Yu-Foo Yee Shoon

Yu-Foo Yee Shoon
Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
In office 6 May 2006 – 19 April 2011
Preceded by	Seat created
Member of Parliament for Bukit Timah GRC
In office 2 January 1997 – 6 May 2006
Preceded by	Seat created
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of Parliament for Yuhua
In office 22 December 1984 – 2 January 1997
Preceded by	Seat created
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	(1950-02-17) 17 February 1950
Nationality	Singaporean
Political party	People's Action Party

Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Chinese: 符喜泉; pinyin: Fú Xǐquán) (born 17 February 1950) is the Singapore Minister of State for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, a post she has held since August 2004. She has also been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bukit Timah ward of the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (Group Representation Constituency) since May 2006.

Political career

In 1984, Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon was elected Member of Parliament. She was then one of only three female politicians, making her one of the longest serving women politicians in Singapore. Since then, she has repeatedly been returned to represent the electoral division of Yuhua, now part of the Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

In June 1999, she was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the then Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS).

In November 2001, she was appointed Mayor of the Bukit Timah CDC (Community Development Council), which subsequently expanded to become the South West CDC. With her appointment, she became the first woman mayor in Singapore.

In August 2004, Mrs Yu-Foo was appointed Minister of State for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Currently, she is also the Chairperson of the Comcare Supervisory Committee.

She is an advocate of the causes of local women and is a member of the International Women's Forum, Singapore.

In the Singaporean general election, 2011, she retired from politics after serving six terms.

Non-Political Career

Mrs Yu-Foo started her career as a Senior Industrial Relations Officer with the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) soon after graduating from university. Over the years, she has been Chairman, Vice-President, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC.

Her other appointments include:

• Member of the Professional Advisory Council of NTUC Childcare Co-operative Ltd
• Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF)
• First woman to chair the NTUC Central Co-operative Fund Committee (CCFC)

She was also Board Member of several statutory boards, co-operatives and listed companies such as:

• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
• Singapore Telecommunications
• NTUC Insurance Co-operative (INCOME)
• NTUC Fairprice
• NTUC Childcare
• National Environment Agency (NEA)
• Jurong Town Corporation (JTC)
• People’s Association (PA)

Achievements & Accolades

Named “Woman of the Year” in 1995 by Her World Magazine, Mrs Yu-Foo was awarded the Rochdale Medal by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation in 1997.

In 2005, she received the Alumni Achievement Award from the Nanyang Technological University.

In May 2008, she was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education by Wheelock College, Boston, USA.

The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) inducted her to its Wall of Fame in 2009.

Mrs Yu-Foo is also the Patrons for Singapore's Breast Cancer Foundation and Netball Singapore.

Education

Mrs Yu-Foo was a student of Nanyang Girls' High School from 1962 to 1967 and graduated from the then Nanyang University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Commerce. In 1996, she earned a Masters degree in Business from the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTU).

Personal

Mrs Yu-Foo was born in Singapore in 1950. Mrs Yu-Foo's father was an immigrant from China and worked as a principal. Married to Yu Lee Wu, an engineering lecturer, Mrs Yu-Foo has three children. She enjoys reading, cultural activities, cooking for her family and friends, and having brisk walks with them.

Quotes

• "Women from all walks of life should work together to improve the well-being of our fellow women and men so that together we can inspire our young and the generations to come."

• "What inspired me to enter politics was the ability to help change people’s lives. I felt that the years spent in MCYS were meaningful and satisfying as the policies have touched people’s lives. I feel that women must be passionate and not be afraid to take charge of their own lives."

• "I look forward to a vibrant society where young women are passionate about what they do. They must not be afraid to take charge of their own lives and not allow ‘the system’ to create a glass ceiling in their own minds. Besides striving to improve their own lives and their families’, women should also strive to make a difference and touch other people’s lives."

• "Women can help shift society's mindset regarding gender roles by starting in their own homes, by ensuring that old stereotypes are not perpetuated."

• "I believe that as long as we serve with love and care and do what we believe in, then we will not feel tired. Hence, first of all, we must have passion and belief in what we do to be motivated."

• "We need to find a balance between man’s and woman’s duties. Both parties should play the role; otherwise some women might not want to come forward to play the role. Therefore, man and woman both have to communicate and know who does what, and who does what better, and how to share and build up the family."