Document Code: SG-H-CS-53 Full Title: Anthony Tan (Tan Kang Uei) — Administrative Officer, Principal Private Secretary to Lee Kuan Yew, and Chief Executive Officer of MOH Holdings Coverage Period: c. 1973–present Level Designation: Level 3 Profile Status: [COMPLETE] Primary Sources Consulted:

Singapore Press Holdings, Media Release on Mr Anthony Tan, SGX filing, January 2015
SGX filing, Directorships of Mr Anthony Tan, Straco Corporation Limited, 2024
Super Hi International Holding Limited, Board of Directors, HKEX filing, 2022
MOH Holdings, Our Leadership page, mohh.com.sg, accessed 2026
SingHealth Academy, SHSCMC 2021 Speaker Profile — Anthony Tan
Mumbrella Asia, "SPH appoints former Special Assistant to LKY to run Chinese Media Group," January 2015
Shenton Wire, "Executive moves: SPH's Deputy CEO Tan to join MOH Holdings," November 2021
Marketing Interactive, "SPH deputy CEO Anthony Tan exits," December 2021
WAN-IFRA Events, Anthony Tan speaker profile, archived
Amazon, Up Close with Lee Kuan Yew: Insights from Colleagues and Friends (Marshall Cavendish International, 2016), contributor listing
Business China, Immediate Past Board Members listing, businesschina.org.sg, accessed 2026
Anthony Tan, "Connected Care," Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management, c. 2025–2026
LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/anthonytan1973, accessed 2026

Related Documents:

SG-H-PM-01 | Lee Kuan Yew — served as PPS/Special Assistant to LKY (2011–2014)
SG-H-DPM-11 | Heng Swee Keat — fellow PPS to LKY; similar pipeline to senior leadership
SG-H-CS-39 | Alan Chan — fellow PPS to Senior Minister LKY (1994–1997)
SG-H-MIN-19 | Khaw Boon Wan — fellow PPS to Senior Minister LKY
SG-G-12 | Medishield and Healthcare Financing — institutional context for MOHH role
SG-I-09 | Statutory Boards — MOH Holdings as holding company for public healthcare clusters

Version Date: 2026-04-23

Section 1: Key Takeaways

Anthony Tan (full name Tan Kang Uei) represents a career arc characteristic of Singapore's Administrative Service elite: entry through the Administrative Officer scheme, deployment across multiple ministries, a formative posting at the apex of the executive office, a transition to a major media organisation, and a return to the public sector at the leadership level of one of Singapore's most complex institutional structures. His career illustrates the PAP government's practice of moving capable administrators between public and quasi-public roles across decades.
His appointment as Principal Private Secretary and Special Assistant to Lee Kuan Yew from 2011 to October 2014 placed him in the last cohort of civil servants to work directly for the founding Prime Minister. He was one of approximately 13 individuals who held PPS or Special Assistant roles under LKY across his political career. His simultaneous appointment as Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health during this period reflected the seniority of his civil service rank and the practice of running concurrent assignments in the Singapore system.
His time at Singapore Press Holdings (2015–2021), spanning roles as Executive Vice-President of the Chinese Media Group and then Deputy CEO, gave him experience in managing a major communications institution at a time of industry disruption. SPH's subsequent transformation into a non-profit charitable entity — announced in 2021 — coincided with his departure.
As CEO of MOH Holdings (MOHH) from 2021 onwards, Tan leads the holding company that oversees Singapore's three public healthcare clusters: Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), the National University Health System (NUHS), and the National Healthcare Group (NHG). MOHH's role is to coordinate system-wide strategy, capital planning, and talent development across the public healthcare system — a function of considerable complexity given that the clusters collectively employ tens of thousands of healthcare workers and serve the majority of Singapore's hospital care needs.
His contribution to Up Close with Lee Kuan Yew (2016) — a volume of personal reflections by LKY's colleagues and close associates — places him within the tradition of civil servant memorialists who have documented the founding generation's working methods and character. His reflections on LKY's final years of advisory work provide primary-source material on how the office of the Senior Statesman functioned in practice.

Section 2: The Record in Brief

Anthony Tan was born around 1973 and entered the Singapore Administrative Service following his graduation with a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Political Science from the National University of Singapore in July 1997. The Administrative Service is the elite corps of Singapore's civil service, drawing from top graduates and placing them on accelerated tracks through multiple ministerial postings.

His civil service career spanned more than 15 years and included postings at the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Manpower, and the People's Association, as well as work at the Central Singapore Community Development Council. The diversity of these postings is characteristic of the Administrative Service's deliberate rotation model, designed to produce generalist administrators with broad cross-ministerial understanding.

He completed a Master of Science in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2005 — a common mid-career educational interlude for Administrative Officers, often funded by the Public Service Commission — and later completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2021.

