Patrick Tay

Singaporean politician

The Honourable

Patrick Tay

BBM

郑德源

Official portrait, 2021

Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Pioneer SMC

Incumbent

Assumed office
10 July 2020
Preceded by| Cedric Foo
Majority| 7,250 (30.90%)
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for West Coast GRC
(Boon Lay)
In office
11 September 2015 – 23 June 2020
Preceded by| Lawrence Wong
Succeeded by| Desmond Lee
Majority| 5,632 (23.96%)
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Nee Soon GRC
(Nee Soon East)
In office
7 May 2011 – 24 August 2015
Preceded by| Ho Peng Kee
(Nee Soon East SMC)
Succeeded by| Louis Ng
Personal details
Born|  (1971-12-01) 1 December 1971 (age 53)[1]
Singapore
Political party| People's Action Party
Alma mater| National University of Singapore (LLB, LLM)
Occupation|

* Politician
* lawyer

In this Chinese name, the family name is  Tay.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan BBM (Chinese: 郑德源; pinyin: Zhèng Déyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tēⁿ Tek-goân; born 1 December 1971)[1] is a Singaporean politician and lawyer. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Pioneer SMC since 2020 and previously the Nee Soon East division of Nee Soon GRC between 2011 and 2015, and the Boon Lay division of West Coast GRC between 2015 and 2020.

A lawyer by profession, Tay has held positions in various trade unions in Singapore since 2002, and has been an assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress since February 2014.[1]

## Education

[edit]

Tay attended St. Patrick's School and Temasek Junior College. In 1990, he received a Public Service Commission Local Merit Scholarship to read law at the National University of Singapore, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with honours degree in 1995.

He subsequently went on to complete a Master of Laws degree at the National University of Singapore in 1999 and an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2014.[1] In 2015, he received a Lien Fellowship from Nanyang Technological University.[2]

## Career

[edit]

Tay started his career in the Singapore Police Force and served from 1995 to 2002, during which he was the commanding officer of the Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) unit.[3] From 2002 to 2014, he held positions in various trade unions, including assistant director of the National Trades Union Congress (2002–2004); executive secretary of the Union of Security Employees (2004–2011); Head IR of the Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Employees' Union (2004–2009); and executive secretary of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union (2006–2014).[1]

Tay is an assistant secretary-general and director of strategy and legal services at the National Trades Union Congress,[4] as well as executive secretary of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union, and executive secretary of the Banking & Financial Services Union. He also holds the positions of board member, trustee, adviser, committee member, etc. at many organisations, including various trade unions, Economic Development Board, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, Public Utilities Board and Housing and Development Board.[1][3]

An advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court, Tay is also an associate mediator of the Singapore Mediation Centre and a fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.[1][3]

## Political career

[edit]

Prior to formally entering politics, Tay was a grassroots leader who held numerous positions at the community and constituency level, including as Executive Secretary of the Young PAP Executive Committee.[5] After close to a decade in leadership positions in grassroots work, Tay entered politics in the 2011 general election when he joined a five-member People's Action Party (PAP) team contesting in Nee Soon GRC. After the PAP team won with 58.4% of the vote against the Workers' Party, Tay became an elected Member of Parliament representing the Nee Soon East ward of Nee Soon GRC.[3][6] In 2014, Tay raised the concerns of PMEs[7] and how the Budget could support them in terms of protection, progression, placement and privileges. In the 2016 debate on the President's address, Tay called for a PME dependency ratio (akin to those for S Passes and Work Permits) to be implemented for companies which have a weak Singaporean core and a weak commitment to creating a Singaporean core.[8]

During the 2015 general election, Tay switched to join the four-member PAP team contesting in West Coast GRC and they won with 78.57% of the vote against the Reform Party. Tay thus became a Member of Parliament for a second term, representing the Boon Lay ward of West Coast GRC.[6]

In the 2020 general election, incumbent MP for Pioneer SMC Cedric Foo retired from politics and Tay was deployed to contest the SMC. He won the contest with 61.98% of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) candidate Lim Cher Hong and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah. Starting 11 July 2020, he became the Member of Parliament representing Pioneer SMC in the 14th Parliament.[6]

