Mr Speaker: Order. On behalf of this House, allow me to pay tribute to the late Dr Toh Chin Chye. On behalf of the House, I would like to place on record the demise of Dr Toh Chin Chye, former Deputy Prime Minister, on 3 February 2012.

Dr Toh was first elected as a Member of the First Legislative Assembly for Rochor constituency on 30 May 1959. He retained his seat over six successive General Elections and eventually retired from this House on 16 August 1988. In a parliamentary career that spanned some 29 years, Dr Toh had served with distinction as a Cabinet Minister from 1959 to 1981, as Leader of the House from 1959 to 1968, and finally, as a backbench Member from 1981 to 1988. Shortly after winning the 1959 General Election, Dr Toh was appointed Singapore's first Deputy Prime Minister and continued in that office until 1968.

By the time Dr Toh stepped down from office in 1981, he had helmed a number of Ministries, serving as Minister for National Development, Minister for Science and Technology, Minister for Health, Minister for Education and Minister for Social Affairs. Dr Toh was a founding father of modern Singapore and had made significant contributions to Singapore's development during our crucial nation-building years. Dr Toh will be remembered for his great integrity, his tenacity and his unwavering determination to serve the cause of Singapore, his beloved country, to the best of his ability. Succeeding generations owe much to the dedication and toil of visionary leaders like Dr Toh, whose distinguished contributions to Singapore and to this House will always be remembered.

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On behalf of this House, I would like to express our deep sense of loss at the passing of Dr Toh Chin Chye. I join all Members in expressing our deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the late Dr Toh Chin Chye. As a mark of respect to the late Dr Toh Chin Chye, I propose that the House observe one minute of silence. Will Members please rise.

[ The House rose and observed a one-minute silence. ]

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