S. Rajaratnam
S. Rajaratnam | |
|---|---|
சின்னத்தம்பி ராஜரத்தினம் | |
Rajaratnam in 1975 | |
| 1st Senior Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 2 January 1985 – 3 September 1988 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lee Kuan Yew (1990) |
| 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore | |
| In office 1 June 1980 – 1 January 1985 Serving with Goh Keng Swee (1973–1980) | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Toh Chin Chye (1968) |
| Succeeded by | Goh Chok Tong Ong Teng Cheong |
| Minister for Labour | |
| In office 16 April 1968 – 4 July 1971 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Jek Yeun Thong |
| Succeeded by | Ong Pang Boon |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 9 August 1965 – 1 June 1980 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | S. Dhanabalan |
| Minister for Culture | |
| In office 5 June 1959 – 12 August 1965 | |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Othman Wok |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Singapore | |
| In office 2 November 1963 – 9 August 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Kampong Glam | |
| In office 30 May 1959 – 17 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Loh Meng See (PAP) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sinnathamby Rajaratnam 25 February 1915 |
| Died | 22 February 2006 (aged 90) |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Citizenship | Singaporean |
| Party | People's Action Party |
| Spouse |
Piroska Feher
(m. 1943; died 1989) |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |
Sinnathamby Rajaratnam DUT (25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006), better known as S. Rajaratnam, was a Singaporean statesman, journalist and diplomat. He served as the first Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1965 until 1980, and subsequently as the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore from 1980 to 1985. Rajaratnam was pivotal in establishing Singapore's foreign policy framework during its early years of sovereignty, helping to secure the nation's position on the global stage in its early years. Alongside his foreign affairs portfolio, he also served as Minister for Culture from 1959 to 1965, Minister for Labour from 1968 to 1971, Deputy Prime Minister from 1980 to 1985 and Senior Minister from 1985 to 1988. Throughout his entire political career, he represented the constituency of Kampong Glam. Rajaratnam is widely recognised as one of the founding fathers of modern Singapore.
A founding member of the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore continuously since independence, Rajaratnam was deeply involved in the country's political transformation. He was among the pioneering leaders responsible for securing self-governance of Singapore from the British Empire in 1959 and navigating the complex process leading to the independence of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965. His statesmanship extended beyond national borders as one of the five founding fathers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967, an organisation created to promote regional cooperation and peace in Southeast Asia.
Rajaratnam's legacy is commemorated through several institutions bearing his name, reflecting his lasting impact on Singapore's development. These include the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), a centre dedicated to research and education in international relations, as well as the S. Rajaratnam block of Raffles Institution, honouring his contributions to education and public service. His career remains emblematic of pragmatic governance and diplomatic foresight during a formative period in Singapore's history.