Hougang residents throng to ex-MP Yaw Shin Leong’s wake to pay respects
Yaw Shin Leong also known as Amos Rao, passes away at 47 on 10 Nov 2023
Despite only serving Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) residents for a year, residents showed that the former parliamentarian gained an immovable place in their hearts as they visited the late MP’s wake to pay their respects. Mr Yaw, who also went by the name Amos Rao, passed away on Friday (10 Nov) at the young age of 47. His untimely death was announced on Facebook late on Tuesday (14 Nov), and it has since emerged that the former politician suddenly collapsed while jogging in Beijing, China.
Mr Yaw is survived by his wife and two children, who are still in primary school. His friends told the press that he is disciplined and often goes for morning jogs but never mentioned any physical discomfort while running before. The late Singaporean is also described by his friends as a person who is stingy with himself but generous to the people around him. From time to time, he gave small gifts to people around him. Mr Yaw was a Member of Parliament representing Workers’ Party (WP) stronghold Hougang SMC from 2011 to 2012.
His family invited Singaporeans to join them in celebrating Mr Yaw’s life, honouring “the joy, wisdom and love he shared so generously.” The Celebration of Life was open from Friday, 17 Nov to Sunday, 19 Nov at Maxwell Hall, Level 7, Woodlands Memorial. The Memorial Service took place on Saturday, 18 Nov. A number of Mr Yaw’s former constituents appeared at his wake, alongside his friends and family. The wake venue was filled with a throng of people who visited to express their condolences over the weekend. Workers’ Party (WP) member Png Eng Huat, Mr Yaw’s successor at Hougang SMC, paid tribute to him. The party’s central executive committee and current Hougang SMC MP Dennis Tan Lip Fong also sent wreaths to Mr Yaw’s family.
Former Workers’ Party MP Yaw Shin Leong dies aged 47
Former Workers Party MP Yaw Shin Leong has died on 10 Nov 2023. (Photo: LinkedIn/Amos Rao)
Former Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong has died, according to an obituary on his social media accounts on Tuesday (Nov 14) night.
He died on Nov 10 at the age of 47, according to the obituary which was posted on LinkedIn and Facebook.
The cause of death was not mentioned:
- "Our hearts are broken with grief. You left us too soon, too sudden," said the obituary, which was posted on the pages belonging to Amos Rao, which was a name used by Mr Yaw.
- "Your sudden passing leaves a void in our hearts that cannot be filled. We know you are in a better place. We love you deeply. You will live on forever in our hearts."
- "Rest in Peace, Amos, Beloved Husband, Papa, Brother, Leader and Soldier".
- "To friends of media, Shin Leong’s passion for Singapore, his service in the National Service, and his contributions beyond politics have left indelible marks," said the obituary.
Former Workers' Party Hougang MP Yaw Shin Leong collapsed during morning jog in Beijing, China
Former Workers' Party (WP) Member of Parliament Yaw Shin Leong was doing his morning jog in Beijing, China, on 10 Nov 2023, when he suddenly collapsed to the ground and passed away.
He was 47. The cause of Yaw's passing is sudden death, his Facebook account manager told 8world News. The account manager also revealed that the obituary on Yaw's Facebook page was published by his wife.
According to the obituary, Yaw's wake will be held at Woodlands Memorial from Nov. 17 to 19. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7pm.
Yaw Shin Leong and a Potential Legacy Cut Short
Politician turned businessman Yaw Shin Leong—also known as Amos Rao in his post-Workers’ Party years—passed away on Nov 10 at the age of 47.
The obituary posted on his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts on November 15th did not specify the cause of death. It did, however, mention that it was a “sudden passing”. According to 8world, he was in Beijing at the time and collapsed after a jog.
His controversial exit from the Workers’ Party (WP) after a rumoured extra-marital affair probably remains fresh in Singaporeans’ minds. After all, it was big news back in 2012. It’s also arguably the most newsworthy aspect of his political career. There hasn’t been an article that covered his passing without mentioning his expulsion from WP. But is it fair to remember the man solely by the scandal that torpedoed his budding political career?
Yaw Shin Leong
Yaw during a rally speech in 2011
Yaw Shin Leong (Chinese: 饶欣龙; pinyin: Ráo Xīnlóng; 2 June 1976 – 10 November 2023) was a Singaporean businessman and politician. A member of the opposition Worker's Party (WP), he was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Hougang SMC between 2011 and 2012.
On 15 February 2012, the Worker's Party expelled Yaw from the party after he refused to respond to the party regarding reported allegations of an affair. Yaw's father died when he was 13. His widowed mother then scrimped and saved to bring up both his younger sister and himself and supporting them through tertiary education. Yaw served as a medic with the Singapore Armed Forces. Yaw had his secondary and pre-university education in Bukit Panjang Government High School and Jurong Junior College. He held a Bachelor of Arts (BA, Merit) degree in Political Science & Sociology from National University of Singapore. He also held a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Western Sydney.
Yaw joined the Workers' Party in June 2001 and was elected into Central Executive Council (CEC) a year later.[citation needed] He remained in CEC until 7 February 2012 when he suddenly stepped down from the post of Treasurer. In the 2006 Singapore General Election, Yaw was candidate and leader of The Workers' Party team that contested the Prime Minister's seat of Ang Mo Kio Group Representative Constituency. Made up largely of young, first-time candidates under the age of 35, the team was dubbed the "suicide squad" by the media, and the People's Action Party chairman Lim Boon Heng boldly predicted that the Prime Minister's team would win 80 to 85% of the votes, putting the "suicide squad" at risk of losing their deposits. However, Yaw's team managed to secure more than one-third of the votes against the PAP team led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Time Magazine's Person-Of-The-Year
Yaw Shin Leong was a rising star in the Workers’ Party, holding the position of Treasurer in the party and was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Hougang after the 2011 Singapore General Elections until he was expelled by the party in February 2012 for an alleged extramarital affair. He was the first man to be brought down by a sex scandal in 2012. A string of many would follow.
