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Goh Keng Swee

Goh Keng Swee[a] DUT (6 October 1918 – 14 May 2010), born Robert Goh Keng Swee,[2] was a Singaporean statesman and economist who served as 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1985. Goh is widely recognised as one of the founding fathers of Singapore.[5] He was also one of the founders of the People's Action Party (PAP), which has governed the country continuously since independence.

Goh Keng Swee
DUT
吴庆瑞
2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
In office
20 March 1973 – 1 January 1985
Serving with S. Rajaratnam (1980–1985)
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byToh Chin Chye
Succeeded byGoh Chok Tong
Ong Teng Cheong
Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore
In office
August 1980 – December 1997
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byHon Sui Sen
Succeeded byRichard Hu
Minister for Education
In office
12 February 1979 – 2 January 1985
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byChua Sian Chin
Succeeded byTony Tan
Minister for Defence
In office
11 August 1970 – 11 February 1979
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byLim Kim San
(as Minister for Interior and Defence)
Succeeded byHowe Yoon Chong
Minister for Finance
In office
17 August 1967 – 10 August 1970
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byLim Kim San
Succeeded byHon Sui Sen
In office
5 June 1959 – 8 August 1965
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byLim Kim San
Minister for Interior and Defence
In office
9 August 1965 – 16 August 1967
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byLim Kim San
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Singapore
In office
2 November 1963[1] – 9 August 1965
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the Singapore Parliament
for Kreta Ayer
In office
30 May 1959 – 4 December 1984
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byRichard Hu (PAP)
Personal details
Born
Robert Goh Keng Swee[2]

(1918-10-06)6 October 1918
Malacca, Straits Settlements
Died14 May 2010(2010-05-14) (aged 91)
Singapore
Cause of deathBladder cancer
NationalitySingaporean
Political partyPeople's Action Party
Spouse(s)Alice Woon
(m. 1942 div. 1986)
Phua Swee Liang
(m. 1991)[3]
ChildrenGoh Kian Chee (son)[3]
RelativesGoh Hood Keng (uncle)
Alma materLondon School of Economics (BSc, PhD)
Signature
Military service
Branch/serviceSingapore Army
Years of service1939–1942
RankHonorary Colonel[4]
Unit20th People's Defence Force[4]
Goh Keng Swee
Traditional Chinese吳慶瑞
Simplified Chinese吴庆瑞
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWú Qìngruì
Southern Min
Hokkien POJGô͘ Khèng-sūi
In this Chinese name, the family name is Goh.

Goh was a prominent member of the country's first generation of political leaders after Singapore became independent in 1965. He served as Minister for Finance between 1959 and 1965, and again between 1967 and 1970, Minister for Interior and Defence between 1965 and 1967, Minister for Defence between 1970 and 1979 and Minister for Education between 1979 and 1985.

As Minister for Interior and Defence, Goh's main objective was to strengthen the country's military and domestic security capabilities after the British had withdrawn its troops from Singapore, which made the newly-independent nation vulnerable. A key policy was the creation of National Service (NS), a mandatory conscription system for able-bodied young males. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had mentioned that he had wanted a conscription consisting both men and women similar to Israel. However, Goh rejected it, citing that the labour cost at least in its initial years would be too great for the newly-independent nation.

During Goh's tenure as Minister for Finance, he declined to allow the central bank to issue currency, favouring instead a currency board system as this would signal to citizens, academics and the financial world that governments cannot "spend their way to prosperity"; the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) was later established in 1971. In 1981, Goh also expressed the view that the central bank need not hold large amounts of cash in reserve to defend the currency, proposing that the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) be established to invest excess reserves. At the time, it was unprecedented for a non-commodity-based economy to have such a sovereign wealth fund, and was initially seen as a risky venture that eventually paid dividends.[6] The multinational merchant bank, Rothschild & Co, had also advised on the GIC during its early years.[7] Goh died in 2010 at the age of 91, and he was accorded a state funeral.

Early life and career

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London School of Economics, where Goh Keng Swee spent six years studying at (1948–51, 1954–56), photographed in January 2005.

