Political Career
Lim entered politics in 1980 after he was approached by Goh Chok Tong, who had previously worked with him in NOL. Lim was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kebun Baru (1980–1991). A keen believer in civil society, he floated the concept of town councils in 1984 and became the Chairman of the first town council in Ang Mo Kio West in 1986. He was MP for the GRCs of Ulu Pandan (1991–1997), Bukit Timah (1997–2006) and Jurong (2006-2011). Lim was Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Labour (1987–1991) and Deputy Speaker of Parliament (1989–1991).
Lim was made a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office in 1993 October. He was appointed Senior Minister of State in 1991 and later became the Second Minister in 1993. In 1996, he was the Treasurer of the PAP Central Executive Committee and went on to become the Chairman of the PAP Central Executive Committee in 2004. In 2007, Lim was appointed Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on Ageing to oversee issues related to Singapore's rapidly ageing population.
Lim was Chairman of the National Productivity Board (1991–2003), later known as the Productivity and Standards Board and subsequently the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING Singapore). Lim was also Chairman of the Skills Development Council (1999–2002).
Lim was twice Chairman of the Cost Review Committee to look into cost of living in Singapore (CRC1993 and CRC1996).
Lim announced at a community event in Jurong GRC that he would be retiring from politics at the 2011 general election.
Read more about this topic: Lim Boon Heng
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