Sidek bin Saniff (born 18 April 1938[1]) is a former Singaporean politician and activist. A member of the ruling People's Action Party, he was the Member of Parliament of Aljunied GRC for Eunos ward from 1997 to 2001.
He was Parliamentary Ministry of Communications and Information and Second Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture from 1980 to 1981, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs from 1981 to 1984 and Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry from 1981 to 1988.
He also served as Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education from 1988 to 1991, Minister of State for Ministry of Education from 1991 to 1995, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education from 1996 to 1997 and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment from 1997 to 2001.
Sidek was involved in politics for 25 years before retiring in 2001.[1] He was instrumental in the formation of MENDAKI, a self-help group for the Malay community in Singapore.[1][2]
Sidek is married to Sharifa Binti Mirza Abdul Majid. His wife's youngest brother was Corporal Mirza Abdul Halim bin Mirza Abdul Majid, a police officer who was killed while pursuing a suspected burglar Ong Yeow Tian, who was subsequently sentenced to hang for his murder.[3][4]
Early life
Sidek was the second child of 13 children. He became a Malay language teacher and an activist for the increased recognition of the Malay language in schools in Singapore.[1] As an activist, Sidek organised a demonstration outside the Ministry of Education for better salaries for Malay language teachers in the 1960s.[2]
Sidek was a teacher at now-defunct Maju Secondary School between 1968 and 1976.[5] He was also the President of the Singapore Malay Teachers' Union between 1970 and 1976.[5]
Political career
In 1976, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew invited Sidek to join the People's Action Party and contest as a candidate in the upcoming elections.[2] Sidek stood for election in Kolam Ayer SMC and won against United Front's Chetty Rajah with 72.5% of the votes against Chetty's 27.5%.[6] In the 1980 General Election, Sidek stood for election against another United Front candidate, Mohamed Monsor Rahman, and won 80.35% of the votes.[7] In the 1984 General Election, Sidek faced Royston George Scharenguivel from the Workers' Party. Sidek won 57.91% of the votes, a significant drop from his previous two election results.[8]
Sidek eventually rose to become the Senior Minister of State for Education and the Environment under then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He retired from politics in 2001.
References
^ abcdMokhtar, Faris (10 July 2018). "From Malay activist to politician; former PAP MP Sidek Saniff unveils memoir". TODAYonline. Retrieved 4 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abcZaccheus, Melody (11 July 2018). "Sidek Saniff's memoir tells of his path from protester to politician". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"PC Mirza's decision to become cop was a 'sudden' one". The Straits Times. 16 February 1989.
^"Drug trafficker, cop killer hanged". The Straits Times. 26 November 1994.
^ abc"Portrait of Mr. Sidek Saniff, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry, and Social Affairs - BookSG - National Library Board, Singapore". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^"ELD | 1976 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^"ELD | 1980 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^"ELD | 1984 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
^ ab"ELD | 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^"ELD | 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
^"ELD | 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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In this Malay name there is no family name The name Saniff is a patronymic and the person should be referred to by the given name Sidek Sidek bin Saniff born 18 April 1938 1 is a former Singaporean politician and activist A member of the ruling People s Action Party he was the Member of Parliament of Aljunied GRC for Eunos ward from 1997 to 2001 Sidek SaniffSenior Minister of State Ministry of the EnvironmentIn office 1997 2001Prime MinisterGoh Chok TongMinisterYeo Cheow Tong 1997 1999 Lee Yock Suan 1999 2000 Lim Swee Say 2001 2004 Senior Minister of State Ministry of EducationIn office 1996 1997Prime MinisterGoh Chok TongMinisterLee Yock SuanMinister of State for Ministry of EducationIn office 1991 1995Prime MinisterGoh Chok TongMinisterTony Tan Keng Yam 1985 1991 Lee Yock Suan 1992 1997 Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of EducationIn office 1988 1991Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterTony Tan Keng YamParliamentary Secretary Ministry of Trade and IndustryIn office 1981 1988Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterTony Tan Keng Yam 1981 1986 Lee Hsien Loong 1987 1992 Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Social AffairsIn office 1981 1984Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterS DhanabalanSecond Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of CultureIn office 1980 1 May 1981Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterOng Teng CheongParliamentary Secretary Ministry of Communications and InformationIn office 1980 1 May 1981Prime MinisterLee Kuan YewMinisterOng Teng CheongMember of Parliamentfor Aljunied GRC Eunos In office 2 January 1997 18 October 2001Preceded bySeat CreatedSucceeded byZainul Abidin Bin Mohamed Rasheed PAP Member of Parliamentfor Kolam Ayer