Goh was born in Malacca on 6 October 1918[8] into a middle class Peranakan family, the fifth of six children.[9] His father Goh Leng Inn, was a manager of a rubber plantation, while his mother Tan Swee Eng,[10] was from the family that produced the Malaysian politicians Tan Cheng Lock and his son, Tan Siew Sin, who would later become Goh's lifelong political opponent.[11][12]

Goh was given the Christian name Robert, which he disliked and refused to respond to. When he was two years old, his family moved from Malacca to Singapore where his maternal grandparents owned several properties. The Gohs later relocated to the Pasir Panjang rubber estate when his father found work there, and became manager in 1933. In common with many Peranakan families, the Gohs spoke both English and Malay at home; church services were held at home on Sundays in Malay.[2] Goh's father Leng Inn and the latter's brothers-in-law Chew Cheng Yong and Goh Hood Keng taught in the Anglo-Chinese School for various periods, and were also involved in the Middle Road Baba Church while Hood Keng was pastor there. Goh attended the church as well.[13]

Goh attended the Anglo-Chinese School[9] between 1927 and 1936 where he was second in his class in the Senior Cambridge examinations, Goh graduated from Raffles College (now the National University of Singapore) in 1939 with a Class II Diploma in Arts with a special distinction in economics.[10]

After graduation, Goh joined the colonial Civil Service as a tax collector with the War Tax Department but, according to his superiors, was not very good at his job and was almost fired.[9] Shortly after the start of Second World War, he joined the Singapore Volunteer Corps, a local militia, but returned to his previous work after the fall of Singapore.

Goh married Alice Woon, a secretary who was a colleague,[9] in 1942 and they have one son, Goh Kian Chee, two years later. In 1945, he relocated his young family to Malacca, but returned to Singapore the following year after the Japanese occupation ended. That year, he joined the Department of Social Welfare, and was active in the post-war administration. He became a supervisor of the Department's Research Section six months later.[10]

Goh attained a scholarship which enabled him to further his studies at the London School of Economics. During his time in London, Goh met fellow students seeking independence for British Malaya, including Abdul Razak, Maurice Baker, Lee Kuan Yew and Toh Chin Chye. A student discussion group, the Malayan Forum, was formed in 1948 with Goh as the founding chairman.[8][10] Goh graduated in 1951 with a first class honours in economics, and won the William Farr Prize for achieving the highest marks in statistics.[8] Upon his return to the Department of Social Welfare, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Research. In 1952, together with fellow civil servant Kenneth Michael Byrne, he formed the Council of Joint Action to lobby against salary and promotion policies that favoured Europeans over Asians. Byrne later became Minister for Labour and Minister for Law.[10]

In 1954, Goh was able to return to the London School of Economics for doctoral studies with the help of a scholarship conferred by the University of London. He completed his PhD in economics in 1956,[14] and returned to the Department of Social Welfare, where he served as Assistant Director and subsequently as Director. In 1958, he was appointed Director of the Social and Economic Research Division in the Chief Minister's Office. He resigned from the civil service in August that year to work full-time for the People's Action Party (PAP).[10]

Political career

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Pre-independence

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Goh was a key member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC), and serving as Vice-Chairman.

Goh contested in Kreta Ayer during the 1959 general election and won. He was subsequently elected into the Legislative Assembly on 30 May 1959,[15] and appointed Minister for Finance under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's first Cabinet.

As Minister for Finance, Goh assumed the stewardship of Singapore's economy. As a budget deficit of S$14 million was forecast that year, he introduced stringent fiscal discipline which including cutting civil service salaries. As a result of these measures, he was able to announce at the end of the year when delivering the budget that the government had achieved a surplus of $1 million.[5]

Goh initiated the setting up of the Economic Development Board (EDB) which was established in August 1961 to attract foreign multinational corporations to invest in Singapore.[8][16] The next year, he started the development of the Jurong industrial estate on the western end of the island which was then a swamp, offering incentives to local and foreign businesses to locate there.[8][10] According to former Permanent Secretary Sim Kee Boon, Goh admitted that the Jurong project was "an act of faith and he himself jokingly said that this could prove to be Goh's folly".[16] Nonetheless, Goh also felt strongly that "the only way to avoid making mistakes is not to do anything. And that... will be the ultimate mistake."[17]

 
Jurong Industrial Estate with Jurong Island in the background, photographed in November 2006

In the 1960s, there were great pressures from communist agitators working through Chinese-medium schools and trade unions. Divisions existed within the PAP as well, with a pro-communist faction working to wrest control of the party from the moderate wing, of which Goh and Lee Kuan Yew were key members. A key source of division was the issue of merger with Malaya to form a new state of Malaysia. Goh and his fellow moderates believed this was a necessary condition for Singapore's economic development because Malaya was a key economic hinterland; merger would also provide an alternate vision against communism for Singapore's Chinese majority. In July 1961, 16 members of the pro-communist faction broke away from the PAP to form the Barisan Sosialis, and captured control of the main trade unions.

