Low Yen Ling

Low Yen Ling (born 17 August 1974; simplified Chinese: 刘燕玲; traditional Chinese: 劉燕玲; pinyin: Liú Yànlíng) is a Singaporean politician, serving as the Minister of State in both the Ministry for Trade and Industry, and Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth. She is the current Mayor of the South West District, and chairman of the Chua Chu Kang Town Council and the advisor of the grassroots organisation.

She was the Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Education from 1 May 2017 to 26 July 2020, Ministry for Manpower from 1 May 2018 to 26 July 2020, Ministry for Trade and Industry from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018. She has also served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth from 1 May 2014 to 11 September 2015 and the Ministry for Social and Family Development from 1 October 2013 to 11 September 2015.^[1]

A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), Low has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Chua Chu Kang GRC for Bukit Gombak since 7 May 2011. She entered politics in the 2011 Singaporean general election. She was promoted from Parliamentary Secretary to Senior Parliamentary Secretary on 1 May 2017 and from Senior Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of State on 27 July 2020.

Career[]

Low handled commercial lending accounts at Keppel Tat-Lee Bank and subsequently United Overseas Bank from 1996 to 2000 and was a business development manager with a start-up AutoHub Pte Ltd that reportedly failed.^[2] She then joined the Economic Development Board (EDB) in 2001 and was the Director in charge of developing the Professional Services sector. During her tenure, she pioneered the new Singapore Welcome Centre for Corporates to draw Asian enterprises as well as global mid-sized companies to Singapore and also spearheaded the Global Entrepolis@Singapore, a networking event for enterprises.

Political career[]

Low was reported to be joining the Chua Chu Kang GRC slate for the PAP in April 2011 when she resigned from the EDB and participated in a PAP Community Foundation event.^[3] She was formally introduced as a candidate on 4 Apr 2011.^[4][5]

The PAP team for Chua Chu Kang GRC led by Gan Kim Yong defeated a team from the National Solidarity Party (NSP) by 61.2% to 38.8% in May 2011.^[6] Subsequently, Low took over the Bukit Gombak division from retiring MP Ang Mong Seng.

In Jun 2011, Low was appointed as the third CEO of Business China, a non-profit organisation set up in November 2007 to strengthen bilateral ties between Singapore and China and to develop a cultural and economic bridge linking the world and China.^[7][8]

In 2016, Low appeared in television drama dialect series Eat Already? in Episode 5, promoting SkillsFuture offered by the government.^[9]

Low was promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Education on 1 May 2017.^[10]

Personal life[]

Low graduated from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Second Upper Honours) majoring in Financial Analysis. She is an alumna of Temasek Junior College, Dunman High School and Canossa Convent Primary School. She is married with two sons and engages in sports like running and playing table tennis. She is a Christian.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

External links[]

• Low Yen Ling Bukit Gombak Website
• Low Yen Ling on Parliament of Singapore
• CV at PAP website
• Chua Chu Kang Town Council