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{{Short description|Singaporean politician (1921–2012)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Toh Chin Chye
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|zh-hant|杜进才}}}}
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|list=[[Darjah Utama Nila Utama|DUNU]]}}
| image = Toh chin chye.jpg
| office = [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)#Ministers|Minister for Health]]
| primeminister = [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
| term_start = 2 June 1975
| term_end = 5 January 1981
| predecessor = [[Chua Sian Chin]]
| successor = [[Goh Chok Tong]]
| office1 = Minister for Science and Technology
| primeminister1 = Lee Kuan Yew<ref>{{cite web | first1=Soo Kai | last1=Poh | url=http://singaporerebel.blogspot.sg/2012/02/on-dr-toh-chin-chye.html | title=On Dr Toh Chin Chye | date=16 February 2012 | access-date=9 January 2015 | website=singaporerebel.blogspot.sg | archive-date=9 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109041210/http://singaporerebel.blogspot.sg/2012/02/on-dr-toh-chin-chye.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
| term_start1 = 16 April 1968
| term_end1 = 1 June 1975
| predecessor1 = ''Office established''
| successor1 = [[Lee Chiaw Meng]]
| office2 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore]]
| primeminister2 = Lee Kuan Yew
| term_start2 = 5 June 1959
| term_end2 = 2 August 1968
| predecessor2 = [[Abdul Hamid Jumat]]<br />(as [[Chief Minister of Singapore|Deputy Chief Minister]])
| successor2 = [[Goh Keng Swee]]
| office3 = [[Leader of the House (Singapore)|Leader of the House]]
| primeminister3 = Lee Kuan Yew
| term_start3 = 5 June 1959
| term_end3 = 15 April 1968
| predecessor3 = ''Office established''
| successor3 = [[E. W. Barker]]
| office4 = Member of the [[Malaysian Parliament]]<br />for [[Singapore in Malaysia|Singapore]]
| term_start4 = 2 November 1963<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.parlimen.gov.my/files/hindex/pdf/DR-02111963.pdf |title=PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT |work=[[Dewan Rakyat]] |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829050606/http://www.parlimen.gov.my/files/hindex/pdf/DR-02111963.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| term_end4 = 9 August 1965
| predecessor4 = ''Position established''
| successor4 = ''Position abolished''
| constituency_MP5 = [[Rochore Constituency|Rochor]]
| parliament5 = Singapore
| term_start5 = 30 May 1959
| term_end5 = 17 August 1988
| predecessor5 = ''Constituency established''
| successor5 = ''Constituency abolished''
| office6 = 3rd Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the [[People's Action Party]]
| term_start6 = 20 October 1957
| term_end6 = 8 January 1981
| predecessor6 = Tan Chong Kim
| successor6 = [[Ong Teng Cheong]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|12|10}}
| birth_place = [[Batu Gajah]], [[Perak]], [[Federated Malay States]], [[British Malaya]], (now [[Malaysia]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|2|3|1921|12|10}}
| death_place = [[Singapore]]
| party = [[People's Action Party]]
| awards =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Florence Yeapp Sui Phek|1962|2004|end=died}}
| children = Toh Ai Chu (adopted) (died 2009)
| alma_mater = [[National University of Singapore|Raffles College]]<br />[[University of London]]<br />[[National Institute for Medical Research]]
| prior_term1 =
| prior_term2 =
| Term_Start7 =
| Term_end7 =
| office7 = 1st Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the [[People's Action Party]]
| successor7 = Tan Chong Kim
| term_end7 = 13 August 1957
| term_start7 = 21 November 1954
| predecessor7 = ''Position established''
| resting_place = [[Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium]]
}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Du (surname)|Toh]]|lang=Chinese}}
'''Toh Chin Chye''' {{postnominals|list=[[Darjah Utama Nila Utama|DUNU]]}} ({{lang-zh|s=杜进才|p=Dù Jìncái|poj=Tō͘ Chìn-châi}}; 10 December 1921 – 3 February 2012) was a Singaporean statesman and academic who served as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore]] between 1959 and 1968. Toh is widely recognised as one of the founding fathers of Singapore. He was also one of the founders of the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP), which has governed the country continuously since independence.

Toh was a prominent member of the country's first generation of political leaders after Singapore became independent in 1965. He served as [[Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore|Deputy Prime Minister]] between 1959 and 1968, Minister for Science and Technology between 1968 and 1975, and [[Ministry of Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]] between 1975 and 1981.

He also served as [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]] between 1954 and 1981, [[Leader of the House (Singapore)|Leader of the House]] between 1959 and 1968, and [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the University of Singapore (now the [[National University of Singapore]]) between 1968 and 1975.

After Toh resigned from the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] in 1981, he continued to serve as a [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) on the [[Backbencher|backbenches]].

