1918 - 2010 Goh Keng Swee - People's Action Party - PAP

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Goh Keng Swee: The Man active in the east, and Asians were looking to free their countries from their colonial overlords. It was then he met Lee Kuan Yew. To educate themselves about politics, the Malayan students there set up the Malayan Forum. Goh was its first chairman. Quite a lot of discussion was done in pubs over a few beers. His fondness for the brew later led to liver problems. This was on top of the diabetes he had. Back in Singapore, he got involved in the unions, which were fighting for a better deal for locals. He did a survey on the incomes and housing of the urban working class, using a new methodology interviewing heads of households. What he gleaned from it was to form the basis for the economic and Goh Keng Swee’s legacy lies as much in his attitude towards work and life as all the policies and systems he put into place. One less wellknown tale which indicates the kind of man he was involves a priest. Goh was then in the process of creating the armed forces and wanted a code of conduct drawn up for the man, preferably by someone experienced in the techniques of influencing people. So he asked a Jesuit priest, Father J. Sheridan, to do the draft. A family portrait taken in the 1940s. Goh Keng Swee is seated. social policies of a socialiststyle political party, the People’s Action Party. When he returned to London for his doctorate, he served as the PAP’s talent scout abroad. It was a role that he continued to play during his 25 years in government. Waste not allowed 14 PETIR MAY / JUNE 10 The incident illustrates his innovativeness in searching for solutions, his knack of getting the right people to do a job, and openness to consulting others with the experience and the expertise. For the armed forces, he turned to the Israelis, because of their performance during the SixDay War, and because they, too, are from a small country. They were struck by “his iron will and logic”. On the economic front, he depend Many who paid tribute to him recounted how he had come to their “rescue” in their youth, and helped them realise their hopes. They include Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and former permanent secretaries Philip Yeo and J.Y. Pillay. At home, his resentment for the colonial system grew, and he left the civil service for politics, to change the situation. He was assigned to contest in Kreta Ayer and won. On June 5, the only economist in the Party was sworn in as Singapore’s first Minister for Finance. The really hard work had begun; a legend was launched. Goh headed the ministry twice, from 1959 to 1965, and 1967 to 1970. During these periods, he put Singa ed on Dutch economist Albert Winsemius, who offered direction, suggestions and guidance for a couple of decades. Many have described Goh as one of those rare people who listened to others’ ideas; he certainly had no qualms learning from his juniors, nor giving young people a chance to tackle major issues. If the suggestions made sense to him, he would run with them. If things did not work out, he admitted his mistake and dropped the idea,
Goh speaking to reporters in December 1984, the month he retired from politics. That year marked a changing of the guard in the PAP. pore on the route to industrialisation and determined the economy should be exportdriven. He was also Singapore’s first Minister for Defence, from 1965 to 1967, and 1970 to 1979. He set up the armed forces and started National Service. which is what he did seven years after he introduced religious education as a subject in schools. As he pointed out to his elder grandchild years later: “You must always be a person others can count on to do a good job, whether the end result is successful or not.” Despite his years studying theories, Goh did not go by the book, pronouncing: “Governments are seldom moved by doctrines, principles, theoretical arguments and analyses which academ Basically, the man who was “always thinking, thinking, thinking” was the government’s Mr FixIt, which is why he became Minister for Education, a posting he described as the “most frustrating period” of his life. During his time, 1979 to 1984, he launched his ics consider important.” Instead, he got down and dirty, for a better picture of whatever he was involved in. Only then, he believed, one could come up with good solutions. It involved reading a lot of reports and books. He expected his people to be accountable. Recalled one MAS officer who attended weekly sessions with him in the 1980s: “We were challenged, we were under pressure to ensure that our decisions were not only theoreti most controversial policy streaming at Primary 3, and sought to raise the quality of teachers. What few knew before Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s eulogy at his state funeral is Goh’s major role in Singapore leaving Malaysia. The relation cally sound, but these actions were also rooted in good market judgment.” Goh’s guardianship of the public purse was fierce. He routinely turned down projects which cost more than $1 million, a huge sum of money in the 1960s, until it was vital the funds were truly needed, like the $260 million in the 1970s for the upgrading of Singapore General Hospital. And when he was offered the same pay he had as minister to be deputy chairman of the MAS and GIC after his PETIR MAY / JUNE 10 15
Page 1: 行动报 www.pap.org.sg Goodbye Go
Page 5 and 6: Dr Goh’s role extended well beyon
Page 7 and 8: Mr Lee’s letter of thanks to his
Page 9 and 10: In his talks with Tun Razak, then M
Page 12 and 13: Eulogy by Mr Goh Ken-Yi Great grand
Page 14 and 15: We Salute the Great Man Who Helped
Page 18 and 19: 16 PETIR MAY / JUNE 10 We Salute th
Page 22 and 23: 1 5 Goh Keng Swee: Memories THE POL
Page 24 and 25: THE FUNERAL: 1. Son, Mr Goh Kian Ch
Page 26 and 27: Goh Keng Swee: The Legacy gapore’
Page 28 and 29: Goh Keng Swee: The Legacy spirit of
Page 32 and 33: DR GOH KENG SWEE We pay tribute to
Page 34 and 35: Dr Goh Keng Swee was instrumental i
Page 36 and 37: We Salute the Architect of Singapor
Page 38 and 39: We salute the visionary who helped
Page 42 and 43: Overheard 40 PETIR MAY / JUNE 10
Page 44: A Tribute to the Prime Architect of

1918 - 2010 Goh Keng Swee - People's Action Party - PAP

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