Sitoh Yih Pin
Singaporean politician (born 1963)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sitoh Yih Pin CBE[1] (Chinese: 司徒宇斌; pinyin: Sītú Yǔbīn; born 2 December 1963)[2][3] is a Singaporean retired politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC) between 2011 and 2025.[4]
- 2011: 114 (0.72%)
- 2015: 5,234 (32.78%)
- 2020: 3,962 (21.34%)
Sitoh Yih Pin | |
|---|---|
| 司徒宇斌 | |
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the Singapore Parliament for Potong Pasir SMC | |
| In office 7 May 2011 – 15 April 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Chiam See Tong |
| Succeeded by | Alex Yeo |
| Majority |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 December 1963 |
| Party | People's Action Party |
| Alma mater | National University of Singapore |
An accountant by profession, Sitoh first entered electoral politics in the 2001 general election as the PAP candidate for Potong Pasir SMC; he lost to incumbent Chiam See Tong.[4]
Despite losing to Chiam again in the 2006 general election, Sitoh defeated Lina Loh,[a] Chiam's wife, in the 2011 general election, after her husband left to contest Bishan–Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency (GRC).[4]
He retired from electoral politics at the 2025 general election.[4]
Career
Accounting career
Sitoh graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Accountancy in 1987. He is a registered chartered accountant in Singapore and Australia. Sitoh worked as an audit manager at KPMG before starting his own accounting firm, Nexia TS Public Accounting, in 1993.[6]
Political career
Sitoh made his political debut during the 2001 general election as the PAP candidate for Potong Pasir SMC; he won 47.57% of the vote, being defeated by Chiam, who was standing under the banner of the newly created Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), comprising his Singapore People's Party (SPP) and three other parties.[4][7][8]
Sitoh challenged Chiam again in Potong Pasir SMC during the 2006 general election, losing for the second time in a row with a decreased 44.18% of the vote.[9] At that election, in a PAP strategy to reclaim the two opposition constituencies of Potong Pasir and Hougang (both SMCs), Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had promised to help a victorious Sitoh gain a post in the new Cabinet, on top of extra latitude when speaking and voting in Parliament and not being subjected to the PAP whip.[10]
On 28 February 2011, prior to the general election in the same year, the SDA removed Chiam from his position as chairperson of the coalition.[11][12] Subsequently, on 2 March, Chiam announced that he would withdraw the SPP from the SDA.[12]
During the 2011 general election, Chiam left Potong Pasir SMC to contest in Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC.[4] Loh, his wife, replaced him as the SPP candidate for the SMC; a recount confirmed that Sitoh defeated her by 0.72% of the vote, or 114 votes. He subsequently became a member of the Public Petitions Committee in the 12th Parliament.[2]
In the 2015 general election, Sitoh won 66.39% of the vote in a rematch against Loh.[5][13] In January 2017, he was co-opted into the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC).[14]
In the 2020 general election, Sitoh won reelection with 60.67% of the vote against newcomer Jose Raymond from the SPP.[15][16]
On 16 April 2025, prior to the general election in the same year, Sitoh announced his retirement from electoral politics; he was replaced by Alex Yeo, former PAP candidate for Aljunied GRC, held by the Workers' Party (WP), and unelected branch chairperson for its Paya Lebar division.[4]