==Early life and career==
Toh attended [[St. George's Institution, Malaysia|St George's Institution]] in [[Taiping, Perak|Taiping]], and [[Anglo-Chinese School, Ipoh|Anglo-Chinese School]] in [[Ipoh]] before graduating from Raffles College (now the [[National University of Singapore]]) in 1946 with a diploma in science.<ref name="TNP" />

He went on to further his studies at the [[University of London]] and received a [[PhD]] in [[physiology]] from the [[National Institute for Medical Research]] in 1953.<ref name="nus">{{cite web | url=http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/biovcTohChinChye.htm | title=Toh Chin Chye | publisher=[[National University of Singapore]] | access-date=21 June 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614084933/http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/nusbiodata/biovcTohChinChye.htm | archive-date=14 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Toh began his career as an academic where he was a [[Reader (academic rank)|reader]] in [[physiology]] at the University of Singapore (now the [[National University of Singapore]]) between 1958 and 1964. He served as [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the University of Singapore<ref>{{cite web|title=Toh Chin Chye|url=http://www.nus.edu.sg/about-nus-2/history/vice-chancellors/toh-chin-chye|publisher=National University of Singapore|access-date=9 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109041829/http://www.nus.edu.sg/about-nus-2/history/vice-chancellors/toh-chin-chye|archive-date=9 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> while serving as Minister for Science and Technology between 1968 and 1975 concurrently.<ref name="nus" />

==Political career==
{{cquote|
"Once you are in the front edge of administration, there'll be barbs and arrows. Don't expect roses. I never expected roses."
<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120204-0000018/Dr-Toh-Chin-Chye | title=Dr Toh Chin Chye | newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]] | access-date=4 February 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205005554/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120204-0000018/Dr-Toh-Chin-Chye | archive-date=5 February 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
Toh became politically active during his time as a university student in London, when he served as Chairman of the [[Malayan Forum]], an anti-colonial group for students from [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] and Singapore where they meet regularly for discussions and debates on the future of the Malayan region.

Toh was among the founding members of the [[People's Action Party]] (PAP) and served as the party's chairman from its formation in 1954 to 1981, however during a short period in 1957, the [[Left-wing politics|leftists]] in the [[Political faction|party]], who dominated the common membership in 1957, took over the party leadership.<ref>{{cite web |author=National Library Board, Singapore |url=http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_647_2005-01-11.html |title=Toh Chin Chye |publisher=Infopedia |access-date=7 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806220955/http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_647_2005-01-11.html |archive-date=6 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The founding members were subsequently restored when many of the leftist leaders were arrested by Chief Minister [[Lim Yew Hock]] in his anti-communist crackdown, allowing for the restoration of the original "basement group" of Toh, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, ''et al.'' to the party's [[Central Executive Committee (PAP)|Central Executive Committee]] (CEC). Following this, Toh implemented a cadre system to prevent from the newcomer "ordinary members", including leftist sympathisers, from having undue influence over the membership of the CEC. Toh was also a key member of Lee Kuan Yew's faction in their fight against their rivals within the party.

Toh contested in [[Rochore Constituency|Rochor]] as a PAP candidate during the [[1959 Singaporean general election|1959 general election]] and won.

Following the PAP's victory at the 1959 general election, the members of the party's CEC voted to decide whether Lee, as the party's [[Secretary-General]], or the party's Treasurer, [[Ong Eng Guan]], who served as Mayor of the [[City Council of Singapore|City Council]] between 1957 and 1959, should take up the newly created office of [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]. The vote was tied, and Toh, as the party's Chairman, used his [[casting vote]] in favour of Lee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1180722/1/.html |title=Remembering Dr Toh Chin Chye |publisher=Channel NewsAsia |date=3 February 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |archive-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929190821/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1180722/1/.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Toh was a tenacious fighter in the battle against the [[Barisan Sosialis]], a communist party formed by defunct members from the PAP. He managed to defeat Barisan Chairman [[Lee Siew Choh]] by a mere 89 votes in the [[1963 Singaporean general election|1963 general election]], his narrowest electoral victory.

Toh held several Cabinet portfolios prior and subsequent independence of Singapore, including Deputy Prime Minister between 1959 and 1968, Minister for Science and Technology between 1968 and 1975 and Minister for Health between 1975 and 1981. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore between 1968 and 1975. His stint at the university drew mixed reactions from staff and students. While his role to reorient the university's focus to suit the fledgling nation's needs was applauded, he was perceived as authoritarian, when he clamped down on student demonstrations and political activities.

