Career Koh Poh Koon

1 career

1.1 political career

1.1.1 punggol east by-election (2013)
1.1.2 member of parliament (2015–present)

career

koh founding director of colorectal cancer genomic health service @ singapore general hospital (sgh). prior appointment minister of state, koh medical director , consultant colorectal surgeon @ private practice @ mount elizabeth medical centre, consultant surgeon @ both sgh , changi general hospital.

koh had served clinical lecturer @ national university of singapore (nus), , adjunct assistant professor @ duke-nus graduate medical school. interest in medical research has led him serve adjunct clinician scientist institute of bioengineering , nanotechnology of agency science, technology , research (a*star).

political career

dr. koh officially entered singapore politics in january 2013, when contested in first parliamentary election @ punggol east smc by-election pap s candidate. defeated candidate of workers party, lee li lian.

in 2015, koh contested in general elections part of six-member pap team in ang mo kio grc in team won , koh elected parliament.

punggol east by-election (2013)

the by-election triggered resignation of previous member of parliament ward, pap s michael palmer (who served speaker of parliament 2011 2012), stepped down after revealed had extra-marital affair.

it reported koh had turned down prime minister lee hsien loong s invitation pap s candidate in election worried may not able serve residents well. however, after further discussions, accepted offer.

in by-election, koh faced 2 candidates had stood against palmer in 2011 general election – lee li lian of workers party (wp) (who won 41.01% of votes in constituency in 2011) , desmond lim of singapore democratic alliance (sda) (who won 4.45% of votes in 2011). fourth candidate, kenneth jeyaretnam of reform party (rp), joined by-election contest, making four-way fight.

during 9 days of campaigning by-election, koh promised punggol east residents set new childcare centres in punggol east @ convenient locations, introduce integrated eldercare facilities, comprehensive health screening elderly, increase barrier-free access , sheltered linkways throughout punggol east, set job placement centre , increase food distribution programme lower-income, set study areas in rcs, explore options new kopitiams , wet markets , set new community club if elected parliament.

however, campaign became centred around gaffe made in campaign. speaking media query family owning 2 cars, remarked: has car, have two... professionals, need travel . seen waving empty block of flats. subsequently perceived out of touch average worker against worker s party candidate lee li lian, campaigned working mother.

on polling day on 26 january 2013, koh defeated lee li lian. garnered 12,856 votes (43.71%) compared lee s 16,038 votes (54.52%). kenneth jeyaretnam took 353 votes (1.20%), desmond lim taking 168 votes (0.57%).

member of parliament (2015–present)

on 15 august 2015, people s action party (pap) announced koh part of six-member pap team contesting in ang mo kio grc led prime minister lee hsien loong in 2015 general election. following results of election, koh elected parliament when six-member pap team won , clinched 78.64% of electorate s valid votes in constituency.