Yap Mui Teng

Adjunct Principal Research Fellow (1989 – Present)

Dr Yap Mui Teng joined the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) as Research Fellow in 1989 and worked on population issues, such as emigration, ageing, marriage and parenthood. Prior to that, she had worked at the Population Planning Unit at the Ministry of Health. She was interviewed by then Acting Director Jon Quah, and Appointing Governor Andrew Chew. She later became Head of the Demography and Family cluster, and Principal Research Fellow.

When Director Lee Tsao Yuan, who had led the Economics cluster, left, IPS could not find an economist to replace her. IPS expanded, especially under Director Janadas Devan, who established IPS Social Lab. When the merger with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) was announced, Dr Yap thought that the Institute would lose its autonomy. However, Dean Kishore Mahbubani did not interfere with IPS’ work; similarly, the directors allowed Dr Yap to do the research she chose. IPS’ population projections attracted attention, where Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew discussed it in Parliament.

IPS was developed specifically as a think tank. Researchers from IPS and the then Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) contributed to one another’s work. While the earlier batch of IPS recruits had worked in the civil service before — Arun Mahizhnan, Ooi Giok Ling and herself; subsequent recruits came straight from university.

IPS conducted research useful to government and the public. In the early days, IPS events allowed people to feel free to speak up, and brought together people from different sectors. This was new and useful to some.


This interview was conducted on 9 Jul 2019. Click here to listen to the full interview.