Former Singapore lawmaker Tang See Chim died at 94
Why it matters: Tang represented Chua Chu Kang for 22 years and became an advocate for farmers displaced by early redevelopment.
Tang See Chim, a former Singapore member of parliament who represented Chua Chu Kang from 1966 to 1988, died on Aug. 15 at age 94. A lawyer by training, Tang entered Parliament in a 1966 by-election after the Barisan Sosialis boycott and went on to serve 22 years in the rural constituency. During that period, he pushed for roads and basic amenities in Chua Chu Kang and argued for residents, many of them farmers, who were repeatedly resettled as Singapore expanded. Tang later held posts including parliamentary secretary for finance, minister of state for finance and deputy speaker of Parliament. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called him one of Singapore’s pioneers and praised his public service.