From navy chief to a key pillar of PAP’s 3G team: SM Teo to retire after 33 years in politics
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Then Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo (far left) and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean (centre) at Safra Punggol for the My Family Fiesta on Sept 8, 2019.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE - Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, 70, is retiring from politics, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning more than three decades.
On April 23, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong paid tribute to SM Teo and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat,
“Both are remarkable individuals, giants in the public service with a lifetime of contributions to Singapore and Singaporeans,” he said at a press conference.
A former chief of navy holding the rank of rear-admiral, SM Teo made his political debut in December 1992, when he was part of a team that contested and won a by-election in Marine Parade GRC.
He quickly established himself as a PAP stalwart, earning re-election six times as an MP for Pasir Ris GRC and, subsequently, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which he had anchored from 2001.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah has taken over from SM Teo to helm the PAP team in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, which was carved out of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
SM Teo’s first Cabinet appointment was as minister of state for finance as well as communications in 1992. He has also been minister for home affairs, defence, education, and the environment.
A core member of Singapore’s third-generation political leadership team, SM Teo served as deputy prime minister from 2009 to 2019, and has been Coordinating Minister for National Security since 2011. He was appointed Senior Minister in 2019.
From admiral to policy architect
As Coordinating Minister for National Security, SM Teo has strengthened Singapore’s resilience against emerging threats, such as terrorism.
This includes improving intelligence sharing, strengthening border security, and conducting regular counter-terrorism exercises.
He also oversaw the development of robust cyber-security strategies to protect Singapore’s critical infrastructure and digital assets. For example, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore was established in 2015 to protect Singapore’s cyberspace.
Then DPM Teo Chee Hean speaking in an interview to mark Public Service Week in 2009.
PHOTO: ST FILE
SM Teo also spearheaded efforts to transform Singapore into a Smart Nation by advancing digital government initiatives and fostering innovation.
Launched in 2018, the Digital Government Blueprint leveraged data and digital technologies to transform public services, making them more efficient and citizen-centric.
This has included initiatives to automate processes, enhance digital infrastructure, and improve the digital skills of public officers.
In 2024, Smart Nation 2.0 was announced
(From left) Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Sharael Taha, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Ms Sun Xueling, Mr Desmond Tan and Ms Yeo Wan Ling at Downtown East on March 22.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
As chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, SM Teo also championed sustainability efforts, including solar energy deployment and electric vehicle adoption.
Under his leadership, Singapore developed comprehensive strategies to address climate change, including the National Climate Change Strategy in 2012 and the Climate Action Plan in 2016.
He also played a key role in the introduction of Singapore’s carbon tax in 2019, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by incentivising businesses to adopt greener practices.
Fighting pandemic outbreak
Among SM Teo’s major contributions were his experience with both the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Mindef, and the authority he wielded as Coordinating Minister for National Security.
This was especially evident when the Covid-19 pandemic rampaged through migrant workers’ dormitories in 2020. SM Teo was tasked with assembling an inter-agency joint task force (JTF)
Cases among workers living in dormitories had jumped
For much of the year, they made up 19 in 20 cases, and by the end of 2021, over 175,000 out of 323,000 dormitory residents had caught the virus.
SM Teo put together a team that comprised the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Home Team from MHA.
The JTF deployed officers to all 43 purpose-built dorms to set up medical facilities and bring in supplies and food, and even ensured that there was internet access and entertainment for the workers. Doctors and nurses were also deployed to each dorm.
By the end of the first week of the circuit breaker, which had begun on April 7, 2020, all the dorms were locked down. Workers who tested positive were moved to community facilities, and strict testing and isolation rules were imposed.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean made his political debut in December 1992, when he was part of a team that contested and won a by-election in Marine Parade GRC.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Over four months later, all the dorms were cleared of the virus and nine in 10 workers in the construction, maritime and process sectors could return to their jobs.
“Covid-19 was not a mission that our SAF and Home Team had specifically prepared and trained for,” said SM Teo in a national broadcast on Singapore’s post-coronavirus future
“But they demonstrated their readiness and flexibility by stepping up to establish the joint task forces within days, to support their MOM and MOH colleagues who were already on the front lines.”
He added that the pandemic was the largest and most complex challenge he had encountered in more than 40 years of public service.
In a Facebook post on April 23, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: “Chee Hean was a steady presence in Cabinet and a pillar of strength in my 3G team.”
He said he could rely on SM Teo to deal with the thorniest issues sensibly and even-handedly.
Whether they were responding to crises like the Covid-19 pandemic, managing complex cross-cutting topics like population policy, or conducting sensitive negotiations with Singapore’s neighbours, SM Teo spoke his mind, and never hesitated to express views that were different from his, said SM Lee.
“I always valued Chee Hean’s thoughtful reactions to my ideas, his strategic clarity, and sound judgment,” SM Lee added.
Respected interlocutor in defence diplomacy
As defence minister from 2003 to 2011, SM Teo served at the forefront of defence diplomacy through his interactions with international defence leaders. He was a respected interlocutor in defence diplomacy, building close ties with both his Chinese and American counterparts over his tenure.
He was a driving force behind the signing of major agreements such as the Strategic Framework Agreement with the US in 2005, and contributed significantly in building up the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, which has become the premier defence and security forum in the Asia-Pacific.
He also oversaw critical upgrades to Singapore’s military capabilities to ensure its preparedness in an evolving global landscape. This included the introduction of new fighter jets, naval vessels, and land systems to the SAF, and leveraging technology as a force multiplier.
As home affairs minister, SM Teo spearheaded efforts to boost civil defence and internal security, especially in the wake of rising regional threats.
He emphasised the importance of the Total Defence strategy, which integrates military, civil, economic, social, and psychological defence to ensure Singapore’s resilience against various threats.
In a Facebook post on April 23, PM Wong called SM Teo “a strategist at heart” who brought an incisive mind to bear on complex issues, with a laser focus on effective policies that make a difference.
SM Teo was also a statesman who represented Singapore with distinction on the global stage, creating space and opportunities for Singapore internationally, he said.
“His contributions over the years allowed us to resolve complex and longstanding bilateral issues – including the agreements on extradition, airspace and defence cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia,” PM Wong said.
“His leadership has enabled our little red dot to stand tall and proud in the world.”
In a 2018 speech at the Singapore Perspectives conference, SM Teo emphasised the necessity of leadership renewal to maintain vitality and energy in governance.
“You don’t want a whole nation to be held hostage by the health of a cohort of people who are already senior and are getting more and more senior with each passing year, so you need leadership renewal.”
In 2019, upon his transition from deputy prime minister to senior minister, he said: “Senior leaders make way in good time for the next generation, share their experience and help the next generation of leaders to succeed.”
Key appointments
May 2019 to present: Senior Minister
May 2011 to present: Coordinating Minister for National Security
April 2009 to April 2019: Deputy Prime Minister
May 2011 to September 2015: Minister for Home Affairs
August 2003 to May 2011: Minister of Defence
January 1997 to July 2003: Minister of Education
January 1996 to July 2003: Second Minister for Defence
January 1996 to January 1997: Minister for the Environment
April 1995 to January 1996: Acting Minister for the Environment
April 1995 to January 1996: Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
July 1994 to April 1995: Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
December 1992 to April 1995: Minister of State, Ministry of Finance
December 1992 to July 1994: Minister of State, Ministry of Communications
Member of Parliament
October 2001 to current: Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
January 1997 to October 2001: Pasir Ris GRC
December 1992 to December 1996: Marine Parade GRC
Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage.
