S Dhanabalan 
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Dummipedia, the simplified free online encyclopedia
Suppiah Dhanabalan (born August 8, 1937) was a high-profile political leader in Singapore in the 1980s. When the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was preparing for his successor, he identified Dhanabalan as one of a handful of Ministers who was Prime Ministerial material.
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| Suppiah Dhanabalan | |
| Minister for Trade and Industry
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| In office 1992 – 1993 | |
| President | Wee Kim Wee |
| Prime Minister | Lee Kuan Yew |
| Minister for National Development
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| In office 1987 – 1992 | |
| In office 1976 – 1996 | |
| Born | August 08, 1937 (aged 72) Singapore |
| Political party | People's Action Party (PAP) |
| Alma mater | University of Malaya |
| Religion | Christian (Baptist |
| Spouse | Tan Khoon Hiap [1] |
| Children | One son and one daughter |
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2. Born of Tamil Indian descent in Singapore,[1] Dhanabalan obtained his honours degree in economics from the University of Malaya in 1960. Upon graduation, he joined the civil service and was appointed assistant secretary to the Minister of Finance. Dhanabalan was seconded to the Economic Development Board as senior industrial economist the following year. In 1968, he joined the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) as vice president, later becoming the bank’s executive vice president from 1970 to 1978.[1]
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3. In 1976, Dhanabalan stood for election under the People’s Action Party banner and became the Member of Parliament for Kallang. He was appointed to several heavyweight cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong:
- Senior Minister of State for National Development (1978– 79);
- Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (1979– 80);
- Minister for Foreign Affairs (1980 - 1988);
- Minister for Culture (1981 - 1984);
- Minister for Community Development (1984 - 1986);
- Minister for National Development (1987 - 1992); and
- Minister for Trade and Industry (1992 - 1993).
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4. According to one particularly persistent rumour since 1990, Dhanabalan who was then the Minister for National Development was said to have been slapped on the face across the table by Lee Hsien Loong, son of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and presently Prime Minister, when he intervened and chastised Lee for insulting the then Minister for Finance, Richard Hu, demanding that he apologise to Hu and not interfere in other minister's portfolios.[1] Prior to this meeting, Lee had gone to Hu's office and removed a number of files without his permission.[1] In response to a demand from then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Lee subsequently apologised to Dhanabalan, Hu, and Tony Tan Keng Yam who was also insulted in the incident. Goh, however, has denied that the incident actually happened.[1] Dhanabalan retired from politics in 1996.
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5. Dhanabalan has been a founding board member of Government of Singapore Investment Corporation since 1981. Since 1994, he has been the Chairman of Parameswara Holdings. Apart from being a former President of the Singapore Indian Development Association (1996– 2002), Dhanabalan is also a permanent member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. He is presently both the Chairman of Temasek Holdings, and DBS Bank. more... at Wikipedia
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