MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic Of Nigeria and Singapore's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

The Government has appointed Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai as Singapore's next High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mr Tee Tua Ba as Singapore's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. They will be resident in Singapore.

Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai is the Director of Indo Straits Trading Co (Pte) Ltd. He also holds other directorships in companies in Singapore, India and Middle East. Mr Hassanbhai is currently the Treasurer of SINDA, Vice Chairman of Singapore Indian Education Trust and the Singapore Business Federation's Middle East Business Group. He had previously held the appointments of Chairman of Singapore Business Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 1999 to 2003 and Chairman of Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2002 to 2004.

Mr Tee was Singapore's Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt (with concurrent accreditation to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus) from January 2002 to March 2006, and Singapore's High Commissioner to Negara Brunei Darussalam from August 1997 to December 2001. Before he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was the Commissioner of Police from July 1992 to July 1997.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 SEPTEMBER 2007

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY - Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai

Mr Shabbir Hassanbhai is currently the Director of Indo Straits Trading Co (Pte) Ltd.

Mr Hassanbhai was born on 10 November 1946 in India. He graduated from the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants (ACCA) in 1970.

Mr Hassanbhai is also currently holding directorships in Parameswara Holdings Limited, IT Services Co-Operative Limited, Hassanbhai Realty (Pte) Ltd, Zee Chin & Co Pte Ltd, Hakimuddin & Sons Pte Ltd, Al Badawi General Trading LLC (Dubai and Oman), First Capital Property Ventures Pte Ltd, Gateway Distriparks Limited and Group of Companies (India), Gurgaon Technology Park Limited, India, Snowman Frozen Foods Ltd (India). Mr Hassanbhai is also the Treasurer of SINDA, Vice Chairman of Singapore Indian Education Trust and the Singapore Business Federation's Middle East Business Group. Mr Hassanbhai had also previously held the appointments of President of Singapore Exporters Association from 1987 to 1989, Chairman of Singapore Business Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 1999 to 2003 and Chairman of Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2002 to 2004.

Mr Hassanbhai is married to Mrs Shahnaaz Gandhi and they have two children.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY - Mr Tee Tua Ba

Mr Tee Tua Ba was Singapore's Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, with concurrent accreditation to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus from January 2002 to March 2006. Prior to that, he was Singapore's High Commissioner to Negara Brunei Darussalam from August 1997 to December 2001.

Mr Tee was born in Singapore on 17 June 1942. He graduated from the University of Singapore with a LLB Honours degree in 1966 and was admitted as an advocate and solicitor to the Supreme Court of Singapore in 1967.

Mr Tee joined the Police Force as Assistant Superintendent of Police in July 1967. Since then, he has held various appointments within the Ministry of Home Affairs, which include Officer-in-Charge, Marine Police 1974 to 1976, Commander of Police Divisions from November 1976 to March 1978, Director, Central Narcotics Bureau from April 1978 to March 1981 and Director of Criminal Investigation Department in 1981. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police from 1982 to 1987. He held the post of Director, Prisons from June 1987 till June 1992. He assumed his appointment as Commissioner of Police in July 1992. He retired as Commissioner of Police in July 1997.

Throughout his career with the Home Affairs, Mr Tee received many awards, among them the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1974, the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1981 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1998. He received the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, Gold Medal of Honour in 1986. He received the Long Service Medal in 1994. He also received the Panglima Setia Makhota (PSM) in 1994 and the Royal Malaysia Police Order of Valour Medal in 1996.

Mr Tee also held directorships in several companies. He was the Director of Singapore Corp of Rehabilitative Enterprises from July 1972 to June 1992. He was a member of the Singapore Sports Council from October 1993 to September 1996. He was also appointed Director of Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation of Singapore from 1992 to 1997. He is presently Independent Director of the Middle East Development Singapore Ltd.

Mr Tee is married to Mdm Adelene Kong and they have two sons.

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