Ex-PAP MP Koh Lip Lin dies aged 79

SINGAPORE - Dr Koh Lip Lin, a former Member of Parliament (MP) and a pioneer in Singapore's education field, died on Friday aged 79. 

Dr Koh was the first dean of National University of Singapore's (NUS) science faculty. He taught there for 16 years, from 1980 to 1996.

He was the dean of science at the former Nanyang University before that.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong dedicated a post to Dr Koh on his Facebook page on Saturday, crediting him for his contributions to education reforms in Singapore.

According to The Straits Times, Mr Lee, who attended Dr Koh's wake on Friday night, said that Dr Koh and other Chinese-educated MPs had to make a "difficult decision to support education reforms that saw the merger of Nanyang University with NUS".

This resulted in the establishment of the Nanyang Technological University.

Mr Lee added: "Today we no longer have Chinese-educated MPs, but many MPs speak Mandarin as a result of our bilingual policy. Our education system has progressed and so has Singapore, thanks to Dr Koh and his generation."

Dr Koh also served as MP for two terms in Nee Soon and Nee Soon South constituencies respectively from 1979 to 1996.

During his time as MP, he saw the transformation of Nee Soon into an urban area and helped residents to settle in, reported The Straits Times.

According to the Singapore Business Review, Dr Koh was Director of Heeton Holdings until Oct 2012, where he retired from the post at the age of 76.

He leaves behind his wife, two children and grandchildren. The wake is held at the Mount Vernon Sanctuary Purity Hall until Monday.

stephluo@sph.com.sg