News: The Straits Times -  16 December 2009


PM offers condolences to wife of late MP
By Jeremy Au Yong


PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday offered his condolences to the wife of the late Mr Sha'ari Tadin - giving credit to the former People's Action Party (PAP) MP for paving the way for a new generation of Malay leaders.

If not for Mr Sha'ari and his generation of Malay leaders, Mr Lee wrote, Singapore's Malay community would not be where it is today.

Mr Sha'ari entered politics in 1968, becoming the country's first graduate Malay MP. The 77-year-old died of heart failure on Sunday.

Said Mr Lee in his letter to Madam Hajah Latifah: 'Sha'ari was the first of a new generation of better-educated Malay leaders, reflecting the steady progress of the Malay community.'

He added: 'Since then, in each successive election we have upgraded the quality of Malay MPs elected, not only in terms of their educational attainments but also their participation in and contribution to national issues.'

The condolence letter laid out Mr Sha'ari's long list of achievements, including getting the Colombo Plan scholarship to study in the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and being appointed senior parliamentary secretary in the then Ministry of Culture.

But out of all that, Mr Sha'ari was best known for his dedication to teaching. In fact, it was that passion that got him noticed by the PAP, said PM Lee.

'Cikgu Sha'ari was well regarded as a mentor and educator, who made a lasting impact on his students. One of his former students was Senior Minister of State (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Zainul Abidin Rasheed,' he added.

Mr Sha'ari started teaching in 1957 and later became the principal of Sang Nila Utama Secondary School. He also helped found the Central Council of Malay Cultural Organisations and was an adviser to the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas).

Education would prove to be a key theme of Mr Sha'ari's political life as well. Said Mr Lee: 'In 1968, the party fielded him in Kampong Chai Chee where he was elected unopposed. His residents found him to be a caring MP who believed in the importance of education to break the poverty cycle.'

He was re-elected in the same constituency in 1972 and then in Bedok in 1976. He stepped down in 1980.

Said Mr Lee: 'In Bedok, he was succeeded by Professor S. Jayakumar (now Senior Minister), who remembered that Sha'ari had been very helpful to him as a new candidate, and had urged the party activists and grassroots leaders to give him full support.'

- end of ST article