Career
Barker practised law in Singapore from 1952 to 1964 at the law firms Braddell Brothers and Lee & Lee. He was persuaded to enter politics in 1963 by Lee Kuan Yew.
Barker was elected a member of the Singapore Legislative Assembly in 1963, representing the constituency of Tanglin. He continued to represent the constituency in the Singapore Parliament through to 1988.
Barker served as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1963-64. In 1964, he was appointed the Minister for Law, and continued to hold that post that until 1988. As Minister for Law, he drafted the Proclamation of Singapore of Singapore in 1965, announcing Singapore's separation from Malaysia. During his 25 years in Parliament, Barker also served as the Minister for National Development (1965-75), Minister for Home Affairs (1972), Minister for the Environment (1975-79), Minister for Science and Technology (1977-81) and Minister for Labour (1983).
Barker retired from politics in 1988.
Other roles Barker held included being the first President of the Singapore National Olympic Council (1970-1990), President of the South-East Asia Peninsular Games Federation Council (1973), Chairman of the Bukit Turf Club (1989-94), and Chairman of the Singapore Stock Exchange (1989-93).
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