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Baey Yam Keng

In this Chinese name, the family name is Baey.
The Honourable
Baey Yam Keng
马炎庆
Baey in 2025
Mayor of North East District
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 May 2025
Prime MinisterLawrence Wong
Preceded byDesmond Choo
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Tampines GRC
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2011
Preceded byPAP held
Majority
  • 2011: 18,347 (14.44%)
  • 2015: 58,282 (44.12%)
  • 2020: 46,793 (32.82%)
  • 2025: 6,392 (4.65%)
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Tanjong Pagar GRC
In office
27 April 2006 – 18 April 2011
Preceded byPAP held
Succeeded byPAP held
MajorityN/A (walkover)
Personal details
Born
Baey Yam Keng

(1970-08-31) 31 August 1970 (age 54)
Singapore
Political partyPeople's Action Party
Spouse
Lim Hai Yen
​
(m. 1997)​
Children3
Alma materImperial College London (BS)
University College London (MS)
OccupationPolitician
Signature

Baey Yam Keng[a] (born 31 August 1970) is a Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tampines Boulevard division of Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC) since 2025. He had previously represented the Queenstown division of Tanjong Pagar GRC from 2006 to 2011 and the Tampines North division of Tampines GRC from 2011 to 2025.

Before entering politics, Baey had worked in the public and corporate sectors in various organisations, including the Economic Development Board, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, National Arts Council, CapitaLand and Hill+Knowlton Strategies.

Since 23 May 2025, he has been the Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Transport, as well as the Mayor for North East District.[1]

Baey made his political debut in the 2006 general election when he joined the six-member PAP team for Tanjong Pagar GRC, which won in a walkover.

Early life

[edit]

Baey was born to Teochews and was the first batch of students at the now defunct Westlake Primary School from 1977 to 1982. He was educated at Catholic High School and Hwa Chong Junior College before he received a scholarship from the Economic Development Board to study biotechnology at Imperial College London. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (first class honours) in biotechnology, and received a postgraduate scholarship from the Economic Development Board to complete a Master of Science (distinction) in biochemical engineering at University College London.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Baey started his career in 1995 in the public sector and had worked at the Economic Development Board, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, and National Arts Council. In 2006, he joined the corporate sector as Vice-President (Corporate Marketing & Corporate Social Responsibility) at CapitaLand and General Manager of CapitaLand Hope Foundation. In 2009, he joined Hill+Knowlton Strategies and was its Singapore Managing Director from 2011 to 2012.[4] In 2013, he received a Lien Fellowship from Nanyang Technological University and was an adjunct lecturer at the university from 2013 to 2015.[3]

Political career

[edit]

Baey entered politics during the 2006 general election[5] when he joined a six-member PAP team contesting in Tanjong Pagar GRC. The PAP team won in a walkover; Baey became the MP for the Queenstown division.[6] In February 2007, Baey was named as one of the members of a "new media capabilities group" formed to counter online opposition to the PAP.[7]

During the 2011 general election, Baey was redeployed to join the five-member PAP team for Tampines GRC; they defeated the National Solidarity Party (NSP) with 57.22% of the vote.[8] He became the MP for the Tampines North ward of Tampines GRC.[9]

In December 2013, Baey, known for sharing his personal life on social media,[10] attracted controversy when he mentioned that he paid below the full price for a meal at a food stall in Tampines. After the stall owner stated at a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) that he had given Baey an undisclosed discount out of "simple goodwill", Baey publicised that the stall would offer a special discount for up to 100 customers a day from 21 to 22 December 2013, and would donate all proceeds to the Tampines North welfare fund to help needy residents. Baey also shared how a PAP activist under him pledged dollar for dollar for the same fund.[11][12]

In June 2014, Baey allegedly called for legal action against people who had vandalised the PAP's article on Wikipedia in an edit war.[13] He later stated that he did not call on the PAP to consider legal action as Wikipedia page edits were not a priority for said action; he also filed for The Straits Times to undo its claim that he had done so.[14]

In January 2015, Baey was co-opted into the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC).[15] He left it in 2017.[16]

During the 2015 general election, Baey stood for reelection as part of a five-member PAP team in Tampines GRC; they defeated the NSP again with 72.07% of the vote.[17] On 1 October 2015, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. On 1 May 2018, he was promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary and appointed to the Ministry of Transport while concurrently serving at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.[5]

In the 2020 general election, Baey stood for reelection; the five-member PAP team for Tampines GRC defeated the NSP for a third time with 66.41% of the vote.[18] On 26 July 2020, he relinquished his appointment at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth but continued serving as Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Transport.[5] Baey was appointed Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment on 13 June 2022.[19]

Baey was a co-chairperson of the 2024 Public Toilets Task Force, which was convened to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets.[20]

In the 2025 general election, Baey stood for reelection in Tampines GRC in a four-way fight against the Workers' Party (WP), People's Power Party (PPP), and NSP.[21] The PAP retained the constituency with a decreased 52.02% of the vote against the WP's 47.37%, PPP's 0.43%, and NSP's 0.18%.[22] After the election, he was reassigned to the newly created Tampines Boulevard division.[23] On 21 May 2025, Baey was appointed as Minister of State for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Transport and Mayor of the North East District.[24]