SMCIn office 23 December 1976 17 August 1988Preceded byConstituency establishedSucceeded byConstituency abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1938 04 18 April 18 1938 age 84 Singapore Straits SettlementsNationalitySingaporePolitical partyPeople s Action PartyProfessionPolitician teacher activistHe was Parliamentary Ministry of Communications and Information and Second Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Culture from 1980 to 1981 Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Social Affairs from 1981 to 1984 and Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Trade and Industry from 1981 to 1988 He also served as Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Education from 1988 to 1991 Minister of State for Ministry of Education from 1991 to 1995 Senior Minister of State Ministry of Education from 1996 to 1997 and Senior Minister of State Ministry of the Environment from 1997 to 2001 Sidek was involved in politics for 25 years before retiring in 2001 1 He was instrumental in the formation of MENDAKI a self help group for the Malay community in Singapore 1 2 Sidek is married to Sharifa Binti Mirza Abdul Majid His wife s youngest brother was Corporal Mirza Abdul Halim bin Mirza Abdul Majid a police officer who was killed while pursuing a suspected burglar Ong Yeow Tian who was subsequently sentenced to hang for his murder 3 4 Early life EditSidek was the second child of 13 children He became a Malay language teacher and an activist for the increased recognition of the Malay language in schools in Singapore 1 As an activist Sidek organised a demonstration outside the Ministry of Education for better salaries for Malay language teachers in the 1960s 2 Sidek was a teacher at now defunct Maju Secondary School between 1968 and 1976 5 He was also the President of the Singapore Malay Teachers Union between 1970 and 1976 5 Political career EditIn 1976 then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew invited Sidek to join the People s Action Party and contest as a candidate in the upcoming elections 2 Sidek stood for election in Kolam Ayer SMC and won against United Front s Chetty Rajah with 72 5 of the votes against Chetty s 27 5 6 In the 1980 General Election Sidek stood for election against another United Front candidate Mohamed Monsor Rahman and won 80 35 of the votes 7 In the 1984 General Election Sidek faced Royston George Scharenguivel from the Workers Party Sidek won 57 91 of the votes a significant drop from his previous two election results 8 In 1988 the GRC system was established resulting in Kolam Ayer SMC being part of 3 person Jalan Besar GRC Sidek s team won 62 68 of the vote against candidates from the Workers Party 9 In 1991 Sidek joined the PAP team for Eunos GRC switching places with Zulkifli bin Mohammed The PAP team narrowly won the election with 52 38 of the votes cast against the WP team led by Lee Siew Choh 10 Lee s team had narrowly lost in the same GRC during the previous election in 1988 9 Following the redrawing of boundaries for the 1997 General Election Sidek was part of the PAP team contesting Aljunied GRC The PAP team included future Foreign Minister George Yeo and Ker Sin Tze The team won 67 02 of the votes against the SDP team 11 Sidek was the Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Second Parliamentary Secretary for Culture for a short period before the 1980 elections 5 12 He became Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Social Affairs in the fifth Lee Kuan Yew cabinet 12 Sidek eventually rose to become the Senior Minister of State for Education and the Environment under then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong He retired from politics in 2001 References Edit a b c d Mokhtar Faris 10 July 2018 From Malay activist to politician former PAP MP Sidek Saniff unveils memoir TODAYonline Retrieved 4 August 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c Zaccheus Melody 11 July 2018 Sidek Saniff s memoir tells of his path from protester to politician The Straits Times Retrieved 4 August 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link PC Mirza s decision to become cop was a sudden one The Straits Times 16 February 1989 Drug trafficker cop killer hanged The Straits Times 26 November 1994 a b c Portrait of Mr Sidek Saniff Parliamentary Secretary for Trade and Industry and Social Affairs BookSG National Library Board Singapore eresources nlb gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 ELD 1976 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 ELD 1980 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 ELD 1984 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 15 August 2020 a b ELD 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 ELD 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 ELD 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results www eld gov sg Retrieved 4 August 2020 a b 5th Parliament of Singapore PDF a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Parliament of SingaporeNew constituency Member of Parliament for Kolam Ayer SMC1976 1988 GRC system establishedNew constituency Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC Kolam Ayer 1988 1991 Succeeded byZulkifli bin MohammedPreceded byZulkifli bin Mohammed Member of Parliament for Eunos GRC Eunos 1991 1997 Constituency abolishedNew constituency Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC Eunos 1997 2001 Succeeded byZainul Abidin Bin Mohamed Rasheed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sidek Saniff amp oldid 1138738540, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
