Zainul Abidin Rasheed

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed is currently Singapore’s non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait and the Foreign Minister’s Special Envoy to the Middle East.

Between 1976 and 1996, Mr Zainul Abidin served in various capacities in journalism including as Editor of Berita Harian, The Sunday Times, and Associate Editor of The Straits Times. He was seconded to the Council for the Development of Singapore Muslim Community (Mendaki) as its CEO from 1990 to 1993, and to Singapore Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) as its President from 1991 – 1996.

In 1997, he entered politics and was elected as MP for Cheng San GRC (1997 – 2001) and then Aljunied GRC (2001 – 2011). During this period, he was also appointed Executive Secretary of the Singapore Port Workers’ Union (1997 – 1998), General Manager of NTUC Fairprice Cooperative Ltd (1997 – 1998), Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998 – 2001). He also held the post of Mayor of the Northeast Community Development Council (2001 – 2008). In 2004, he was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and was promoted to Senior Minister of State 2 years later.

Mr Zainul Abidin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Malay Studies from the University of Singapore in 1971.