Throughout his first two terms in Parliament, Tay had been a member of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) for Manpower and Health (2011–2015), and Home Affairs and Law (2015–2020). He was also the chairman of the GPC for Manpower from 2015 to 2020.[1]

During the 2025 general election, Tay defended his seat in Pioneer SMC and won the contest against PSP's Stephanie Tan.[9]

## Awards

[edit]

Tay received the Good Service Medal from the Singapore Police Force in 2000 and the Public Service Medal in 2005 for his community work. He also received the PAP Youth Service Medal and the 15 Years Community Long Service Award from the People's Association in 2007,[10] and the Public Service Star in 2010.[3]

## See also

[edit]

* 14th Parliament of Singapore

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF).
2. ^ "Lien Ying Chow Legacy Fellowship". lienfellowship.org. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
3. ^ a b c d e "Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
4. ^ Ying, Foo Jie (16 August 2015). "PAP's West Coast team welcomes Patrick Tay; Cedric Foo to defend Pioneer". The New Paper.
5. ^ "Parliament of Singapore - Patrick Tay" (PDF). Parliament of Singapore.
6. ^ a b c "MP | Parliament of Singapore".
7. ^ "MP Patrick Tay speaks on NTUC's efforts, concerns of PMEs, productivity growth". Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
8. ^ "Singapore must move to economy lean on foreign professionals: MP Patrick Tay". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
9. ^ Kwek, Kimberly (24 April 2025). "GE2025: Reactions 'quite positive' so far, as Patrick Tay seeks to defend Pioneer SMC seat". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
10. ^ "Member's CV" (PDF).

## External links

[edit]

* Patrick Tay on Parliament of Singapore

Parliament of Singapore

Preceded by

Ho Peng Kee

as MP for Nee Soon East SMC |  Member of Parliament for
Nee Soon GRC (Nee Soon East)
2011–2015  | Succeeded by

Louis Ng

Preceded by

Lawrence Wong

|  Member of Parliament for
West Coast GRC (Boon Lay)
2015–2020  | Succeeded by

Desmond Lee

Preceded by

Cedric Foo

|  Member of Parliament for
Pioneer SMC
2020–present  | Incumbent

Member of multiple Parliaments of Singapore

* v
* t
* e

Members of the 14th Parliament of Singapore (2020–2025)

Speaker: ~~Tan, C J~~ →Seah, K P

* Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs)

AljuniedWP|

* Giam, Y S
* Lim, S L
* Faisal
* ~~Perera~~
* Singh

Ang Mo KioPAP|

* David
* Gan, T P
* Lee, H L
* Nadia
* Ng, L L

Bishan–Toa PayohPAP|

* Chee, H T
* Chong, K H
* Ng, E H
* Saktiandi

Chua Chu KangPAP|

* Gan, K Y
* Low, Y L
* Wee, B H
* Zhulkarnain

East CoastPAP|

* Chan, W L
* Heng, S K
* Maliki
* Tan, K H
* Tan, S N

Holland–Bukit TimahPAP|

* Chia, B H
* de Souza
* Sim, A
* Vivian

Jalan BesarPAP|

* Heng, C H
* Phua, L P
* Teo, L M
* Wan Rizal

JurongPAP|

* Huang, W Z
* Rahayu
* Tan, W M
* ~~Tharman~~
* Xie, Y Q

Marine ParadePAP|

* Fahmi
* Seah, K P
* ~~Tan, C J~~
* Tan, S L
* Tong, C F

Marsiling–Yew TeePAP|

* Soh, H B
* Wong, S T
* Yam, Z M
* Zaqy

Nee SoonPAP|

* Goh, S H
* Shanmugam
* Faishal
* Ng, K K
* Tan, H M

Pasir Ris–PunggolPAP|

* Puthucheary
* Sharael
* Tan, K M
* Teo, C H
* Yeo, W L

SembawangPAP|

* Lim, W K
* Mariam
* Ong, Y K
* Poh, L S
* Nair

SengkangWP|

* Chua, K W
* He, T R
* Lim, C W
* ~~Raeesah~~

TampinesPAP|

* Baey, Y K
* ~~Cheng, L H~~
* Choo, P C
* Koh, P K
* Masagos

Tanjong PagarPAP|

* Chan, C S
* Chua, S L
* Indranee
* Pereira
* Tan, S H

West CoastPAP|

* Ang, W N
* Foo, M H
* Lee, T S
* Ong, S Y
* ~~Iswaran~~

* Single Member Constituencies (SMCs)