Toh stepped down from the Cabinet and as the party's Chairman in 1981. He served a further two parliamentary terms as a vocal backbencher, during which time he criticised his own party on a regular basis. He retired from Parliament at the [[1988 Singaporean general election|1988 general election]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tien|first1=Jenny|title=Toh Chin Chye|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_647_2005-01-11.html|publisher=National Library Board|access-date=9 January 2015|archive-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105171311/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_647_2005-01-11.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==

===False accusation===
In 1996, a front-page article in Singaporean tabloid ''[[The New Paper]]'' claimed that Toh had killed a pedestrian in a [[hit-and-run accident]] while driving drunk. The actual perpetrator was a different man also called Toh Chin Chye, one of nine people sharing the name in Singapore. The reporter who filed the story was fired, with two newsroom editors demoted, and the paper paid Toh $300,000 in damages.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3014649/singapore-medias-run-ins-lee-kuan-yew-and-newsroom | title=Excerpts from veteran Singapore editor PN Balji's new book | date=15 June 2019 }}</ref>

===Retirement===
Toh spent his last years away from the public eye. ''[[The Straits Times]]'' featured Toh twice, in 2005 and 2006 respectively, once on 2 May 2005, where he was seen being assisted by two men and a walking stick as he walked to pay his last respects to former President [[Wee Kim Wee]]. In February 2006, Toh was featured in ''The Straits Times'' again, paying his last respects to the late former Deputy Prime Minister [[S. Rajaratnam]] at his home in Chancery Lane.<ref>{{cite news|title=Photo Essays: Toh Chin Chye (1921–2012)|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/through-the-lens/story/toh-chin-chye-1921-2012?page=38|access-date=9 January 2015|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109055621/http://www.straitstimes.com/through-the-lens/story/toh-chin-chye-1921-2012?page=38|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death and legacy==
Toh died in his sleep at his home in Greenview Crescent, [[Bukit Timah]] on 3 February 2012 at 9:30am [[Singapore Standard Time]] ([[UTC+08:00]]). He was 90 years of age.<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering Dr Toh Chin Chye|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120203-325628.html|access-date=9 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109131101/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120203-325628.html|archive-date=9 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He is survived by his son-in-law and four grandchildren aged 4 to 15.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_762613.html |title=Former deputy PM & PAP founding member Toh Chin Chye dies |access-date=3 February 2012 |archive-date=3 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203084910/http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_762613.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
He was given a private funeral according to his wishes on 7 February 2012 at the [[Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium|Mandai Crematorium]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1181413/1/.html |title=Tributes pour in at Dr Toh's funeral |access-date=7 February 2012 |archive-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209002843/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1181413/1/.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As a mark of respect for his contributions to Singapore, his coffin was draped in the national flag and borne on a ceremonial gun carriage to the crematorium. State flags at all Government buildings were flown at [[half-mast]] on the day of his funeral.

===Contributions===
Toh was generally considered one of the founding fathers of Singapore that came along with [[Lee Kuan Yew]], [[Goh Keng Swee]] and [[S. Rajaratnam]], for helping to lead Singapore during the nation's formative years.

''[[Majulah Singapura]]'' was chosen by Toh as the national anthem of Singapore. In 1959, he headed the team that designed the [[Coat of arms of Singapore|coat of arms]] and [[Flag of Singapore|state flag]] of Singapore.<ref name="TNP">{{cite news|title=Dr Toh Chin Chye:1921–2012 VIP With Simple Taste |newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|author=Benson Ang|location=Singapore|pages=4, 6|date=February 2012}}</ref>

==Honours==
Toh was conferred the [[Darjah Utama Nila Utama|Order of Nila Utama (First Class)]] in 1990.<ref name="TNP" />

==References==
{{Library resources box
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{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef | before = None, New post}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Prime Minister of Singapore#List of deputy prime ministers|Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore]]
| years = 5 June 1965 – 2 August 1968 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Goh Keng Swee]] }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Yong Nyuk Lin]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Minister for Health (Singapore)|Minister for Health]]
| years = 2 June 1975 – 5 January 1981 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Howe Yoon Chong]] }}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new | party}}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Party Chair|Chairman]] of the [[People's Action Party]]
| years = 1954 – 1981 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Ong Teng Cheong]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Lim Tay Boh]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[National University of Singapore]]
| years = 1968 – 1975 }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Kwan Sai Kheong]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toh, Chin Chye}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:People's Action Party politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore]]
[[Category:Malaysian emigrants to Singapore]]
[[Category:People who lost Malaysian citizenship]]
[[Category:People from Perak]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Hokkien descent]]
[[Category:National University of Singapore alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Darjah Utama Nila Utama]]
[[Category:Members of the Dewan Rakyat]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore]]
[[Category:Ministers for health of Singapore]]
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean independence activists]]

Toh Chin Chye - Revision history

imported>Kingoflettuce: grammar