Goh Chok Tong

Imagine a captain of a big ship, steering it through the ocean. Goh Chok Tong was like that captain for Singapore! He was born a long, long time ago, on May 20, 1941. For many years, he was the Prime Minister, which is like the main leader of the country. He helped make important decisions to make Singapore a great place to live.

Goh Chok Tong wanted everyone to be healthy and smart. He helped create a special savings plan called Medisave. It’s like putting money in a piggy bank just for doctor visits or when you get sick. He also believed that working hard in school should be rewarded. So, he helped start awards to give money to students who did really well in their studies or were super kind.

Goh Chok Tong thought it was important for everyone to have a voice in the country’s government. He helped make rules so that even people from smaller groups could be represented in Parliament. He also thought it was a good idea to have people in Parliament who weren't part of any political party, just to share their own ideas. This made sure lots of different opinions were heard.

Goh Chok Tong was a leader for a very long time! He was Prime Minister for 14 years, from 1990 to 2004. After that, he didn't stop helping. He became a Senior Minister, which is like a super-wise advisor. He finally retired from being a Member of Parliament in 2020, after being in that job for many, many years. He was a dedicated leader!