Matthias Yao Chih (Chinese: 姚智; pinyin: Yáo Zhì, born 12 January 1956) is a Singaporean former politician.
In 1975, he was awarded a Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Merit Scholarship to study at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree.
In 1988, Yao became the Political Secretary to Goh Chok Tong, who was then Singapore's First Deputy Prime Minister.
This led to a two-month-long exchange of letters between the pair which were published in the paper, which ended with Chee issuing his challenge to Yao.
During his time at the Prime Minister's office, Yao also served as the Deputy Secretary General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
In 2004, Yao left the Prime Minister's Office and became the Mayor of the South East District of Singapore.