[3] Yong was born on 24 June 1918 in Seremban, Negri Sembilan and studied in Singapore at Raffles College, graduating with a degree in Science.

[4] He worked as a science teacher before switching to insurance, where he joined Overseas Assurance Company in 1941.

[7] 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.

[9] In the 1976 general election, Yong contested for MP of Geylang West SMC again, against Lim Tiong Hock from United Front.

[20] In 1966, Yong introduced a scheme at hospitals for victims of factory or traffic accidents to help pay for most of their expenses.

[22] In 1968, while he served as the Minister for Communications, he proposed the idea of converting military bases for commercial use.

[25] He retired in 1979 and worked as a director at Singapore Land Ltd.[5][26] In 1990, Yong received the Order of Nila Utama on National Day.