Federation of Malaysia

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The Singapore Government attained approval from Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman for a merger in 1961, with the Tunku being motivated by a desire to stabilise the security situation in Singapore, and notably to neutralise the perceived communist threat. Singapore merged with Malaya and the British Borneo states in 1963 to form the Federation of Malaysia.[18]

Merger, however, proved to be problematic for the Singapore leaders. There was a clash of fundamental principles, both political and economic, notably on the issue of Malay dominance. Communitarian violence in 1964 was inflamed in Singapore by Malay and Chinese activists. According to Lee Kuan Yew, Goh fought to protect Singapore's interests against the Federal Minister of Finance, his cousin Tan Siew Sin, "who was out to spite Singapore". Goh played a crucial role in orchestrating the subsequent secession of Singapore from the Federation on 9 August 1965.

After two difficult years, Lee asked him to negotiate with the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and Minister for External Affairs Ismail Abdul Rahman in July 1965 for Singapore to have a looser arrangement with Malaysia within the Federation. However, following the discussions, Goh ultimately decided that it would be better for Malaysia and Singapore to have a clean break and go on their separate ways.[19]

Post-independence

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Minister for Interior and Defence (1965–1967)

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Infantry soldiers of the Singapore Army awaiting the arrival of the deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard, United States Army Pacific, for a joint military exercise in July 2009. Mandatory conscription was initiated by Goh when he was Minister for Interior and Defence.

Upon the independence of Singapore in 1965, Goh relinquished his portfolio of Minister for Finance and became Minister for Interior and Defence in 1967, assuming responsibilities for strengthening Singapore's military and domestic security capabilities. A key policy was the creation of National Service, a mandatory conscription system for able-bodied young males.[20]

Minister for Finance (1967–1970)

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Goh served as Minister for Finance again between 1967 and 1970,[8][10] during which he declined to allow the central bank to issue currency, favouring instead a currency board system as this would signal to citizens, academics and the financial world that governments cannot "spend their way to prosperity".

Minister for Defence (1970–1979)

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On 11 August 1970, he was reappointed Minister for Defence.[8][10]

Deputy Prime Minister (1973–1984)

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On 1 March 1973,[15] Goh was appointed Deputy Prime Minister concurrently with his other Cabinet portfolio.[10]

On 12 February 1979, Goh moved on from the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Education, where his Goh Report[21] greatly influenced the development of Singapore's education system. He was described as both a key political and strategic leader responsible for the transformation of the system over 30 years from "fair" to "great", according to a November 2010 McKinsey report.[22] He set up the Curriculum Development Institute, and introduced key policies such as religious education—subsequently discontinued and, in 1980, the channelling of students into different programmes of study according to their learning abilities, known as "streaming".[23] Goh served two terms as Minister for Education, his first term ended in 1980, and his second following the 1980 general election from 1981 until his retirement in 1985.

From 1 June 1980, he was redesignated First Deputy Prime Minister upon S. Rajaratnam being made Second Deputy Prime Minister, and served as Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore until he stepped down from Parliament on 3 December 1984, at the age of 66.[8][10][15]

In a tribute to mark the occasion, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew wrote: "A whole generation of Singaporeans take their present standard of living for granted because you had laid the foundations of the economy of modern Singapore."[24]

Other contributions

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Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC)

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In 1981, Goh expressed the view that the central bank need not hold large amounts of cash in reserve to defend the currency, proposing that the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) be established to invest excess reserves. At the time, it was unprecedented for a non-commodity-based economy to have such a sovereign wealth fund.[25] The foreign merchant bank, Rothschild, advised on the GIC.[26]

Defence Science Organisation (DSO)

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In 1971, Goh put together the Electronic Warfare Study Group, a team of newly-graduated engineers who had excelled in their university studies that was headed by Tay Eng Soon, then a university lecturer. The group worked on Project Magpie, a secret project to develop Singapore's defence technology capabilities. In 1977, the group was renamed the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). Originally part of the Ministry of Defence, the organisation became a non-profit corporation called DSO National Laboratories in 1997.[27]

Cultural, sports and recreational

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The Jurong Bird Park was one of Goh's many projects

Goh was also responsible for projects that sought to improve Singaporeans' cultural and leisure life, such as the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.[28]

He backed the construction of the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre in his constituency as a venue for Chinese opera performances.[29] In 1968, Goh encouraged the establishment of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Goh was also instrumental in introducing rugby in the Singapore Armed Forces and later in schools. In recognition of his role in promoting the sport, the Schools "C" Division Cup is named after him.[30]

Impressed by an oceanarium in the Bahamas, he contacted the Sentosa Development Corporation and persuaded them to build an oceanarium in Singapore.[9] Underwater World opened in 1991.

