All about Dr Tan Cheng Bock

From village doctor, to member of parliament, to corporate world, charities, and the grassroots.

A man driven by passion:

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Tan Cheng Bock is a man who went from humble beginnings to a varied and deep experience. Born in 1940 to a poor family,whose father passed away in his mid-teens,he went through Raffles Institution on bursaries,eventually making it through to medical school in Singapore to qualify as a medical doctor. He began working life in equally humble circumstances,in 1971,as a village doctor in Ama Keng village,Lim Chu Kang. Described as “the best years of my life”,where life was so simple and real as to take payment sometimes in vegetables and farm produce;he came to be the confidant of the villagers,who looked to him to represent them in matters with the authorities. Eventually this brought him to the attention of the PAP which asked him to stand for general elections in 1980.

“I am prepared to err on the side of the people”

Tan Cheng Bock on being Chairman of the Feedback unit, Straits Times 31 May 1985  (click here to read)

Parliamentary Contributions

As Tan Cheng Bock entered the political arena in 1980,it became clear that his strength was in the grassroots,with the people. He became Chairman of the Feedback Unit (84-89) and was so effective and sincere in conveying the people’s hearts that he was nicknamed Mr. Feedback. He spoke vigorously but fairly in parliament for the people,for moderation in certain government policies which he felt were divisive and elitist,including streaming in education (’81),graduate mothers programme,and the excessive emphasis on foreign talent (‘99). On one occasion,disagreement even came to the point of voting against his own party,the PAP,on the Nominated MP scheme (‘92) which he felt violated a principal of democracy:which was,to speak in parliament requires electorate accountability. Tan Cheng Bock’s motto has been “Let your conscience be your guide”, as sometimes what is right should prevail over party lines. He also advocated policies which he felt were for the common man,including leading successfully the fight for CPF for Education,Free Parking on Sundays to promote social interaction,more C class hospital beds,greater access for the disabled,and more affordable primary healthcare access. As the people grew to know him as an MP with a heart for the common man,and a defender of principles and values,he became fondly known as “Doc” to the people of Singapore.

Political & Foreign Appointments

His frankness over policy won him respect within the PAP,such that from 1987-96,he was an elected member of the Central Executive Committee of the PAP,its highest ruling committee.  In 1985,he was the pioneering 1^st Chairman of Town Councils,he was to helm various town councils all the way to 2004.  In 1987,he also became Co-ordinating Chairman of all Group Parliamentary Committees – GPCs propose and assess policy flowing from the ministries. His involvement in GPCs spanned from Education (Chairman),National development (Chairman),Environment (Chairman),Communications (Member),to Defence &Foreign Affairs (Member). Tan Cheng Bock’s warm personality also saw him involved in Singapore’s foreign relations for 15years,where he was Leader of the Singapore-Europe Parliamentary Group (91-96),and subsequently for South East Asia (97-2006). During this leadership,his duty was to visit,and receive visiting parliamentarians from these countries,and others as well. Dignitaries met include Mahathir,Najib,Megawati,Ramos,Deng Xiaoping,Zhao Zhiyang,Nakasone and others. One of his foreign affairs highlights was to actually help guide the first general elections of Cambodia whilst the political atmosphere there was still charged with violence.

Corporate Governance

His reputation for accountability and independence, brought him to the attention of the corporate world where he has held various positions of Corporate Governance. He has been Chairman of Investment holding company Chuan Hup since 1991,and was invited to be an independent board member of the Asia Pac operations of two multi-billion European multi-national companies –Dredging Int’l Asia Pac since 1997 (of the DEME Group) and ING Asia Private Bank (of ING N.V.),which later became Bank of Singapore. From commercial entities,he also advised charities as well,including the Disabled People’s Association (85–06),Handicap Welfare Association (86–06) and Credit Counseling Singapore (02-07). He also has a long history in statutory boards,having been a board member of Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (83-85),SMRT (87-95),Land Transport Authority (95-05). Recently in March 2011,another incident impinged on his conscience which caused him to resign from the board (Jurong Medical Centre) of the upcoming Ng Teng Fong Hospital,where he did not believe that a 90% publicly funded institution should give up its entire naming rights (originally Jurong General Hospital) on a 10% donation.

Grassroots & Community

Despite the many high appointments,Tan Cheng Bock never forgot the ground and he loved the ground,this was his base,and constituents of Ayer Rajah remember him fondly for being an accessible,warm,and fair MP. He promoted social interaction,integrated Community Centres for young and old to mix,pioneered disabled access,and genuinely enjoyed gracing community events. His heart for the grassroots was such that he named the community centre theatre after a simple humble grassroots leader who never sought high appointments,Pek Ang Mooh,a tribute plaque written by Tan Cheng Bock himself can be seen there today. Ayer Rajah gave Tan Cheng Bock a resounding send off in the 2001 GE at 88%,his average being 77% over 6 general elections fought,in what was to be his final term,retiring in 2006,after 26 years of service.

The Complete Candidate

In putting forward his candidacy for the Elected Presidency of Singapore,Dr. Tan Cheng Bock hopes to bring his qualities and strengths to bear:an accessible people’s President as evidenced by his grassroots and charity track record;for the reserves his deep experience in independent Corporate Governance;in foreign relations the dignity during his 15 years in parliamentary group leadership;and finally as a unifying president as having a track record of seeing both sides of the coin – dear reader,you must read this speech he made in 1985,to know the heart of the man,which resurfaced as relevant today (click here for no blank cheque speech).