Dhanabalan, S. (1937– ) Civil servant, politician and banker. Suppiah Dhanabalan was educated at Victoria School and the University of Malaya, where he obtained an honours degree in economics (1960). Upon graduation, he joined the civil service and was appointed assistant secretary at the Ministry of Finance. The following year, he was seconded to the Economic Development Board as senior industrial economist. In 1968, he joined the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) as vice president, later becoming the bank’s executive vice president (1970– 78).

In 1976, Dhanabalan stood for election under the People’s Action Party banner and became member of Parliament for Kallang. He served as senior minister for national development (1978– 79); senior minister of state for foreign affairs (1979– 80); minister for foreign affairs (1980– 88); minister for national development (1987– 92); and minister for trade and industry (1992– 94). He retired from politics in 1997.

Other public offices Dhanabalan has held include chairman, Parameswara Holdings (since 1994); chairman, Singapore Airlines (1996– 98); founding board member, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (since 1981); chairman, Singapore Cultural Foundation Board of Trustees; president, Singapore Indian Development Association (1996– 2002); permanent member, Presidential Council for Minority Rights; chairman, Temasek Holdings Ltd; chairman, DBS Group Holdings Ltd; and chairman, DBS Bank.