From 2011 to October 2014, Tan served concurrently as Deputy Secretary (Policy) at the Ministry of Health and as Principal Private Secretary and Special Assistant to Lee Kuan Yew in his capacity as Senior Statesman. The PPS role under LKY was the most demanding and prestigious posting in the Administrative Service — it placed the incumbent at the centre of the most consequential political office in Singapore's history, managing the flow of correspondence, visits, and engagements for the man who had built modern Singapore. LKY's death in March 2015 ended the advisory office that Tan had served; the office had formally wound down in October 2014 when LKY's health made sustained work impossible.

In February 2015, Tan transitioned to Singapore Press Holdings as Executive Vice-President of the Chinese Media Group, overseeing Lianhe Zaobao, Lianhe Wanbao, Shin Min Daily News, associated student publications, UFM100.3 radio, and digital media products. In July 2016, he was elevated to Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SPH, with additional responsibility for SPH's aged care business operations in Singapore and Japan. He departed SPH in December 2021 as the organisation was completing its transformation from a commercial listed entity into a non-profit media company.

From December 2021, Tan joined MOHH as Managing Director, subsequently becoming CEO. MOHH is the holding company that coordinates Singapore's public healthcare system at the cluster level, overseeing SingHealth, NUHS, and NHG.

Section 3: Timeline of Key Events

Year	Event
c. 1973	Born in Singapore
1997	Graduated from NUS with BA (Hons) in Political Science; entered Singapore Administrative Service
1997–2011	Career in the Administrative Service — postings at MoF, MHA, MOM, People's Association, Community Development Council
2005	Completed MSc (Management), Stanford Graduate School of Business
2011	Appointed Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Health; concurrently Principal Private Secretary / Special Assistant to Senior Statesman Lee Kuan Yew
October 2014	LKY's advisory office wound down; Tan's concurrent PPS appointment concludes
March 2015	Lee Kuan Yew passed away
February 2015	Joined Singapore Press Holdings as Executive Vice-President, Chinese Media Group
July 2016	Elevated to Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SPH
2021	Awarded Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat) at National Day Awards
June 2021	Completed Advanced Management Program, Harvard Business School
December 2021	Departed SPH; joined MOH Holdings as Managing Director
December 2022	Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director, Super Hi International Holding Limited (HKEX-listed)
May 2024	Appointed Independent Director, Straco Corporation Limited (SGX-listed)
Present	CEO, MOH Holdings

Section 4: Background and Context

The PPS Pipeline

The role of Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister or Senior Minister has historically been one of the most formative postings in the Singapore Administrative Service. Incumbents include Heng Swee Keat (PPS to PM Lee Kuan Yew in the late 1980s–early 1990s), Alan Chan Heng Loon (PPS to Senior Minister LKY, 1994–1997), Khaw Boon Wan (PPS to Senior Minister LKY), and Lee Ek Tieng. Each of these individuals went on to hold significant leadership positions. The PPS posting gave incumbents unparalleled exposure to Lee Kuan Yew's analytical method, his approach to policy, and his judgement on personnel — lessons that shaped careers for decades.

Anthony Tan's appointment from 2011 represented the final phase of this tradition. By 2011, Lee was Senior Statesman and in declining health; the advisory function was more limited than in earlier years, but the exposure to the man and his methods remained significant. Tan's concurrent role as Deputy Secretary at MOH meant he was simultaneously managing a senior ministerial portfolio and serving the founding Prime Minister's office — a demanding combination that reflected both his capability and the Administrative Service's confidence in him.

MOH Holdings — Institutional Context

MOH Holdings was established in 2000 as the holding company for Singapore's restructured public hospitals. Its current structure encompasses the three public healthcare clusters: SingHealth (which includes Singapore General Hospital, National Cancer Centre, and related institutions), NUHS (which includes the National University Hospital), and NHG (which includes Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital). MOHH's CEO role involves coordinating system-wide capital planning, human resource strategy, and healthcare transformation across these clusters — a role of considerable institutional complexity.

Section 5: The Primary Record

The LKY Office (2011–2014)

Tan's service in LKY's office during the final years of the founding Prime Minister's active life placed him in a historically significant position. LKY had by this stage stepped back from daily cabinet responsibilities but continued to receive foreign dignitaries, write and give occasional speeches, and engage with the policy debates of the day. Managing this office required both administrative competence and a sensitivity to the gravity of the role.

His contribution to Up Close with Lee Kuan Yew (2016) is among the few personal documentary records from this final period. The volume, which includes reflections from 37 contributors — including multiple former PPS holders such as Heng Swee Keat and Leo Yip — provides one of the closest available accounts of LKY's working methods, personality, and intellectual character in his final years.

