Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan dies, 27.09.2010

[Mdm Tang]

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Title : Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan dies



By :
Date : 27 September 2010 1038 hrs (SST)

URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1083581/1/.html



Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Balaji Sadasivan has died early Monday morning.




Dr Balaji was 55 years old.

He was married, and had two children.

In late 2008, Dr Balaji had surgery at Gleneagles Hospital to remove a cancerous tumour in the colon.

His friend and former MP Chandra Das said Dr Balaji had not been well since, but continued working till about a week ago.

Before he entered politics in 2001 as a PAP candidate from Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Dr Balaji was a neurosurgeon at Gleneagles Hospital.

He was appointed Minister of State for Health and Environment in November 2001.

In 2007, he was also Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts.

Since April 2008, his responsibility has been confined to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Balaji was also Executive President of Sinda, the Indian self-help group.

He took over last year from Law Minister K. Shanmugam in March 2009.

Dr Balaji studied medicine at the NUS.

After graduating in 1979, he continued his education at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 1984 and also trained at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

-CNA/wk





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[Watchman]

Why AMK running MPs are having colon cancers !

Is it common in Singapore ?

 

[Mdm Tang]

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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_583634.html

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Sep 27, 2010


FM's tribute to Dr Balaji

By Judith Tan

Foreign Minister George Yeo (above), who broke the news that his Senior Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan had died early on Monday morning, said he was 'highly intelligent and very articulate.' -- PHOTO: REUTERS

FOREIGN Minister George Yeo, who broke the news that his Senior Minister of State Balaji Sadasivan had died early on Monday morning, said he was 'highly intelligent and very articulate.'

'He had a compendious mind and a great sense of humour. He was optimistic by nature and positive in his disposition,' he said in comments e-mailed to The Straits Times.

Paying tribute to Dr Balaji, 55, Mr Yeo recalled how when he himself expressed doubts over the Nalanda project, Dr Balaji had encouraged him to persist.

The project was to re-establish the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar, India and Mr Yeo is a member of the mentor group. Before leaving for the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Mr Yeo said he wanted to meet Dr Balaji but was told that his cancer had taken a turn for the worse.

'As I would be away for over two weeks, I decided to drop him an email, just to tell him what a wonderful person I thought he was, and to say that my wife and I were praying for him,' Mr Yeo said. Dr Balaji did not reply.

'Balaji was a dear friend and colleague. He was a wonderful human being. ... I feel very sad and for his for his wife and children,' Mr Yeo said.

Read also:

 

[Mdm Tang]

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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_583621.html

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Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who was battling colon cancer, died early on Monday morning. -- PHOTO: NP




SENIOR Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who was battling colon cancer, died early on Monday morning. He was 55.



Foreign Minister George Yeo broke the news of his death in a Twitter message just before 10.30 am on Monday. 'Mourns the passing away of dear friend and colleague Dr Balaji Sadasivan,' he twitted.

Dr Balaji had surgery at Gleneagles Hospital on Sept 23, 2008 to remove a cancerous tumour in the colon.

Before he entered politics in 2001 as a PAP candidate, he was a neurosurgeon at Gleneagles Hospital.

Soon after, he was elected as an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC. He was appointed minister of state for health and environment in November 2001.

From May 2006 to March this year, he was senior minister of state for foreign affairs and information, communications and the arts. In April, his responsibility was confined to the ministry of foreign affairs.

Dr Balaji leaves behind his wife, Dr Ma Swan Hoo, whom he met in medical school, and two children, Anita and Dharma



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Remembering Dr Balaji




As a doctor

* Dr Balaji Sadasivan was born in Singapore

* He was educated at Siglap Secondary School, Raffles Institution and National Junior College

* He graduated with a medical degree from the then University of Singapore (now National University of Singapore) and became a Fellow of the Royal College of surgeons in 1984

* He then trained in neurosurgery at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, followed by a Fellowship at Harvard University, with clinical appointment at the Brigham Hospital and the Boston Children's Hospital.

