Sha'ari Tadin

Sha'ari taught in various primary schools between 1954 and 1960.

In 1961 Sha'ari taught Science to Malay-medium pupils at Siglap Secondary School. A year later he was awarded the Federation Colombo Plan Scholarship to study at the University of Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur, leading up to a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Malay Studies. While at UM, he was elected President of the Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) or National Union of Federation Muslim Students from 1963 to 1965, as well as Executive Committee member of the Masjlis Belia Malaysia or Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) Executive Committee in 1963 and 1964. He was also Deputy Leader of UM's first Student Exchange Programme delegation to Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok in 1963; and part of MYC's delegation to the 5th General Assembly of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) Conference at University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.

With a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Malay Studies, he returned to Singapore in 1965. He taught Malay and Economics (in the Malay language) to the first batch of pre-University Malay-medium pupils at Sang Nila Utama Secondary School, the first Malay secondary school in Singapore. He was also part of the Singapore delegation to the Third Asian Teachers' Leadership Seminar Committee, Permanent Congress of Malay Language and Culture in 1966. Within 2 years at Sang Nila Utama Secondary School, he became Acting Principal in 1967.

In the mid 1960s newly independent Singapore was facing problems such as mass unemployment, shortage of public housing as well as lack of land and natural resources. The Government's implementation of a large-scale public housing programme caused many residents from largely rural areas to be relocated to various parts of the island. There was a strong need to establish closer rapport with the people, especially in the Malay community and help them understand the need for better public housing.

As one of the first few Singaporean Malay scholars in the 1960s, Sha'ari was approached by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, to join the People's Action Party (PAP) and to contest in the republic's general elections. Dedicated to teaching and his students, it took much persuasion before Sha'ari agreed to join politics. He strongly believed in a strong foundation in education among the younger generation of citizens, and being in Parliament would enable him to continue his work and do more for the nation.

In February 1968 Sha'ari retired temporarily from Government Service to enable him to stand as a PAP candidate for Kampong Chai Chee in the 1968 Singapore General Elections. Returning unopposed with over 75 percent of votes, Sha'ari became Member of Parliament for Kampong Chai Chee.

In May 1968, Sha'ari was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture. He spent time and energy with the people, grassroots leaders and residents in his constituency to better understand their concerns and to be able to help them understand the need for building a better future for Singapore.

Within four years in office, Sha'ari he was promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Culture) in 1972. He had also temporarily performed the duties of Parliamentary Secretary (Education) before the 1972 General Elections.

During his tenure at the Ministry of Culture, he was instrumental in the promotion of arts and culture of Singapore and its introduction overseas. In 1969, he founded Majlis Pusat (Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Budaya Melayu) or Central Council of Malay Cultural Organisations, and became its patron until 1987. He helped to establish the National Dance Company (now Singapore Dance Theatre), which made its debut in the Adelaide Festival of Arts in 1972. He led cultural delegations to Indonesia, the Soviet Union, Tehran and South Korea. He was leader of the Singapore contingent at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran. He was also a special guest of the Governments of West Germany, Japan and France in 1972, 1974, 1975 respectively.

Bedok became a constituency in 1976 under the charge of Sha'ari, who formed the Citizens' Consultative Committee. That same year he contested in the General Elections in Bedok constituency and was returned with a majority vote of nearly 75 percent.