Dennis Tan

Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Chinese: 陈立峰; pinyin: Chén Lìfēng; born 31 August 1970)[1] is a Singaporean politician and lawyer. A member of the opposition Workers' Party (WP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Hougang SMC since 2020.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tan.
The Honourable
Dennis Tan
陈立峰
Tan in 2021
Member of Parliament
for Hougang SMC
Assumed office
10 July 2020
Preceded byPng Eng Huat
Non-Constituency Member of the
13th Parliament of Singapore
In office
16 September 2015 – 22 June 2020
Serving with Daniel Goh and Leon Perera
Preceded byYee Jenn Jong
Gerald Giam
Lina Chiam
Succeeded byLeong Mun Wai
Hazel Poa
Personal details
Born (1970-08-31) 31 August 1970[1]
Singapore
Political partyWorkers' Party
(2011 — present)
SpouseTan Hui Tsing
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham (LLB)
University of Southampton (LLM)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Lawyer

Tan was previously the NCMP between 2015 and 2020 of the 13th Parliament of Singapore. He was elected to the Workers’ Party Central Executive Committee member as Organising Secretary and as a member of the Estate and Liaison Committee and Chairman of the Aljuined—Hougang Town Council since 2022.

Education

Tan was educated at Nanyang Primary School, Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College before he went on to read law at the University of Nottingham.[2] After graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1994, Tan attended the Bar Professional Training Course in London and became a barrister-at-law at the Middle Temple. Later, he completed a Master of Laws in maritime law at the University of Southampton in 2005.[3]

Political career

Tan started as a volunteer with the Workers' Party during the 2011 general election, becoming a member in early 2012. He contested in the 2015 general election in Fengshan SMC and obtained 42.5% of the polled votes. Following the election, Tan was appointed a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) in the 13th Parliament, serving on the Public Petitions Committee of Parliament. He was previously a Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) of the 13th Parliament of Singapore from 16 September 2015 to 22 June 2020.[4][5]

Tan on a walkabout

At the 2020 general election, Png Eng Huat stepped down as Member of Parliament of Hougang SMC. Tan stood as a candidate in Hougang SMC.[6] During the campaign he complained that some of his campaign posters had been "pulled down" by the ruling PAP from their original height. However, in response, the Elections Department said that this was because the candidates posters had been posted at an incorrect height and could obstruct the sight of motorists.[7]

He defeated PAP's Lee Hong Chuang with 61.21% of the vote, retaining the seat for WP.[8]

Tan is a member of the Workers’ Party Central Executive Committee where he serves as the Organising Secretary. He has also previously served as Treasurer and vice-chair of the party's media team.[9] He was elected to the Workers’ Party Central Executive Committee member as Organising Secretary and as a member of the Estate and Liaison Committee and Chairman of the Aljuined—Hougang Town Council since 2022.

Personal life

Tan has practised as a shipping lawyer since 1997. Prior to becoming an advocate and solicitor at the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1997, Tan was a barrister-at-law at the Middle Temple in London. He re-qualified as a solicitor at the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1999 while working in the English law firm Stephenson Harwood. He was previously a partner in Ang & Partners, a shipping law firm. In 2005, he started the shipping law firm, DennisMathiew, with a partner. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in United Kingdom.

Tan participates in triathlons, and is fluent in Hokkien and Teochew. He is married to Tan Hui Tsing, also a lawyer and a Workers' Party member. Together they have a daughter.[10]

References
  1. "Mr Dennis Tan" (PDF). Parliament CV. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  2. "Stepping forward to answer a calling in life". The Straits Times. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  3. "Hoping to help the less fortunate do better". The Straits Times. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  4. "MP | Parliament Of Singapore - Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong". Parliament of Singapore. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  5. "WP's Dennis Tan marks end of term as NCMP, thanks Fengshan residents for helping him into Parliament in GE 2015". The Online Citizen. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  6. "GE2020: In Hougang broadcast, WP stresses need for 'balanced Parliament'; PAP promises job opportunities for residents". CNA. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  7. "Workers' Party's Dennis Tan GE2020 campaign posters drew complaints over height requirements, says ELD amid tampering claim". CNA. Archived from the original on 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  8. "GE2020: Workers' Party retains Hougang SMC with 61.19% of votes". CNA. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  9. "Dennis Tan Lip Fong". The Workers' Party of Singapore. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  10. "For ex-triathlete Dennis Tan, a race to cover as much ground as possible". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
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