MP for Geylang West SMC (1959–1979) At the 1959 general election, he contested for Member of Parliament (MP) for
Geylang West Single Member Constituency (SMC) against Kwek Sam Hock from
Singapore People's Alliance. He was elected with 67.60% of the vote. In the
1963 general election, Yong contested as MP for Geylang West SMC again, against Un Hon Kun from
Barisan Sosialis, Kum Teng Hock from
United People's Party, and Mohd. bin Haji Ya'acob from
Singapore Alliance Party. He was elected with 43.635% of the vote. In the
1968 general election, he contested for MP for Geylang West SMC again and was elected unopposed in a walkover. In the
next election, he contested for Geylang West SMC again against Quek Doh Lam of
Workers' Party, Yong was elected with 69.28% of the vote. In the
1976 general election, Yong contested for MP of Geylang West SMC again, against Lim Tiong Hock from
United Front. He was elected with 71.18% of the vote.
Minister for Education (1959–1963) While he served as Minister for Education, he planned to overhaul
Singapore's education system, introducing a unified education programme and making
Malay the national language. In 1959, Yong proposed building larger indoor sports halls with higher ceilings, suitable for playing badminton, as current indoor sports halls were about 25 feet. He was also an advocate for education, stating that, "The past is history and heritage of the world. Education is a key to that treasury. The drain-sweeper is entitled to hold that key, and I am to see that he gets it." In 1960, Yong proposed an idea of
post-primary, where students who fail their
Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) would take two more years of primary school before joining a normal secondary school. He also had plans for schools in the future to be multi-leveled, wanting schools to have 4 levels as the standard.
Minister for Health (1963–1968) In 1963, Yong became the Minister for Health following a cabinet reshuffle. In 1964, he announced the expansion of Thomson Road Hospital (now known as
Toa Payoh Hospital). Yong had also stated plans to employ more doctors to help ease congestion in hospitals. He opened the completed extension to Thomson Road Hospital in 1965. In 1966, Yong introduced a scheme at hospitals for victims of factory or traffic accidents to help pay for most of their expenses. In 1967, he stated plans to halve
Singapore's birthrate from 30 per thousand to 15 per thousand by 1970, by the time the five-year family planning programme, launched last year, ends.
Minister for Communications (1968–1975) In 1968, while he served as the Minister for Communications, he proposed the idea of converting military bases for commercial use. In 1970, Yong announced the expansion and development of Singapore Airport (now known as
Changi Airport) over the next ten years. He also introduced the
Area Licensing Scheme, which imposed tolls on motorists. He retired in 1979 and worked as a director at Singapore Land Ltd. == Personal life ==