Lim Swee Say

Lim served at Singapore's National Computer Board as Chief Executive from 1986 to 1991, and as Chairman from 1994 to 1998. He also served at the Economic Development Board (EDB) as Deputy Managing Director based in New York City from 1991 to 1993, and as Managing Director from 1994 to 1996.

At the 1997 general election, Lim was a PAP candidate in the Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (Tanjong Pagar GRC), which was led by the late Lee Kuan Yew (who died in 2015) and was elected in a walkover. He was on the PAP's team in Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC at the 2001 general election, and in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC at the 2006 general election, and was elected unopposed on both occasions. At the 2011 general election, Lim stood in East Coast GRC, where the PAP's team defeated the team from the opposition Workers' Party by 59,992 votes (54.8%) to 49,429 (45.2%).

Lim served as Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) from 1997 to 1999. He also served on the Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness from 1997 to 1998, and chaired its Sub-committee on Manpower Development.

In 1999, Lim was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.

Lim was made the Acting Minister for the Environment in 2000. He became a full member of the Cabinet in 2001.

In 2004, Lim was appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. He also served as the Second Minister for National Development from 2004 to 2005.

In 2005, Lim became the Deputy Secretary-General of the NTUC for the second time (while continuing to serve concurrently as a Minister without portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office). In 2007, he was made the Secretary-General of the NTUC.

In 2014, Lim appeared on Singapore's Mediacorp Channel 8 episode "Hear Me Out", to respond to the criticisms against him and clarify himself on a few topics such as his Zorro costume, "Cheaper Better Faster", "Better, Betterer, Betterest", "Deaf Frog" and why Singapore implements Progressive Wage Model instead of minimum wage.

In 2015, Lim relinquished his post of Minister in Prime Minister's Office and NTUC secretary-general (in line with the NTUC's retirement policies) and was appointed the Minister for Manpower.[1]

Lim has been a member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee since 1999, and served as the Chairman of the Young PAP (the party's youth wing) from 2000 to 2004.

Lim retired from the cabinet on 1 May 2018, with his Manpower portfolio succeeded to Josephine Teo.[2] On 5 May, Lim was awarded the Distinguished Comrade of Labour during the May Day Awards ceremony, which was presented by former NTUC secretary-general (now the Minister of Trade & Industry) Chan Chun Sing.[3]

Lim was educated in Catholic High School and National Junior College, before being awarded a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Scholarship in 1973 to study in the United Kingdom at Loughborough University.

In 1976, he graduated with first class honours in electronics, computer and systems engineering.

In 1991, Lim completed a master's degree in Management at Stanford University.

Lim is married to Elaine Cheong Siew Boon. The couple has one daughter and one son. He is a Roman Catholic.

• Lim Swee Say at cabinet.gov.sg
• Lim Swee Say at parliament.gov.sg