Tan Chuan-Jin to champion social issues, causes if elected as Speaker
Tan Chuan-Jin and Halimah Yacob attending 7th month dinner at the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong temple on Sept 5, 2017. Tan Chuan-Jin has just been nominated as the next Speaker of Parliament. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY
SINGAPORE — If elected by the House as Speaker, Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin said he hopes to champion issues that “matter a great deal to society” in addition to his parliamentary duties.
He was speaking to reporters last night on the sidelines of a Seventh Month dinner organised by the Lorong Koo Chye Sheng Hong Temple, hours after the Prime Minister’s Office announced his nomination as the next Speaker.
The role means he would be out of the Government, but Mr Tan said: “It’s not about creating a policy and things happen.
“It’s a lot about hearts and minds, so how do we then champion those issues. And then the Speaker could possibly play a role in that direction as well and I hope to develop that.”
On whether it means he is out of the running as a core member of the fourth-generation leadership, Mr Tan said: “There are many different roles, many different pathways that we all need to take.
“I would say that we are all in the same direction, we are all running in the same race. The end outcome that we are all working towards is how to make things better for Singaporeans and how to make things better for Singapore.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had discussed the prospect with him when Mdm Halimah Yacob stepped down as Speaker to contest this month’s Presidential Election.
Mr Tan said he “was quite happy to take up this role and to see how we can develop this”.
Mr Tan said any job or responsibility is “meaningful” and boils down to how an individual makes the most of it.
“Throughout my life, I have never bargained or negotiated where I get posted to. I embrace the opportunities and put in my very best,” said the career soldier-turned-politician.
“We do what we can, where we can and when we can.”
He remains passionate about the various programmes of his ministry — such as KidStart, which aims to create a more level playing field for children from disadvantaged families; national caring movement SG Cares; and work done for the Enabling Masterplan for people with disabilities.
He will continue to champion the causes as adviser to the National Council of Social Service.
SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO HELP THE NEEDY, DISADVANTAGED LAUNCHED BY MINISTER
When he entered politics in 2011, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin was tipped as a key member of Singapore’s next generation of leaders, and he rose quickly through the ranks within the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Cabinet.
Just two weeks after winning a seat in Marine Parade GRC, the former army general was made a Minister of State, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong entrusting him with not one, but two portfolios — manpower and national development.
The 48-year-old career soldier, whose last military post was commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command, was also among three new faces elected to the PAP’s highest decision-making body within six months of the 2011 General Election, alongside Mr Chan Chun Sing, who is now the labour chief; and Mr Heng Swee Keat, who is currently the Finance Minister.
Mr Tan was made a full Cabinet Minister in 2014, and helmed the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) until April 2015. During his tenure at MOM, he introduced the Silver Support scheme and the Fair Consideration Framework, among other things. His next posting was to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
As Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan has taken a deep interest in social issues, and in helping the needy and disadvantaged.
He launched several initiatives, including KidStart, which is targeted at children of disadvantaged families, and SG Cares, which encourages Singaporeans to give back to society. Other initiatives he has spearheaded include measures to strengthen family ties, such as pre-marriage counselling and greater parental support. Cash handouts under the ComCare Long Term Assistance scheme were increased, following a review of the public assistance plan that was prompted by his experience as a Member of Parliament.
Born in 1969, Mr Tan studied at Anglo-Chinese School and Raffles Junior College, before attending the London School of Economics on a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship.
Married with two children,
Mr Tan spent nearly 24 years in the army, where he led the SAF’s relief efforts in Meulaboh, Aceh, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami — the SAF’s largest humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation to date.