Baey is currently the chairperson of Tampines Town Council.[25]

Personal life

[edit]

Baey married Lim Hai Yen, a playwright and director in 1997.[26] They have three children.[27]

Baey is the founding president and producer of a theatre group, The ETCeteras. In 2014, he had a lead acting role in Like Me. I Like, a play written and directed by his wife.[28] He was diagnosed with stage one nose cancer in 2021, made known on 7 January the following year. On 22 April, Baey was cleared of tumours and other cancer-related virus DNA.[29][30][31] In August 2023, Baey had his benign polyps removed after colonoscopy.[32]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Chinese: 马炎庆; Peng'im: Bhê2 Iam7 Kêng3

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PMO | Changes to Cabinet and Other Appointments (May 2025)". Prime Minister's Office Singapore. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Baey Yam Keng -Up close and Personal". pap.org.sg. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Baey Yam Keng" (PDF). www.parliament.gov.sg.
  4. ^ "Baey Yam Keng quits job to be full-time MP". AsiaOne. 13 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "PARL | MP". www.parliament.gov.sg.
  6. ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 2006 > Tanjong Pagar GRC". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  7. ^ Li Xueying (3 February 2007). "PAP moves to counter criticism of party, Govt in cyberspace". The Straits Times.
  8. ^ "ELD | 2011 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 2011 > Tampines GRC". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  10. ^ Ong, Yunita (14 August 2013). "MP Baey Yam Keng: I am surprised and flattered by the interest in my "selfies"". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Baey Yam Keng clears the air over $2.50 nasi padang". 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  12. ^ @yamkeng (20 December 2013). "Will be at the nasi padang coffee shop@ Tampines Blk 475 tomorrow 1pm. Join me to support this charity drive" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Tan, Jeanette (13 June 2014). "'Malicious edits' made to People's Action Party Wikipedia page". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2025. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Advocating legal action over PAP's wiki page edits not a priority: Baey". Today Online. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Baey Yam Keng co-opted into PAP Central Executive Committee". AsiaOne. 23 January 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  16. ^ "PAP co-opts four more members into Central ExCo". Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  17. ^ "ELD | 2015 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  18. ^ "GE2020 official results: PAP slate helmed by Masagos retains Tampines GRC with 66.41% of votes". The Straits Times. 11 July 2020. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  19. ^ Lim, Min Zhang (6 June 2022). "Tan Kiat How, Eric Chua and Rahayu Mahzam to be promoted in latest Cabinet changes". The Straits Times. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  20. ^ Abdullah, Zhaki (4 March 2025). "S'pore coffee shops can tap $10m in grants to boost toilet cleanliness". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  21. ^ "GE2025: Stage set for four-way fight in Tampines GRC; PAP and WP go head-to-head in Tampines Changkat SMC". The Straits Times. 23 April 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  22. ^ Hamzah, Aqil; Ang, Shermaine; Sun, David; Hadi, Eddino Abdul (4 May 2025). "GE2025: PAP retains Tampines GRC in 4-way fight, wins Tampines Changkat SMC". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Baey Yam Keng to lead new Tampines Boulevard division, David Neo to take over Tampines North". mothership.sg. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Baey Yam Keng & Dinesh Vasu Dash appointed as mayors". mothership.sg. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Baey Yam Keng to helm new Tampines Boulevard division; internal boundaries for East Coast changed". The Straits Times. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Mrs Baey Yam Keng on being an MP's wife: It's a waiting game". The Straits Times. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  27. ^ Tan, Felicia (17 December 2014). "Partners for Life". Her World Brides. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  28. ^ "MP Baey Yam Keng to act in play". TODAYonline. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  29. ^ Chew, Hui Min (7 January 2022). "MP Baey Yam Keng diagnosed with nose cancer, undergoing radiation therapy". CNA. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  30. ^ Lim, Min Zhang (7 January 2022). "Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng diagnosed with nose cancer, receiving treatment". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  31. ^ Andres, Gabrielle (22 April 2022). "MP Baey Yam Keng's nose tumour 'gone', blood clear of cancer-related virus DNA". CNA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  32. ^ "MP Baey Yam Keng has benign polyps removed after colonoscopy, encourages others to get screened". The Straits Times. 5 August 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baey Yam Keng.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth
2025–present
Served alongside: Dinesh Vasu Dash 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of State for Transport
2025–present 		Incumbent
Parliament of Singapore
Preceded by Member of Parliament for
Tanjong Pagar GRC
2006–2011
Served alongside: Lui Tuck Yew, Sam Tan, Indranee Rajah, Koo Tsai Kee, Lee Kuan Yew 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for
Tampines GRC
2011–present
Served alongside:
(2011-2015): Mah Bow Tan, Masagos Zulkifli, Heng Swee Keat, Irene Ng
(2015-2020): Cheng Li Hui, Masagos Zulkifli, Heng Swee Keat, Desmond Choo
(2020-2025): Cheng Li Hui, Masagos Zulkifli, Koh Poh Koon, Desmond Choo
(2025-present): David Neo, Charlene Chen, Masagos Zulkifli, Koh Poh Koon 		Incumbent
Government offices
Preceded by Mayor of North East District
2025–present 		Incumbent