* As a consultant in the neurosurgery department in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Dr Balaji re-organised the care of stroke patients, computerised the neurosurgical ICU, introduced stereotactic brachytherapy for brain tumours and chaired the planning committee for the National Neuroscience Institute.

* Dr Balaji has authored more than 50 scientific publications and chapters in books on neurosurgery.

* He left for private practice in 1994, where he set up Singapore's first tereotactic radio-surgical treatment system, using a linear accelerator.

* He obtained a law degree with honours from the University of London in 1999.

As a politican and community advocate

* When he was asked to enter politics, Dr Balaji gave up a successful neurosurgical practice,closed his entrepreneurial business and sacrificed family and leisure time to dedicate himself to public service.

* He became Member of Parliament for Ang Ko Kio GRC and appointed Minister of State in November 2001.

* He was promoted to Senior Minister of State in August 2004, and has served in various ministries, including Health, Environment, Transport, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Health and was currently Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

* At the grassroots level, he was President of SINDA's executive committee, President of the Singapore Indian Education Trust and served on several other committees including the National Sterring Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony.

* In May 2006, he was appointed chairman of the National Aids Policy Committee when he was at the Ministry of Health.

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Tribute to Dr Balaji



A tireless HIV/Aids champion


Dr Balaji was a strong proponent of HIV education in schools and workplaces. He also championed various initiatives to encourage early and regular HIV testing. He also pushed for the implementation of universal antenatal testing.

"Never someone to shy away from difficult and sensitive issues, Dr Balaji moved on to address HIV- related stigma and discrimination in society and the workplade. His fearlessness and dedication to HIV/Aids issues can only be admired.' - Professor K. Satku, Health Ministry's Director of Medical Services, in a citation for Dr Balaji in the May issue of the SMA News, a newsletter of the Singapore Medical Association.

'He has shown great personal concern for HIV-infected individuals and affected communities; and Aids wormers in Singapore are fortunate to have someone like Dr Balaji to champion their cause.' - Dr Roy Chan, President of Action for Aids and director of the National Skin Centre, in the May issue of SMA

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[Mdm Tang]

Why AMK running MPs are having colon cancers !

Is it common in Singapore ?

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Mo_Kio_Group_Representation_Constituency


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Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search


Ang Mo Kio Group Group Representation Constituency.

Billboard at Anchorvale commemorating National Day 2006, showing the current Members of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC.Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (Traditional Chinese: 宏茂橋集選區;Simplified Chinese: 宏茂桥集选区) is a six-member Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the north eastern region of Singapore. The constituency encompasses the majority of Ang Mo Kio, Teck Ghee, Kebun Baru, Yio Chu Kang, Jalan Kayu, Seletar Hills, part of Serangoon North, the western portion of Sengkang - Fernvale, Anchorvale and the southern portion of Yishun - Nee Soon South. In the 2001 general election, the constituency was enlarged to include most parts of the Cheng San Group Representation Constituency.

The town centre of Ang Mo Kio was part of the group representation constituency until the general election in 2006, when the boundaries were redrawn and an area was carved out into a new Single Member Constituency known as Yio Chu Kang Single Member Constituency.

Ang Mo Kio GRC is led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who is the MP for Teck Ghee. The GRC has been held by the People's Action Party since its formation in 1991. The constituency had never been contested before in the three general elections before 2006.

The western portion of the GRC consists of parts of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve while in the northeastern corner, it fronts a short coastline in the Straits of Johor with 2 reclaimed islands, Pulau Punggol Barat and Pulau Punggol Timor.

