contesting as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency and was elected in an unopposed walkover. In the 1972 general election, he contested for MP of Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency again, against Seow Yong Chew from Workers' Party (WP) and Richard Lee Kah Chit from United National Front. He won with 75.62% of the vote.

In the 1976 general election, Ch'ng contested for MP of Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency again, against Teo Kim Hoe from United People's Front, winning with 83.10% of the vote. In the 1980 and 1984 general elections, he remained as the MP for Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency after getting uncontested walkovers. Ch'ng also introduced ministerial walkabouts in 1984.

After the dissolution of Tiong Bahru Single Member Constituency, during the 1988 general election, he contested for the Tiong Bahru division of Tiong Bahru Group Representation Constituency along with Chng Hee Kok and S. Vasoo. They won with 57.84% of the vote against the WP's group of Low Thia Khiang, Lim Lye Soon, and Gopalan Nair.

In the 1991 general election, after the dissolution of Tiong Bahru Group Representation Constituency, Ch'ng contested for MP of Bukit Merah Single Member Constituency against Gopalan Nair from WP and Independent Patrick Leong Siew Choong. He retired from politics in 1997 and worked at Kep Finance as a board director.

In 2015, Ch'ng was awarded the Distinguished Service Order at the National Day Awards.

References