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By Mukunthan, Michael written on 1999-04-17
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Chan Choy Siong (b.1934 - d.1981) was the first woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Singapore and was an activist for women's concerns, particularly in initiating the Women's Charter.
Early life
Raised in a poor family, Chan assisted her father in his chee cheong fun stall in Chinatown while she studied at Nanyang Girls High School.
Achievements
She joined the People's Action Party (PAP) at the age of 20, only five months after the party was first inaugurated in October 1954. Known to be fluent in both Mandrain and Chinese dialects, Chan was elected as City Councillor in 1957 and in the 1959 elections to the Legislative Assembly, became a Member of Parliament for Delta.
Chan was also a member of the Central Executive Committee between 1957 to 1963, and spearheaded the formation of women's sub-committees in People Action Party (PAP) branches in the 50s. Furthermore, she led the PAP Women's League, the predecessor to PAP's Women's Wing, and campaigned successfully for the Women's Charter which was passed in 1961. As a commited social activist, she helped organised many programs for women, and children's classes at community centers.
Chan who was married to former Minister Ong Pang Boon, retired as MP for Delta in 1970 at the age of 36. In 1981, at the age of 49, she was involved in a tragic car crash which took her life. She left behind three children.
Author
Michael Mukunthan
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_791_2005-01-22.html
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Chan Choy Siong (b.1934 - d.1981) was the first woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Singapore and was an activist for women's concerns, particularly in initiating the Women's Charter.
Early life
Raised in a poor family, Chan assisted her father in his chee cheong fun stall in Chinatown while she studied at Nanyang Girls High School.
Achievements
She joined the People's Action Party (PAP) at the age of 20, only five months after the party was first inaugurated in October 1954. Known to be fluent in both Mandrain and Chinese dialects, Chan was elected as City Councillor in 1957 and in the 1959 elections to the Legislative Assembly, became a Member of Parliament for Delta.
Chan was also a member of the Central Executive Committee between 1957 to 1963, and spearheaded the formation of women's sub-committees in People Action Party (PAP) branches in the 50s. Furthermore, she led the PAP Women's League, the predecessor to PAP's Women's Wing, and campaigned successfully for the Women's Charter which was passed in 1961. As a commited social activist, she helped organised many programs for women, and children's classes at community centers.
Chan who was married to former Minister Ong Pang Boon, retired as MP for Delta in 1970 at the age of 36. In 1981, at the age of 49, she was involved in a tragic car crash which took her life. She left behind three children.
Author
Michael Mukunthan
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_791_2005-01-22.html