Bukit BatokPAP|

* Pillai

Bukit PanjangPAP|

* Liang, E H

Hong Kah NorthPAP|

* Khor, L S

HougangWP|

* Tan, L F

Kebun BaruPAP|

* Kwek, H C

MacPhersonPAP|

* Tin, P L

MarymountPAP|

* Gan, S H

MountbattenPAP|

* Lim, B C

PioneerPAP|

* Tay, T G

Potong PasirPAP|

* Sitoh, Y P

Punggol WestPAP|

* Sun, X L

Radin MasPAP|

* Yong, Y C

Yio Chu KangPAP|

* Yip, H W

YuhuaPAP|

* Fu, H Y

* Non-elected members

NCMPPSP|

* Leong, M W
* Poa, K K

NMPs|

* Abdul Samad
* Ang, G H
* Chandradas
* Chay, J J
* Cheng, H Y
* Chua, T C
* Hoon, H T
* Koh, L P
* Lee, K P
* Ong, H H
* Parekh
* Raj
* Razwana
* See, J L
* Shahira
* Syed Harun
* Tan, Y S

The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency/seat he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party; PSP: Progress Singapore Party
All of the leaders of the respective GRCs are in underline. MP(s) who is go on a leave of absence is in italic. NMPs do not belong to any party.

* * *

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Members of the 13th Parliament of Singapore (2015–2020)

Speaker: ~~Halimah Yacob~~ →Tan, C J

* Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs)

AljuniedWP|

* Chen, S M
* Lim, S L
* Low, T K
* Faisal
* Singh

Ang Mo KioPAP|

* Ang, H K
* David
* Gan, T P
* Intan
* Koh, P K
* Lee, H L

Bishan–Toa PayohPAP|

* Chee, H T
* Chong, K H
* Ng, E H
* Saktiandi
* Teo, L M

Chua Chu KangPAP|

* Gan, K Y
* Low, Y L
* Yee, C H
* Zaqy

East CoastPAP|

* Lee, Y S
* Lim, S S
* Maliki
* Tan, S N

Holland–Bukit TimahPAP|

* de Souza
* Liang, E H
* Sim, A
* Vivian

Jalan BesarPAP|

* Heng, C H
* Neo, L
* Phua, L P
* Yaacob

JurongPAP|

* Ang, W N
* Lee, T S
* Rahayu
* Tharman
* Tan, W M

Marine ParadePAP|

* Fatimah
* Goh, C T
* Seah, K P
* Tan, C J
* Tong, C F

Marsiling–Yew TeePAP|

* Ong, T K
* Wong, S T
* Yam, Z M
* ~~Halimah~~

Nee SoonPAP|

* Faishal
* Kwek, H C
* Lee, B W
* Ng, K K
* Shanmugam

Pasir Ris–PunggolPAP|

* Ng, C M
* Puthucheary
* Sun, X L
* Teo, C H
* Teo, S L
* Zainal

SembawangPAP|

* Amrin
* Khaw, B W
* Lim, W K
* Ong, Y K
* Nair

TampinesPAP|

* Baey, Y K
* Cheng, L H
* Choo, P C
* Heng, S K
* Masagos

Tanjong PagarPAP|

* Chan, C S
* Chia, S L
* Indranee
* Pereira
* Yong, Y C

West CoastPAP|

* Foo, M H
* Iswaran
* Lim, H K
* Tay, T G

* Single Member Constituencies (SMCs)

Bukit BatokPAP|

* ~~Ong, K H~~ →Pillai

Bukit PanjangPAP|

* Teo, H P

FengshanPAP|

* Chan, W L

Hong Kah NorthPAP|

* Khor, L S

HougangWP|

* Png, E H

MacPhersonPAP|

* Tin, P L

MountbattenPAP|

* Lim, B C

PioneerPAP|

* Foo, C K

Potong PasirPAP|

* Sitoh, Y P

Punggol EastPAP|

* Chong, Y F

Radin MasPAP|

* Tan, C S

Sengkang WestPAP|

* Lam, P M

YuhuaPAP|

* Fu, H Y

* Non-elected members

NCMPWP|

* Perera
* Tan, L F
* Goh, P S

NMPs|

* Azmoon
* Chia, Y Y
* Chua, K S
* Ganesh
* Kok, H L
* Kuik, S Y
* Mohan
* Tan, G K
* Thanaletchimi

