A. J. Braga
A. J. Braga | |
|---|---|
Braga in 1963 | |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 6 April 1955 – 3 June 1959 | |
| Chief Minister | David Marshall Lim Yew Hock |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ahmad Ibrahim (PAP) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Katong Constituency | |
| In office 6 April 1955 – 5 June 1959 | |
| Preceded by | John Laycock (PP) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Francis de Conceicao (PAP) |
| Majority | 1955: 4,680 (45.66%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Armand Joseph Braga 10 June 1900 Singapore, Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore) |
| Died | 7 November 1968 (aged 68) Lloyd Gardens, Singapore |
| Party | Singapore People's Alliance (1958–1959) |
| Other political affiliations | Labour Front (1954–1958) |
| Domestic partner(s) |
Mona Patricia Braga
(m. 1931; div. 1948)Amy Wong (m. 1949) |
| Children | 2; including Myrna |
| Alma mater | University of Hong Kong Middle Temple |
| Occupation |
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Armand Joseph Braga (10 June 1900 – 7 November 1968), commonly known as A. J. Braga, was a Singaporean politician and barrister who served as the first minister for health from 1955 to 1959 in the first Legislative Assembly of Singapore. A former member of the Labour Front, he served as the member of the Legislative Assembly representing Katong Constituency from 1955 to 1959.
Born in Singapore under British rule, he studied in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Originally studying medicine, he stopped in 1918 and moved to London to instead study law, where he was called to the bar in 1927. He returned to Singapore in 1928 and served as the Eurasian Association's representative on the Municipal Commission in 1935, and from 1938 to 1942. During the Japanese occupation, he was briefly appointed the leader of the Eurasian community by the Japanese officials, later being succeeded by C. J. Paglar. In 1954, he was announced as a Labour Front candidate for the 1955 general election, contesting in Katong Constituency.
He was successful in his election and was subsequently made the first minister for health in chief minister David Marshall's cabinet. Following Marshall's resignation in 1956, he was succeeded as chief minister by Lim Yew Hock, with Braga maintaining his portfolio in Lim's cabinet. In 1958, Braga joined the newly formed Singapore People's Alliance, which was led by Lim. He retired from politics prior to the 1959 general election due to poor health, and died in 1968.