Members of Parliament
■Lau Ping Sum - Yio Chu Kang (1991 – 1997)
■Lee Hsien Loong - Teck Ghee (1991 – )
■Umar Abdul Hamid - Kebun Baru (1991 – 1997)
■Yeo Toon Chia - Ang Mo Kio (1991 – 1997)
■Inderjit Singh - Kebun Baru (1997 – )
■Seng Han Thong - Yio Chu Kang (1997 – 2006)
■Tan Boon Wan - Nee Soon South (1997 – 2006)
■Tang Guan Seng - Ang Mo Kio (1997 – 2001)
■Balaji Sadasivan (deceased) - Cheng San-Seletar (2001 – 2010)
■Wee Siew Kim - Jalan Kayu (2001 – )
■Lam Pin Min - Sengkang West (2006 – )
■Lee Bee Wah - Nee Soon South (2006 –)
Candidates and results
Election Seats Voters Party Candidate(s) Votes Votes (%)
Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency
Singapore general election, 1991 4 74,004 PAP Lau Ping Sum
Lee Hsien Loong
Umar Abdul Hamid
Yeo Toon Chia Walkover Walkover
Singapore general election, 1997 5 125,344 PAP Inderjit Singh
Lee Hsien Loong
Seng Han Thong
Tan Boon Wan
Tang Guan Seng Walkover Walkover
Singapore general election, 2001 6 166,644 PAP Inderjit Singh
Lee Hsien Loong
Seng Han Thong
Tan Boon Wan
Sadasivan Balaji
Wee Siew Kim Walkover Walkover
Singapore general election, 2006 6 159,838 PAP Inderjit Singh
Lam Pin Min
Lee Bee Wah
Lee Hsien Loong
Sadasivan Balaji
Wee Siew Kim 96,636 66.14
WP Abdul Salim Bin Harun
Gopal Krishnan
Han Su May
Lee Wai Leng
Tan Kian Hwee Melvin
Yaw Shin Leong 49,479 33.86



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[Mdm Tang]

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaji_Sadasivan



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Balaji Sadasivan


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search


Balaji Sadasivan (11 July 1955 - 27 September 2010)[1] was an Indian[1] Singaporean politician and the current Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.[2] As of 2007, he serves as the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts.[3]

In March 2008, PM Lee Hsien Loong reshuffled his Cabinet, of which Dr. Balaji retains his portfolio at the Foreign Affairs Ministry only.

Balaji pursued an education in medicine, attending Raffles Institution, Siglap Secondary School, the National Junior College, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). After graduating from NUS in 1979, he continued his education at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in Scotland, becoming a Fellow in 1984, and trained at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan from 1985 to 1989. He worked as a neurosurgeon until 2001, publishing over 50 book chapters and journal articles.[3]

He died on 27 September 2010.[4]

See also
■Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency
■List of Indians in Singapore
■Members of the Singapore Parliament

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[Mdm Tang]

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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_583621.html

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Latest comments


Oh dear.... my condolences!!
Posted by: petunialee at Mon Sep 27 13:32:39 SGT 2010


one of the more hands on MOS I have seen in years, did a lot of good work. A definite loss for Spore. My Condolences to the family
Posted by: bawangmerah at Mon Sep 27 13:19:14 SGT 2010


His last apperance in the public was after his surgery and I thought he was already okay... I am sadden with his departure My condolences to his family. Amitaba.
Posted by: mysaymysay at Mon Sep 27 13:00:45 SGT 2010


Saw him a couple of times at the Queenstown library which he visited before he became a politician.
His kids are quite young. A quiet man, most unlikely politician IMO after his entry into politics became known.
My condolences to his family.
Posted by: commentator_sc at Mon Sep 27 12:35:38 SGT 2010


iam sadden by this early death of another capable Singaporean in our midst. Time to wake up fom our slumber about our health as one nation, one heart beat Singapore!
Posted by: onlyone2one at Mon Sep 27 12:30:17 SGT 2010





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[Mdm Tang]

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http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/Balaji_Sadasivan


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Balaji Sadasivan (born July 11, 1955)[1] is an Indian Singaporean politician and the current Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. As of 2007, he serves as the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Information, Communications and the Arts.

