Lui_Tuck_Yew

Lui Tuck Yew

Lui Tuck Yew

Singaporean diplomat and former politician

Lui Tuck Yew (Chinese: 吕德耀; pinyin: Lǚ Déyào; born 16 August 1961)[1] is a Singaporean diplomat, former politician and two-star rear-admiral who has been serving as Singapore Ambassador to the United States since 2023.[2] Prior to, Lui served as Singapore Ambassador to China between 2019 and 2023, and Ambassador to Japan between 2017 and 2019.[3]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lui.
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A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Lui served as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Moulmein division of Tanjong Pagar GRC between 2006 and 2011 and later Moulmein–Kallang GRC between 2011 and 2015. He also served in the Cabinet as Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts between 2009 and 2011, Minister for Transport between 2011 and 2015 and Second Minister for Defence in 2015 before retiring from politics.[4]

Prior to entering politics, Lui served in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and served as Chief of Navy between 1999 and 2003, holding the rank of two-star rear-admiral.[5]

Education

Lui was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Anglo-Chinese Junior College, before he was awarded a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he read the natural sciences tripos at Trinity College and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1983.[6]

He subsequently completed a Master of Arts degree in international relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1994.[7]

Career

Lui began his career in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and became Chief of Navy in 1999. He left the RSN in 2003 to join the Administrative Service, and was appointed the chief executive officer of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA). In 2004, he became the Deputy Secretary (Land) at the Ministry of Transport, while continuing to serve concurrently as the chief executive officer of the MPA. In 2005, Lui was appointed the chief executive officer of the Housing Development Board (HDB).

Political career

Lui made his political debut in the 2006 general election as part of a six-member PAP team contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC and won. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tanjong Pagar GRC. During the 2011 general election, Lui switched to contesting in Moulmein–Kallang GRC and won. He was re-elected into Parliament.

Lui was appointed Minister of State for Education on 30 May 2006. On 1 April 2008, he became Senior Minister of State for Education and Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts. He was appointed Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts on 1 April 2009, and became a full member of the Cabinet in 2010 and was appointed Second Minister for Transport, assisting Raymond Lim.

Lui (left), in his capacity as Minister for Transport, presenting the "Partner of the Year" award to Paul Daff, Acting CEO of Jetstar Asia Airways, at the Changi Airlines Awards ceremony in Singapore on 10 May 2012

After the 2011 general election, Lui was appointed Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs.[8] He relinquished his portfolio at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on 1 August 2012, but remains serving as Minister for Transport.

During his tenure as Minister for Transport, Lui defended the privatisation of the public transport system,[9] explaining that if public transport were to be nationalised, operators would be dependent on government funding as well as operate on a cost recovery basis.[10][11] This he added, would not spur them to lower transport costs. Lui is adamant that the companies remain financially viable by approving yearly fare hikes.[12]

2011 general election

During the 2011 general election, Lui contested in the newly created Moulmein–Kallang GRC and won 58.56% of the vote, against the Workers' Party.[13]

On 11 August 2015, Lui announced his retirement from politics after serving for nine years.[4] Together with former Cabinet ministers Wong Kan Seng, Mah Bow Tan and Raymond Lim, they stepped down from politics after the 2015 general election.

Lui acknowledged the criticisms against him as a result of his management during his tenure as Minister for Transport, and said, "In politics, you need a tender heart and a thick skin, not a hard heart and thin skin. I think my heart, my skin, like all my body parts, are fine."[14]

Diplomatic career

On 1 June 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Lui Singapore Ambassador to Japan.[15][16]

Lui was appointed Singapore Ambassador to China in November 2019.[17][18] In May 2023, he was appointed as the Singapore Ambassador to USA.[19]

Personal life

Lui is married to Soo Fen. They have two children.[20]

References

  1. [1]
    "Biographical Summary". Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. [2]
    Wong, Shiying (30 May 2023). "Lui Tuck Yew is Singapore's new ambassador to the United States". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. [3]
    Lydia Lam (2 June 2017). "Lui Tuck Yew appointed Singapore's ambassador to Japan". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. [4]
    "Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew will not contest coming General Election". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. [5]
    Chan Kairen (27 March 2003). "Change of command parades for Army, Navy chiefs". Cyberpioneer. Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  6. [6]
    "About the Ambassador". www.mfa.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Singapore" (PDF). Singapore Embassy Publication. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 8 April 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  8. [8]
    "PM Lee announces sweeping changes to Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  9. [9]
    "Nationalised transport system has its downsides: Minister Lui". 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  10. [10]
    "Public Transport Fares".[dead link]
  11. [11]
    "70% more capacity on peak-hour trains by 2017: Lui Tuck Yew". Yahoo News. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  12. [12]
    "Oral Reply by Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew to Parliamentary Question on Fare Increments". Archived from the original on 9 March 2015.
  13. [13]
    "PAP wins Moulmein–Kallang GRC". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  14. [14]
    Almenoar, Maria. "Lui Tuck Yew on comments in support of him: 'Like obituaries, eulogies without the flowers'". The Straits Times. No. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  15. [15]
    Lui Tuck Yew appointed Singapore's ambassador to Japan, Singapore News & Top Stories - The Straits Times Archived 10 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine - 2 June 2017
  16. [16]
    "Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo". Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  17. [17]
    "Appointment of Ambassador to the People's Republic of China". www.mfa.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  18. [18]
    hermes (1 November 2019). "Lui Tuck Yew appointed Singapore's Ambassador to China". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  19. [19]
    Wong, Shiying (30 May 2023). "Lui Tuck Yew is Singapore's new ambassador to the United States". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  20. [20]
    "MR Lui Tuck Yew". prime Minister's Office. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
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