* * *

* Arasu
* Foo, P Y
* Ho, W S
* Lim, S S
* Irshad
* Quay, S C
* Ong, L T
* Theseira
* Yip, P X

The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; WP: The Workers' Party
NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.

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Members of the 12th Parliament of Singapore (2011–2015)

Speaker: Halimah Yacob

* Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs)

AljuniedWP|

* Chen, S M
* Lim, S L
* Low, T K
* Faisal
* Singh

Ang Mo KioPAP|

* Ang, H K
* Singh
* Intan
* Lee, H L
* Seng, H T
* Yeo, G K

Bishan-Toa PayohPAP|

* Nair
* Ng, E H
* Teo, L M
* Wong, K S
* Zainudin

Chua Chu KangPAP|

* Gan, K Y
* Low, Y L
* Yam, Z M
* Yeo, K H
* Zaqy

East CoastPAP|

* Lee Y S
* Lim S K
* Lim, S S
* Maliki
* Tan, S N

Holland-Bukit TimahPAP|

* de Souza
* Liang, E H
* Sim, Ann
* Vivian

JurongPAP|

* Ang, W N
* Halimah
* Lee, T S
* Ong, K H
* Tharman

Marine ParadePAP|

* Fatimah
* Goh, C T
* Seah, K P
* Tan, C J
* Tin, P L

Moulmein-KallangPAP|

* Lui, T Y
* Phua, L P
* Tong, C F
* Yaacob

Nee SoonPAP|

* Lee, B W
* Lim, W K
* Faishal
* Shanmugam
* Tay, T G

Pasir Ris-PunggolPAP|

* Gan, T P
* Puthucheary
* Low, Penny
* Teo, C H
* Teo, S L
* Zainal

SembawangPAP|

* Hawazi
* Khaw, B W
* Lee, G H
* Ong, T K
* Nair

TampinesPAP|

* Baey, Y K
* Heng, S K
* Mah, B T
* Masagos
* Ng, P H

Tanjong PagarPAP|

* Chan, C S
* Chia, S L
* Indranee
* Neo, Lily
* ~~Lee, K Y~~

West CoastPAP|

* Fong, Jen
* Foo, M H
* Iswaran
* Lim, H K
* Wong, S T

* Single Member Constituencies (SMCs)

Bukit PanjangPAP|

* Teo, H P

Hong Kah NorthPAP|

* Khor, L S

HougangWP|

* ~~Yaw, S L~~ →Png, E H

Joo ChiatPAP|

* Chong, Y F

MountbattenPAP|

* Lim, B C

PioneerPAP|

* Foo, C K

Potong PasirPAP|

* Sitoh, Y P

Punggol EastPAP→WP|

* ~~Palmer~~ →Lee, L L

Radin MasPAP|

* Tan, C S

Sengkang WestPAP|

* Lam, P M

WhampoaPAP|

* Heng, C H

YuhuaPAP|

* Fu, H Y

* Non-elected members

NCMP|

* Giam, Y S
* Loh, W L
* Yee, J J

NMPs|

* Dhinakaran
* Faizah
* Fang, K W
* Koh, Y M
* Lien, T C
* Liew, K E
* Tan, K B
* Tan, S S
* Teo, S S

* * *

* Chia, Y Y
* Chua, K S
* Karthikeyan
* Kuik, S Y
* Ismail
* Soh, S L
* Tan, C L
* Tan, G K
* Tan, T Y

The party affiliation of each member is indicated right after the constituency he or she represents. PAP: People's Action Party; SPP: Singapore People's Party; WP: The Workers' Party
For NCMPs, Gerald Giam and Yee Jenn Jong are from the WP, while Lina Loh is from the SPP. NMPs do not belong to any party. There were two terms of NMPs in this parliament, with nine NMPs in each term.

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