In March 2008, PM Lee Hsien Loong reshuffled his Cabinet, which resulted in Dr. Balaji losing his MICA portfolio whilst retaining his post at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Balaji pursued an education in medicine, attending Raffles Institution, Siglap Secondary School, the National Junior College, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). After graduating from NUS in 1979, he continued his education at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in Scotland, becoming a Fellow in 1984, and trained at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan from 1985 to 1989. He worked as a neurosurgeon until 2001, publishing over 50 book chapters and journal articles

 

[Frankiestine]

Only a Senior Minister of State not worthy to pop open that bottle of champagne to celebrate. Still waiting for the big one when the old mental fart drops dead then it will be party time.

 

[exSINgaporean]

Frankly I must salute some of the PAP bright guys and his is indeed one of them. He certainly has the right qualification to be in-charge of the Ministry of Health as a Senior Minister-of-State and I am surprised he was not promoted to be the Minister of Health and instead an ordinary lay person is.

He could have easily be the most qualified Minister of Health in the WORLD! This could be a good reason why PAP raised the Ministers' and MPs pay because in his case it is indeed a financial sacrifice. I can't speak much about One Cunt Sing or all those paper generals.

I guess he had all the intention to step into politics as he was already doing so well as a neurosurgeon at Gleneagles Hospital so why he did he need to obtain a law degree with honours from the University of London in 1999.


His friend and ex-MP Mr. Chandra must have coached him along and acted as his mentor.

What a lost to Singapore.

 

[Mdm Tang]

Frankly I must salute some of the PAP bright guys and his is indeed one of them. He certainly has the right qualification to be in-charge of the Ministry of Health as a Senior Minister-of-State and I am surprised he was not promoted to be the Minister of Health and instead an ordinary lay person is.

He could have easily be the most qualified Minister of Health in the WORLD! This could be a good reason why PAP raised the Ministers' and MPs pay because in his case it is indeed a financial sacrifice. I can't speak much about One Cunt Sing or all those paper generals.

I guess he had all the intention to step into politics as he was already doing so well as a neurosurgeon at Gleneagles Hospital so why he did he need to obtain a law degree with honours from the University of London in 1999.


His friend and ex-MP Mr. Chandra must have coached him along and acted as his mentor.

What a lost to Singapore.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


Just heard on CNA that Dr B is one of the "Super 7 " ...

Who are the other "Super 6 " ?


Thanks

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Mdm Tang]

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quote ...



Super Seven : Report Card of Ministers

Your votes have spoken! This is the first part of the “Super Seven” Ministers article.a useful and interesting read.

After each election, some of the new candidates will be thrown into the political office. In the recent GE, Grace Fu, Lui Tuck Yew and Lee Yi Shyan were the ones who became Ministers of State. In the 2001 General Election, seven were promoted to Senior Ministers of State and Ministers of State. They are, Tharman Shanmuguratnam, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Raymond Lim, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Khaw Boon Wan and Cedric Foo. With the exception of Cedric Foo, who quit political office during the term, the rest of Super-seven made quite good progress. The first part will feature two of the six Ministers, Tharman and Dr Balaji.

In the past Cabinets, Singapore has seen several great Ministers who are Indians, such as the late S. Rajaratnam (DPM, SM and Foreign Minister), ex-Foreign Minister Dhanabalan and DPM Jayakumar. Following the footsteps of these giants are Tharman and Dr Balaji. Five years has passed and let’s see the major issues surrounding these Ministers.

 

[SneeringTree]

Too bad all I remember of him was his infamous speech when he said an unnamed doctor told him that allowing gays in Singapore to hold large scale parties will result in a spike in HIV infection.

All his years of smarts and sense ruined in that moment for me for him.

 

[SotongMee]

He was one of "Super Seven" don't play play, you were suggesting he anti-gay.

Hard to believe suddenly drop dead like that, high pay, cushy position, talk cock sing song and drop dead like that.

Anyway this kind of "talent" five cents a doZen these days, if die can import anytime.

Too bad all I remember of him was his infamous speech when he said an unnamed doctor told him that allowing gays in Singapore to hold large scale parties will result in a spike in HIV infection.

All his years of smarts and sense ruined in that moment for me for him.