Chan Choy Siong

Chan Choy Siong (Chinese: 陳翠嫦; pinyin: Chén Cuìcháng; 1931 – 11 February 1981) was a Singaporean politician and activist for women's rights in Singapore. Chan was one of the first women to be elected a member of parliament in Singapore.

Biography

Chan grew up poor in Chinatown.[1] She attended Nanyang Girls' High School, but was unable to complete her studies because of financial restraints.[1] Her father supported her pursuit of an education.[2] When she was only twenty, she joined the new People's Action Party (PAP).[3] Chan was committed to securing equal rights for women in Singapore, including equality in pay and for an end to legal polygamy.[4]

In 1956, Chan, Ho Puay Choo and Oh Siew Chen created the Women's League within PAP.[5] Chan was elected to the Central Executive Committee of the PAP in 1957.[6] That year, she was also elected to be a city councillor.[3] Chan, and seven other women were elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1959.[5] Chan served as member of parliament between 1959 and 1970 and was one of the first women active in Singaporean politics.[7] Chan pushed for the passage of the Women's Charter and a monogamy proposal.[3] In 1961, she created and led the Women's Affairs Bureau of PAP.[3] Also in 1961, the Women's Charter was passed.[5]

Chan retired from politics in 1970.[8] In 1981, she died in a car accident.[9]

Chan was the wife of Ong Pang Boon, a prominent first-generation member of the People's Action Party. Her niece, Cheryl Chan, was elected in the 2015 and 2020 General Elections.[10]

Legacy

In 2005, she was honored by the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO) by being added to the Wall of Fame.[7] In 2014, Chan was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame.[9]

References

Citations
  1. "Chan Choy Siong". Infopedia. National Library Board, Singapore. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. Ho 2012, p. 67.
  3. Ho 2012, p. 68.
  4. Leong, Weng Kam (9 September 2001). "One Man, One Wife...". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 November 2017 – via LexisNexis.
  5. Lee, Chor Lin (2012). In the Mood for Cheongsam: A Social History, 1920s – Present. Editions Didier Millet. pp. 36, 38. ISBN 9789814260923.
  6. "Women in Singapore Politics". The Straits Times. 8 March 1993. Retrieved 20 November 2017 – via LexisNexis.
  7. Ng, Sarah (23 October 2005). "Wall Tribute for Women Pioneers; Six Featured in New Wall of Fame at SCWO's Waterloo Street Centre". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 November 2017 – via LexisNexis.
  8. Turnbull, C. M. (1 January 2009). A History of Modern Singapore, 1819–2005. NUS Press. p. 321. ISBN 9789971694302.
  9. "Chan Choy Siong". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  10. Wong, Siew Ying (7 September 2015). "From volunteer to contender". straitstimes.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

Sources
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.