Former Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang took to social media on Tuesday to confirm that he is retiring from politics, after nearly 30 years.
Mr Lim entered politics in the 1991 general election, contesting Tanjong Pagar GRC, which was then helmed by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. He was appointed a Minister of State for National Development that same year.As the GRC's anchor minister, he retained his seat in walkovers in the 2001 and 2006 general elections, and led the PAP to victory in the 2015 general election with 78.57 per cent of the vote, against the Reform Party led by its chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam.
Saw the country through global financial crisis and Sars Before becoming the Trade and Industry Minister in 2004 - a portfolio he held for 14 years - Mr Lim rose through the ranks in several ministries. Tough measures he put in place included the shutting of schools and a strict quarantine regime during the four-month fight to contain the virus.As chief of the Ministry of Trade and Industry , he worked hard to build trade relationships and negotiated an extensive network of free trade agreements for Singapore.
His years in the Ministry coincided with a period of rapid growth for Singapore, as it built up key industry clusters in the manufacturing sector, including petrochemicals, semiconductors and life sciences.In a valedictory letter to Mr Lim when he retired from MTI two years ago, PM Lee wrote that when the financial crisis hit,"your calmness and experience were pillars of strength".