Sam Tan (politician)


Sam Tan Chin Siong is a former Singaporean politician. He served as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, as well as in the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. He was the Member of Parliament for the Radin Mas Single Member Constituency from May 2011 to June 2020.
He announced his retirement from politics on 29 June 2020.

Political career

Tan started his political career in the 2006 general election season at Tanjong Pagar GRC. There were no opposition candidates for that ward in that election, resulting in a walkover.
Tan was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and also the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts from July 2009 to October 2009. He was then promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the same ministries in November 2009. Tan served in that capacity until May 2011.
In 2011, the district within the GRC that he was a member of was carved out as Radin Mas Single Member Constituency. Tan faced a challenge from veteran Yip Yew Weng of the National Solidarity Party after two other political parties withdrew in favour of the NSP. He won by a large margin, garnering 67.10% of the votes.
Tan was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in May 2011. He was also appointed Mayor of the Central Singapore District.
On 28 September 2015, it was announced that Tan will be the Minister of State for Manpower from 1 October 2015.
On 29 June 2020, it was announced that Tan will step down from Radin Mas SMC.

Non-political career

Tan started his career at the People's Association. From 1992 to 1997, he was the Deputy Executive Director and subsequently Executive Director in 1997 of the Chinese Development Assistance Council.
From 2007 to 2009, he was CEO of Business China.

Notable awards