Architectural career In 1967, upon returning to Singapore, Chen was unable to find a job. He was later offered a job with Goh Hock Guan and Associates, an architectural firm founded by
Goh Hock Guan. In 1974, due to a personality clash with Tan, Chen and
Eddie Chan Fook Pong decided to split from Archynamics Architects to form Regional Development Consortium Architects (RDC Architects). In 1979, Chen was elected as a member of the Singapore Institute of Architects. He was elected as vice-president in 1981, and president in 1982. In June 1982, Chen accused foreign architects of the unethical practice of passing off "old abandoned work" for new architectural designs. He elaborated: In June 1984, Chen was succeeded by
Gan Eng Oon as president of SIA. Chen was also an external tutor at the
University of Singapore. He felt "very disillusioned" with the courses, and he left after a year. Howe engaged Chen to chair the constituency's Citizens' Consultative Committee, and the Sennett Community Centre management committee. In 1980, Howe gave Chen a form to join the
People's Action Party. In the
1988 general election, Chen stood for election in Potong Pasir, against the incumbent
Chiam See Tong. During an election rally, Chen announced plans to build an
Olympic-size swimming pool, exercise areas, and playgrounds in the constituency. When interviewed by
The Straits Times about his chances of winning the election, he said "I don't think I want to lose, I want to win. I will win". Chen lost the election, obtaining 36.9% of the votes, and he was appointed as a grassroots advisor in Potong Pasir. During the 1991 general election, Chen was part of four-person team that contested in
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency. They were elected unopposed.
8th Parliament (1992–1996) On 6 January 1992, Chen was sworn into the
8th Parliament. In July 1992, Chen was part of the inaugural PAP football team, known as the
Parliamentarians. In 1996, Chen was part of a nine-member Select Committee to examine changes to the
Women's Charter. Chen and his half-brother, Bernard Chen, proposed renaming the Women's Charter to Family Charter. For the
1997 general election, Chen was one of the five PAP candidates in
Hong Kah Group Representation Constituency, and the opposition party was the
National Solidarity Party. PAP won the election with 69% of the votes.
9th Parliament (1997–2001) On 26 May 1997, Chen was sworn into the
9th Parliament. In June 1997, he supported the increase of
Nominated Members of Parliament from six to nine. In July 1997, in response to
domestic worker abuse by employers, Chen suggested to establish a unit "to spot-check homes with maids". In December 2000, Chen succeeded
Low Seow Chay as deputy chairman of the environment government parliamentary committee. In October 2001, Chen retired from politics, and did not contest in the
2001 general election.
Business In December 1993, Chen formed a joint-venture company, Third Dragon Development Pte. Ltd., with
Peh Chin Hua, to promote investment in a tourism site and an industrial park, in
Shandong, China. The company also built Qingdao Huashan International Country Club, a golf course. Chen and Peh owned 45% of the shares in the company, and the remaining 10% was owned by Huashan town government. In April 1994,
Heng Chiang Meng bought over 12% of the company's shares, reducing the shares owned by Chen and Peh to 44% each. Heng later sold his shares. In October 1996, Third Dragon announced plans to build a theme park, the Huoniu Town Entertainment Park, in
Jimo, and a tourist-oriented orchard. announced plans to list on the
Stock Exchange of Singapore. The company owned more than of land in
Anxi,
Changzhou, and
Qingdao. In January 1998, the company decided to continue with its
initial public offering without an
underwriter. In 2000, Dragon Land announced a partnership with
Creative Technology to develop the Creative Dragon Park, a technology and media park next to the golf course, in Shandong, China. Peh was appointed as chairman of the park, and Creative Technology chief executive
Sim Wong Hoo was vice-chairman together with Chen. In November 2004, Chen stepped down as chief executive officer and group executive deputy chairman of Dragon Land, and he was succeeded by Chua Yang Hong. == Personal life ==