Personal life

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In 1986, Goh divorced his first wife Alice. In 1991, he remarried his former Ministry of Education colleague Phua Swee Liang.[9][10]

Goh suffered his first stroke in 1999, and a subsequent one in 2000 which affected the vision in his right eye.[31] According to Goh's daughter-in-law Tan Siok Sun, the medical condition caused him to be withdrawn and became introverted. In July 2007, Tan published a biography titled Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait. Goh's second wife issued a statement claiming that Goh had not been consulted on the book and had indicated to her that he did not want any book to be written about him. "Therefore, the publication of this book is contrary to his wishes, and is a show of disregard and utmost disrespect to him." In an interview with The Straits Times, Tan said she did not start the dispute between Mrs. Goh and herself, nor did she wish to prolong it.[32]

After retirement from politics, Goh continued to be active in public life, serving as Deputy Chairman of GIC between 1981 and 1994, Economic Adviser to the State Council of the People's Republic of China on Coastal Development and Adviser on Tourism in 1985, Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore between 1985 and 1992, Chairman of the Singapore Totalisator Board between 1988 and 1990, Director of Gateway Technologies Services Pte. Ltd. from 1991 onward, Adviser to the United Overseas Bank Group from 1993 onward, Chairman of N. M. Rothschild & Sons (Singapore) Ltd. from 1994 onward, and Vice-Chairman of Hong Leong Asia Ltd. from 1995 onward.[8]

Goh was also Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of East Asian Philosophies between 1983 and 1992, which was founded to study Confucianism. The institute later turned its focus on China's political and economic development, renaming itself the Institute of East Asian Political Economy, and Goh continued as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Governors until 1995.[10] In April 1997, the institute was reconstituted as the East Asian Institute, an autonomous research organisation under the auspices of the National University of Singapore.[33]

Death

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On 14 May 2010, Goh died in the early morning at his home in Dunbar Walk off East Coast Road in Siglap, at the age of 91.[34]

His body lay in state at Parliament House from 20 to 22 May,[35] and there was a state funeral on 23 May 2010 at the Singapore Conference Hall followed by a private ceremony for family members at the Mandai Crematorium.[36]

The latter was conducted by the pastor-in-charge of Barker Road Methodist Church, with a message delivered by the Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Robert M. Solomon.[13] As a mark of respect, State flags at all Government buildings were flown at half-mast from 20 to 23 May.[37]

Honours

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In 1966, Goh was made an Honorary Fellow of the London school of Economics. In 1972, he was the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Services, which is often regarded as "Asia's Nobel Prize".[38] It is awarded to people who have demonstrated integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. That same year, the Philippine Government conferred upon him the Order of Sikatuna, which is given to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.[8]

Following his retirement from politics, in 1985 Goh was awarded the Order of Temasek (First Class), Singapore's highest civilian honour. He was also presented with the LSE's Distinguished Alumnus Award on 21 January 1989,[39] and made the first Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Development Board Society in 1991.[8]

During the National Day Rally on 29 August 2010, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Singapore Command and Staff College, where senior officers of the Singapore Armed Forces receive training; and a complex to be constructed at the Ministry of Education's North Buona Vista Road headquarters for specialist teacher training academies in English language, physical education, sports and the arts would be respectively named the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College and the Goh Keng Swee Centre for Education.[40]

