Lim Yew Hock, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Lim Yew Hock

Singaporean and Malaysian politician

Date of Birth: 15-Oct-1914

Place of Birth: Singapore

Date of Death: 30-Nov-1984

Profession: politician, diplomat, trade unionist

Nationality: Singapore

Zodiac Sign: Libra


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About Lim Yew Hock

  • Haji Omar Lim Yew Hock (born Lim Yew Hock (Chinese: ???; pinyin: Lín Youfú; Pe?h-oe-ji: Lîm Iú-hok); 15 October 1914 – 30 November 1984) was a Singaporean and Malaysian politician of Chinese descent, who served as a Member of the Legislative Council and Assembly from 1948 to 1963, and the second Chief Minister of Singapore from 1956 to 1959. In his early years, Lim worked as a clerk after he graduated from the Raffles Institution.
  • Following the end of World War II, he joined the labour movement and later began his political career, joining the Progressive Party (PP) in 1947.
  • In 1949, he became a member of the Labour Party.
  • He founded the Labour Front (LF) with David Marshall.
  • The Rendel Constitution was implemented in 1955 due to political instability and greater demands for independence in post-war Singapore.
  • LF won the Legislative Assembly election, with Marshall as Chief Minister.
  • Lim was appointed Minister for Labour and Welfare, and served as his deputy during his term of office. However, after talks with Government in London for self-rule failed, Marshall resigned as Chief Minister, and Lim took over.
  • In order to gain trust from the British, Lim suppressed leftist movements.
  • He led an all-party delegation to re-negotiate in talks for self-rule, eventually reaching an agreement with the British for a new constitution granting internal self-rule in 1959.
  • However, Lim lost the support of the Chinese majority due to his oppression of pro-communists, especially the crackdown of teachers and students in Chinese schools for being left-wing.
  • This led to the increase in support for the People's Action Party (PAP), then opposition, led by Lee Kuan Yew. Lim's Singapore People's Alliance (SPA) was defeated by the PAP in the 1959 election, causing him to step down as Chief Minister, while Lee succeeded him as Prime Minister.
  • After that, he was less involved in Singaporean politics and left the Assembly in 1963.
  • He was appointed Malaysian High Commissioner in Australia by the then-Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
  • However, he dropped out of Malaysian politics entirely shortly after his disappearance in 1966 during his term of office.
  • Lim converted to Islam and led a low profile in Saudi Arabia in his late years.

Read more at Wikipedia

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