Singapore Press Holdings (2015–2021)

Tan's tenure at SPH coincided with a period of acute structural challenge for print media globally. Lianhe Zaobao — Singapore's flagship Chinese-language newspaper — faced the same digital disruption pressures affecting legacy news organisations worldwide. His role as EVP and subsequently Deputy CEO involved managing both the editorial and commercial dimensions of this transition while overseeing SPH's diversification into aged care. SPH's entry into aged care operations — through its Aged Care Business Unit — was an unusual strategic move for a media company, reflecting the Singapore government's interest in mobilising private and institutional capital for eldercare infrastructure.

His departure coincided with SPH's announcement of its restructuring into a non-profit media company, with its commercial real estate and other assets separated into a new entity. This transformation was one of the most significant changes in Singapore's media landscape in decades.

MOH Holdings (2021–present)

As CEO of MOHH, Tan oversees the institutional architecture of Singapore's public healthcare system at the most complex systemic level. His public communications have emphasised the integration of digital technology and preventive care — themes consistent with the broader Healthier SG strategy launched by MOH. His article in Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management on "Connected Care" reflects MOHH's emphasis on remote monitoring, AI-enabled clinical tools, and digitally connected care pathways as the system scales to meet an ageing population.

Section 6: Key Speeches and Public Communications

On MOHH's role in healthcare transformation (SHSCMC 2021): Speaking at the Singapore Healthcare Management Congress, Tan addressed the theme of healthcare system transformation — the transition from episodic, hospital-centred care to preventive, community-based care models. He positioned MOHH as the coordination layer enabling this transition across the three clusters.

On Connected Care (Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management, c. 2025–2026): In his article on Connected Care, Tan addressed the use of remote monitoring technologies, AI-assisted diagnostics, and digital health platforms to extend the reach of Singapore's public healthcare system beyond hospital walls. This piece reflects MOHH's strategic positioning within the broader Healthier SG framework.

Section 7: Research Gaps and Methodological Notes

Civil service career detail. The specific roles and periods within Tan's Administrative Service postings (MoF, MHA, MOM, People's Association) are not publicly documented. The full scope of his 14-year civil service career before the LKY posting remains largely unrecorded.
LKY office records. The working records, correspondence, and internal communications from LKY's Senior Statesman office — in which Tan played a key role — have not been publicly released.
SPH strategic deliberations. Tan's role in the internal deliberations leading to SPH's restructuring into a non-profit entity has not been publicly documented.
MOHH governance. The internal governance relationships between MOHH and the three public healthcare clusters — the degree of operational authority MOHH exercises versus advisory/coordination functions — are not fully described in public sources.

Section 8: Spiral Expansion Triggers / Spiral Index

Heng Swee Keat — fellow PPS to LKY; most prominent member of the PPS alumni cohort
Alan Chan Heng Loon — fellow PPS to Senior Minister LKY (1994–1997)
Lee Ek Tieng — PPS to LKY (earlier period); one of the senior members of the cohort
Zee Yoong Kang — predecessor CEO of HPB; illustrative of the statutory board leadership cohort
Chee Hong Tat — fellow contributor to Up Close with Lee Kuan Yew; subsequent political career

MOH Holdings — holding company for Singapore's public healthcare clusters
Singapore Press Holdings — Tan's intermediate posting between civil service and MOHH
Ministry of Health — policy context for MOHH operations

Documents to Cross-Reference

SG-K-20: SARS 2003 — MOH's institutional crisis before Tan's MOH Deputy Secretary posting
SG-G-12: Medishield and Healthcare Financing — system context for MOHH's role
SG-O-05: Demographic Aging — mega-trend driving MOHH's strategic priorities

Section 9: Sources and References

Official and Corporate Sources

Singapore Press Holdings, Media Release on Mr Anthony Tan, SGX, January 2015.
SGX filing, Directorships of Mr Anthony Tan, 2024.
MOH Holdings, Our Leadership page, mohh.com.sg, accessed 2026.
Super Hi International, Board of Directors, HKEX, 2022.
SingHealth Academy, SHSCMC 2021 Speaker Profiles.
Ministry of Health Singapore, National Day Awards 2021.

Media

Mumbrella Asia, "SPH appoints former Special Assistant to LKY to run Chinese Media Group," January 2015.
Shenton Wire, "Executive moves: SPH's Deputy CEO Tan to join MOH Holdings," November 2021.
Marketing Interactive, "SPH deputy CEO Anthony Tan exits," December 2021.

Books

Up Close with Lee Kuan Yew: Insights from Colleagues and Friends (Marshall Cavendish International, 2016) — contributor.

Professional Profile

Anthony Tan, "Connected Care," Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management, c. 2025–2026.

This document is part of the Singapore Governance Knowledge Corpus. It is a Level 3 Profile covering a contemporary civil servant whose career bridges the founding generation's leadership (LKY's office) and Singapore's current public healthcare governance architecture.

SG-H-CS-53 | Anthony Tan (Tan Kang Uei) — From PPS to Lee Kuan Yew to CEO of MOH Holdings