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Jek Yeun Thong
DUNU
Jek Yeun Thong DUNU
易润堂
	Jek in 1963
Minister for Science and Technology
	In office; 31 December 1976 – 25 September 1977
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Lee Chiaw Meng
Succeeded by	Edmund W. Barker
Minister for Culture
	In office; 16 April 1968 – 25 September 1977
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Othman Wok
Succeeded by	Ong Teng Cheong (acting)
Minister for Labour
	In office; 19 October 1963 – 15 April 1968
Prime Minister	Lee Kuan Yew
Preceded by	Ahmad Ibrahim
Succeeded by	S. Rajaratnam
Member of the Singapore Parliament; for Queenstown SMC
	In office; 21 September 1963 – 17 August 1988
Preceded by	Lee Siew Choh
Succeeded by	Chay Wai Chuen
Member of the Malaysian Parliament; for Singapore
	In office; 2 November 1963 – 9 August 1965
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Personal details
Born	29 July 1930; Singapore, Straits Settlements, British Malaya
Died	3 June 2018 (aged 87); Singapore
Political party	People's Action Party
Spouse	Huang Kek Chee
Children	2
Occupation	Politician

Jek Yeun Thong DUNU (Chinese: 易润堂; pinyin: Yì Rùntáng; 29 July 1930 – 3 June 2018) was a Singaporean politician who served as Minister for Science and Technology between 1976 and 1977, Minister for Culture between 1968 and 1977 and Minister for Labour between 1963 and 1968.

Political career

In 1955, Jek's foray into politics began when he assisted the People's Action Party (PAP) during the 1955 general election. He was appointed to the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) as a political secretary in 1957. That same year, due to his communist beliefs, he was detained under the Internal Security Act by Lim Yew Hock's government.^[3]

He was eventually released and when the PAP formed the Government, he held the posts of Assistant Treasurer and then Treasurer on the Central Executive Committee of the PAP between 1959 and 1976. Apart from serving as the deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), he also served as Minister of Culture for 12 years between 1968 and 1978.^[4]^[5]

Additionally, he also served as Minister for Science and Technology between 1976 and 1977.^[1] He is credited for being one of the 10 ministers who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement in 1965.^[6]

Together with Lee Khoon Choy, Jek was appointed as the government representatives on the Joint-Government-University Liaison Committee in 1960 to reform Nanyang University.

Jek was considered as one of the 'Old Guard'—the first generation of leaders of independent Singapore.^[7]

One of his final major public appearances was at the National Day Parade of 2015 in remembrance of Lee Kuan Yew.^[8]

Death

Jek died at home at the age of 87 on 3 June 2018. A private wake and funeral was held in accordance with his wishes. As a mark of respect, the government ordered the state flag on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast on 7 June 2018.^[9]^[10] Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President Halimah Yacob and many other political figures in Singapore offered their condolences to Jek's family.^[11]

Jek was survived by his 84-year-old wife Huang Kek Chee, his two sons Kian Jin and Kian Yee (aged 59 and 55 respectively), and five grandchildren.^[12]