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Singaporean Member of Parliament Lawrence Wong speaking at the Singapore International Energy Week conference by NitroAcid –

Top 10 Astonishing Facts About Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai is a Singaporean politician currently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore as of 13^th June 2022 the current Prime Minister being Lee Hsein Loong. He succeeded Heng Swee Keat who had assumed office for 3 years and 57 days (since 1^st May 2019). Before his current position in government, Lawrence Wong was the Minister of Finance for a year.

Wong is a member of the People’s Action Party (PAP) which is the current governing party in Singapore. He made his first attempt at politics in 2011 when he was vying for the West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) as part of the five-member PAP team. PAP won against Reform Party and Wong was elected Member of Parliament representing Boon Lay Ward, West Coast GRC. He contested for a seat in Marsiling -Yew Tee GRC in the 2015 General election and was able to retain it till today.

1. Wong is a Hainanese Decent

Lawrence Wong was born on 18^th December 1972 making his current age 49. His father, Wong Kan Seng, was born in China’s Hainan Island and worked as a sales executive. The Hainanese were natives of Hainan Island which is the smallest Chinese Province. Kan Seng died on August 2021 at the age of 86. Wong’s mother, now 82 years old, was a teacher at Haig Boys’ Primary (now known as Tanjong Katong Primary School) that practiced teaching for 40 years! He has an older brother who is an aerospace engineer.

2. He Studied in The United States of America

The flag of the United States of America flying outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. by Makaristos –

Wong got a government scholarship under Public Service Commission (PSC) to study in the United States. In 1993, he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He continued with his education by pursuing a Master of Arts program at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a Master of Public Administration degree at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

3. Wong Began His Career as a Civil Servant

Lawrence worked as a civil servant in the ministries of finance, trade and industry, and health. He first worked as Assistant Director in Research and Planning under the Ministry of Trade and Industry from 1997 to 1999. He, later on, worked as Assistant Director in the Ministry of Finance from 1999 to 2001. He moved to serve as Director of Healthcare Finance in 2004 under the Ministry of Health.

Wong became the Principal Private Secretary to Lee Hsien Loong from 2005 to 2008. Before engaging in politics in 2011, he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Market Authority in 2008.

4. He was Married for Barely 3 Years

Wong got married in 2001 at the age of 28. In 2004, they got divorced due to incompatibility. He had no children with his first wife. He remarried and both his wife and ex-wife’s identities are unknown.

5. He is a Member of the 36^th Central Executive Committee (CEC) of PAP

People’s Action Party supporters holding banners with their party symbol at Greenridge Secondary School in Bukit Panjang, Singapore, which was used as the nomination centre for Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency and Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency during the Singaporean general election, 2011 by Jacklee – Wikimedia Commons

The Central Executive Party (CEC) is the highest executive committee of the People’s Action Party. It was established 65 years ago (1957) and holds a total of 18 seats where members are elected by cadres.

6. Wong Served as a Minister for 5 different Ministries in The Singaporean Government

Lawrence Wong was elected Minister of Culture, Community, and Youth from 1^st November 2012 to 30^th September 2015 and the Second Minister for Communications and Information between May 2014 and 30^th September 2015. From there, he became Minister for National Development (1^st October 2015 to 26^th July 2020) succeeding Khaw Boon Wan. He became the Second Minister for Finance between 22^nd August 2016 and 14^th May 2021 and assumed office as Minister of Finance on 15^th May 2021. Wong served as Minister for Education between 2020 and 2021.

Wong is involved in other various roles in the Singaporean Government. He and Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health are co-chairpersons of the Multi Ministerial Task Force (MTF) that was established in January 2020 to manage the COVID 19 pandemic. Wong also chairs the Singapore Performance Sports Steering Committee which provides strategic guidance on developing high-performing sports talents.

7. He Led the Singapore Delegation to Bid Singapore Botanic Gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Bukit Timah Core, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore by Sengkang –

In his term as acting Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, Wong led the delegation of agencies that had been working together since 2010 to bid the Botanic Gardens as a heritage site. He was the chairman of the Singapore National Commission for UNESCO. In July 2015, the Garden was finally listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is Asia’s first site to be identified on the list which contains more than 1000 sites!

8. Wong Spearheaded the Free Museum Entry Policy in Singapore

Exterior of the National Museum of Singapore by Lucius Winslow –

As the Acting Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, Lawrence led the free entry to all national museums and heritage institutions for all permanent residents and Singaporeans. This was to make these places more accessible to its natives and narrate the Singaporean story in a manner that resonates with its people. The policy was effected on 18^th May 2013.

9. Lawrence is Musically Talented

Wong has played the guitar ever since he was eight! His go-to genres are blues and souls, rock, and jazz. He performed live with his electrical guitar at a garden party in the Istana in 2015. He often posts short clips and images of himself on the guitar on his social media

10. He is an Avid Dog Lover

A golden retriever with their tongue out by David Locke –

Wong’s relationship with his dog Summer, a golden retriever, was like father and daughter. He constantly posted pictures of her. He even attended a concert with her at the Botanic Gardens. Summer passed away in July 2020 and a sad Wong paid tribute to her on Instagram thanking her for the happiness she brought.

Lawrence Wong has an estimated net worth of $5 million (2022) earned from his career as a politician. He has a huge fan base on social media platforms with over 150,000 Facebook followers and over 120,000 Instagram followers! He is also active on Twitter posting current affairs in Singapore.