Former MP and lawyer Alvin Yeo dies, aged 60, after battle with cancer
Former Member of Parliament Alvin Yeo died after battling cancer. (File photo: TODAY)
SINGAPORE: Former Member of Parliament Alvin Yeo has died after battling cancer. He was 60.
Mr Yeo was first elected in 2006 as MP of Hong Kah GRC. He was re-elected in 2011 as part of Chua Chu Kang GRC before retiring from politics in 2015.
WongPartnership, which Mr Wong co-founded and where he was senior partner, said he was an inspiring leader and mentor.
“A luminary in his field, Alvin was appointed Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2000 at the age of 37, the youngest ever to be appointed,” the firm said in a statement on Saturday (Jul 30).
Mr Yeo’s former parliamentary colleagues also paid tribute to him.
Mr Yee Chia Hsing, who joined the People's Action Party’s Chua Chu Kang team after Mr Yeo retired from politics, said residents remember him fondly.
“It's with much sadness when I received news that former Nanyang MP, Mr Alvin Yeo, had passed on this morning after battling cancer for last two years,” Mr Yee wrote in a Facebook post.
“I took over Nanyang from Alvin as adviser in 2015 and am grateful to him that he has established a strong grassroots/party volunteer network.
“Residents remember him fondly and he is the perfect gentleman.”
Marsiling-Yew Tee MP Alex Yam noted Mr Yeo’s accomplishments as a lawyer, calling him “a giant in the legal fraternity”.
“While he towered over everyone with his height, he was gentle at heart, a big brother who guided and treated me with great kindness,” said Mr Yam, who was part of Chua Chu Kang GRC when he entered politics in 2011.
“Although he retired from politics in 2015, we kept in touch and met for meals to catch up. His wry sense of humour and yet deep depth of thought always kept our conversations interesting.”
Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Low Yen Ling said Mr Yeo “was like a big brother” to her when she first joined the constituency in 2011.
“Alvin was always very kind and encouraging. I often looked forward to listening to his thoughtful and insightful speeches in Parliament. His example as a caring MP and colleague would always stay fresh in my heart and mind,” she said on Facebook.
“My deepest condolences to Alvin’s wife, Hee Lien and their two children.”
