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No Comments Dr. Balaji Sadasivan passed away at age 55
Senior Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Dr. Balaji Sadasivan passed away on 27 September 2010 at the age of 55.
Where did Dr. Balaji receive his education?
He studied at Siglap Secondary School, Raffles Institution and National Junior College. He then went on to read medicine at National University of Singapore. He trained in neurosurgery in Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit. After which, he obtained a fellowship with Harvard University. He also obtained an LLB with Honours from the University of London in 1999.
What portfolios did Dr. Balaji hold in the government?
Dr Balaji was elected Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC (Cheng San) in the Nov 2001 General Elections. He was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Health (Nov 2001 – Aug 2004), Ministry of the Environment (Nov 2001 – May 2003) and Ministry of Transport (May 2003 – Aug 2004). On 12 Aug 2004, he was promoted to Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts and Ministry of Health. On 30 May 2006, he was appointed Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Balaji was also Executive President of Sinda, the Indian self-help group.
What is little known about Dr. Balaji?
He participated in plays during his university days. He even played the lead role in one of the plays!
Here’s what others have to say about Dr. Balaji:
“Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was paying his respects at Cheng San CC, said: ‘He was the pillar of the Indian community. Someone who really tried to bring everyone together, that was his whole approach, bringing people and organisations together to work as a common goal … We will work on what he has achieved.”
“Dr Balaji was a principled man who was always true to his values and did his best for his patients and the people of Singapore. I grew to respect him even more for the grace, equanimity, courage and dedication to public service despite his painful predicament.” – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports
To read Dr. Balaji’s past speeches, you can refer to STARS.
Sources: Today Online, Singapore Medical Association, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Channel Newsasia, Vivian Balakrishnan
Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services
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