Publications

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  • The Economic Front: From a Malayan Point of View. Singapore: Government Printers. 1940. OCLC 226068826..
  • Urban Incomes & Housing: A Report on the Social Survey of Singapore, 1953–54. Singapore: [Department of Social Welfare]. 1956. OCLC 504452751..
  • Techniques of National Income Estimation in Under-developed Territories, with Special Reference to Asia and Africa [Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London, London School of Economics, 1956]. London: University of London Library, Photographic Section. 1978. OCLC 63630985..
  • This is How Your Money is Spent [Budget statement by Goh Keng Swee, Minister for Finance; Towards Socialism, vol. 3]. Singapore: Ministry of Finance. 1960. OCLC 63838096..
  • Some Problems of Industrialisation [Towards Socialism; vol. 7]. Singapore: Government Printing Office. 1963. OCLC 17270555..
  • Communism in Non-Communist Asian Countries. Singapore: Printed by the Government Printing Office for the Ministry of Culture. c. 1967. OCLC 433094..
  • The Economics of Modernization and other Essays. [Singapore]: Asia Pacific Press. 1972. OCLC 534320.. Later editions:
  • Some Problems of Manpower Development in Singapore [Occasional publication (Singapore Training and Development Association); no. 1]. Singapore: Ad Hoc Publications Sub-committee, Singapore Training & Development Association. 1974. OCLC 226024028..
  • Some Unsolved Problems of Economic Growth [Kesatuan lecture; 1]. Singapore: Kesatuan Akademis Universiti Singapura. 1976. ISBN 9971-68-076-9. OCLC 3072805..
  • The Practice of Economic Growth. Singapore: Federal Publications. 1977. OCLC 4465760.. Later edition:
  • Goh, Keng Swee; Education Study Team (1979). Report on the Ministry of Education 1978. Singapore: Printed by Singapore National Printers. OCLC 416421063..
  • Goh, Keng Swee (1995). Low, Linda (ed.). Wealth of East Asian Nations: Speeches and Writings. Singapore: Federal Publications. ISBN 978-981-01-2297-3..

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ simplified Chinese: 吴庆瑞; traditional Chinese: 吳慶瑞; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Khèng-sūi; pinyin: Wú Qìngruì

Citations

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  1. ^ "PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DEWAN RA'AYAT (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF). Dewan Rakyat. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Tan Siok Sun (7 July 2007), A shy, quiet boy who loved books [Excerpt from Goh Keng Swee, a Portrait], AsiaOne, archived from the original on 2 December 2012, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. ^ a b Obituary notice of Dr. Goh Keng Swee, The Straits Times (15 May 2010), p. C28.
  4. ^ a b Desker, Barry; Kwa, Chong Guan, eds. (2011). Goh Keng Swee: A Public Career Remembered. World Scientific. pp. 83, 98, 101. ISBN 978-9814407533.
  5. ^ a b Lee Hsien Loong (24 May 2010), "A giant in our midst [eulogy by the Prime Minister]", Today, pp. 12–14, archived from the original on 25 May 2010.
  6. ^ Janadas Devan (15 May 2010), "Remembering Goh Keng Swee, 1918–2010", The Straits Times (Saturday), p. D2.
  7. ^ Hamilton-Hart, Natasha (2003). Asian states, Asian bankers : central banking in Southeast Asia. Singapore: Singapore University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0801439872.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jenny Tien Mui Mun (8 October 2002), Dr Goh Keng Swee, Singapore Infopedia, National Library, Singapore, archived from the original on 23 June 2008, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Nur Dianah Suhaimi (16 May 2010), "His work was his passion: The late Goh Keng Swee showed brilliance even when he was a child", The Sunday Times, Singapore, p. 10.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "From civil servant to PAP stalwart", The Straits Times (Saturday), p. D2, 15 May 2010.
  11. ^ Lee Kuan Yew (1998), The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore: Times Publishing, pp. 600–602, ISBN 978-981-204-983-4.
  12. ^ Tan Siok Sun (2007), Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait, Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, pp. 114–115, ISBN 978-981-4155-82-3.
  13. ^ a b "The lesser known side of Dr Goh Keng Swee", Methodist Message, vol. 112, no. 7, p. 12, July 2010, archived from the original on 5 October 2018.
  14. ^ His thesis was entitled Techniques of National Income Estimation in Under-developed Territories, with Special Reference to Asia,malacca,singapore and Africa [Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London, London School of Economics, 1956], London: University of London Library, Photographic Section, 1978, OCLC 63630985.
  15. ^ a b c "Parliament pays respects", The Straits Times, 18 May 2010.
  16. ^ a b "A visionary who didn't believe in dreams: A look into the life of the man responsible for HDB flats, National Service, JTC ... even the Zoo", Weekend Today, pp. 12–13, 15–16 May 2010.
  17. ^ As recalled by Lim Siong Guan, Group President of GIC and former Head of the Singapore Civil Service: see Chua Mui Hoong (15 May 2010), "Passing of a S'pore titan: Former DPM Goh Keng Swee was economic architect of Singapore and mentor to many", The Straits Times, pp. A1–A2.
  18. ^ "Singapore – Road to Independence". U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved 27 June 2006.
  19. ^ Lee Kuan Yew (24 May 2010), "He made the greatest difference: Eulogy by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew", The Straits Times, p. A6.
  20. ^ "National Service becomes compulsory - Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  21. ^ Goh Keng Swee; Education Study Team (1979), Report on the Ministry of Education 1978, