SINGAPORE — Former Minister of State for Defence Bernard Chen Tien Lap died early today (April 8) at the age of 73.

Mr Chen served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1977 to 2001, beginning in Radin Mas SMC followed by Clementi, Brickworks GRC, Pasir Panjang GRC and West Coast GRC. From 1977 to 1981, he carried the post of Minister of State for Defence. After he stepped down from Cabinet, he was General Manager of Fraser & Neave Group from 1982 to 1991.

From 1977 to 1990, Mr Chen also served as Chairman of NTUC Income and from 1995 to 2007, he was a Director of the Singapore Labour Foundation.

In a Facebook post, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Alex Yam wrote: “I first met Mr Chen as a student when I attended weekday Mass at St. Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street), Singapore. He had retired from politics by then and was one of the Communion Ministers. I remembered him as always being kindly and reverent.”

When Mr Yam became the MP for Yew Tee, he met Mr Chen — who was Chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools from 2004 to 2011 and a patron of De La Salle School — at a number of school events and during fundraising for Novena Church.

“He was always ready with words of encouragement. He had no airs and made no show of his presence,” recounted Mr Yam.