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Tan See Leng at a corporate event Photo sourced from

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Tan See Leng

Tan See Leng is a Singaporean politician and former medical practitioner who has been serving as Minister for Manpower since 2021 and Second Minister for Trade and Industry since 2020.

A member of the governing People’s Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Marine Parade ward of Marine Parade GRC since 2020.

Let’s take a look at some of most fascinating facts about him;

1.He was born in 1964 as the only child in a struggling family 

Tan was born in Singapore in 1964.As the only child, he grew up with his father, Tan Seow Chiap, an SBS bus timekeeper, and a homemaker mother who took up as many odd jobs as possible to alleviate the family’s financial constraints.

He had been fostered out to a Cantonese-speaking nanny to be cared for, staying at Sam Leong Road, next to Desker Road with her on weekdays. Only on weekends did he stay with his parents at a rented flat in Toa Payoh.This arrangement continued until he was five or six years old. 

2.He is a graduate from the national university of Singapore

Entrance of the national university of Singapore Photo sourced from

Tan attended Monk’s Hill Primary School, Monk’s Hill Secondary School and National Junior College before graduating from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore in 1988 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

While in National Junior College, he joined the choir as part of his Co-Curricular Activity (CCA).In 2004, he obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.In 2014, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Singapore. 

3.Tan funded his university education all by himself

Tan funded his university education all by himself, with an annual school fee of S$3,000, by tutoring junior college students in subjects like mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry. With up to eight students at a time, he earned about S$800 to S$1,000 per month.

He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Medicine degree in family medicine at the National University of Singapore in 1998. In 2003, he was awarded the Fellow of College of Family Physicians by the College of Family Physicians Singapore.

4.He founded Healthway Medical Group and was its chairman 

Medical practitioner doing Medical diagnosis Photo by Greene and Charles Lyman

In 1992, at the age of 27, Tan founded Healthway Medical Group with a group of friends, through a bank loan of S$90,000 and an initial capital investment of S$5,000 from each of the initial stakeholders.

As co-founder and chairman of the company, he grew the group to become the second largest private primary care group in Singapore.In 2004, he successfully divested the group to British United Provident Association Healthcare

5.He joined Parkway holdings and grew through the ranks to become CEO

In 2004, Tan joined Parkway Holdings as the chief operating officer of Mount Elizabeth Hospital. During his tenures, some of his contributions included delisting Parkway Holdings in 2010 and relisting IHH Healthcare in 2012 into one of the largest initial public offerings in the world in 2012.

He expanded and grew the group from 15 hospitals in 2009 to 84 hospitals as of the end of 2019,leading the mergers and acquisitions of Acibadem Healthcare (Turkey), Fortis Healthcare (India),and multiple hospitals across Asia. 

6.He has also contributed to the business field

Apart from the medical field, he has also contributed to the business scene.He has also earned a lot from the field. In 2012, Tan was appointed a council member of the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council.

The council aims to deepen Singapore’s engagement with China’s Guangdong province and benefit Singapore businesses through joint exploration of new opportunities in the region.He has also invested heavily in the business field and has his own companies. 

7.He is also a politician and made his debut in politics in 2020

Tan made his political debut in the 2020 general election as part of a five-member PAP team contesting in Marine Parade GRC and won. Since 10 July 2020, he has been serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Marine Parade ward of Marine Parade GRC.

He was subsequently appointed Second Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Manpower on 27 July 2020 and 15 May 2021 respectively.In 2021, Tan together with Chee Hong Tat appeared in the first episode of new season of A Conversation with the Minister 2021/2022.

8.He has received several awards and accolades

He has received several awards and accolades including ;Long Service Award from the People’s Association Singapore 2004,prestigious College of Family Physicians Singapore Albert and Mary Lim Award, the highest accolade awarded for contribution and services rendered to the college and to the discipline of Family Medicine in 2007

He was also named Asia Innovator of the Year at the 14th CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards (ABLA) in 2015,Asiamoney Best Executive in Malaysia, Asiamoney best CEO in Investor Relations in 2016,Won the ABLA Corporate Social Responsibility Award in 2017 and Singapore Medical Association Merit Award in 2019.

9.Tan See Leng’s net worth is around $10 million

Tan See Leng net worth is estimated at around $10 million. His main source of income is from his career as a politician and businessman. Tan successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyle and some fancy cars trips.

His salary for 2022 ranges from $162,574 to $475,483, but with bonuses, benefits and various other compensation, he made significantly more than his salary in the year 2019. He is one of the richest and influential politicians in Singapore. 

10.Tan See Leng is married Madam Cecilia Lee Choon Lian and has three children

Tan See Leng is married to Madam Cecilia Lee Choon Lian and has three children. His wife is a private person who is not often seen in a social gathering with him. One of his children (a daughter) is also studying medicine in Australia.

Toughened by an impoverished childhood and having to care for his sick mother, a determined Dr Tan See Leng turned to hard work to become one of the most powerful men in Singapore Health Care. 

He is is one of the most loved celebs with a very huge support base. She is is also among the most decorated politicians in Singapore.