Goh Chok Tong

Goh Chok Tong

Prime Minister of Singapore 1990–2004

Emeritus Senior Minister, Republic of Singapore

Senior Advisor to the Monetary Authority of Singapore

Education

Mr. Goh graduated with First Class Honours in Economics from the University of Singapore in 1964 and joined the Administrative Service of the Singapore Government the same year. In 1967, he graduated with a Master of Arts in Development Economics from Williams College, USA. 

Professional experience and political career

Mr. Goh Chok Tong was Singapore’s Prime Minister from November 1990 to August 2004.

Mr. Goh joined national shipping company Neptune Orient Lines in 1969, and was its Managing Director from 1973 to 1977. 

Mr. Goh was first elected into Parliament in 1976, and was re-elected in the eight subsequent general elections. He remains a Member of Parliament. Between 1979 and 1990, he served as Minister in the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Health and Defence. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in 1985, and succeeded Mr. Lee Kuan Yew on 28 November 1990 as Singapore’s second Prime Minister.

He relinquished the premiership in August 2004 to pave the way for leadership renewal. Mr. Goh remained in the Cabinet as Senior Minister and was Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from August 2004 to May 2011. Upon leaving Cabinet, Mr. Goh was given the honorary title of Emeritus Senior Minister, and was appointed Senior Advisor to MAS, by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Family life

He is married to Tan Choo Leng who is a Senior Consultant in a leading law firm. He has two children and six grand-daughters.