Seng Han Thong


Seng Han Thong is a former Singaporean politician.

Early life

Seng is a Buddhist. He attended Tuan Mong High School, graduating in 1967. Afterwards, he held various jobs including as a sales representative for a watch company and a certified interpreter in the judicial system of Singapore. In 1974, he began a career in journalism, starting as a reporter for the Nanyang Siang Pau, then moving to the Lianhe Zaobao in 1982. From 1983 to 1984, he attended a management diploma course at the Singapore Institute of Management, while rising through the ranks at his new company. While studying for a Master of Business Administration between 1990 and 1993 at Brunel University in London, he became deputy chief editor of the Lianhe Zaobao in 1992. He became the general manager of Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese newspaper division in 1996.

Career

Seng was first elected to parliament in 1996, representing the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency; he was returned to his seat in 2001, and then in 2006 was elected to represent the Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency.
In May 2006, Seng was attacked by a constituent of his, a 74-year-old disgruntled former taxi driver who felt that Seng was not taking any action to help him regain his lost taxi licence. The man later made a public apology to Seng, and the charges were dropped.
In January 2009, Seng suffered another attack by one of his constituents; a 70-year-old man set him on fire by pouring paint thinner on his back and then igniting him with a cigarette lighter. The man was believed to be mentally ill. Seng suffered burns to roughly 15 percent of his body, and received treatment at Singapore General Hospital. He took time off to recover from his injuries, and resumed his duties in July 2009.
In 2011, Seng became embroiled in a racism controversy when he posted comments online regarding the transit crisis in Singapore. Mr Seng said on Blog TV.SG that "I noticed that the PR mentioned that some of the staff, because they are Malays, they are Indians, they can't converse in English well enough".
Finally, after finding the successor Koh Poh Koon, of whom he had lost the Punggol East by-election in 2013, and moved over to Yio Chu Kang, Seng retired from politics after August 2015.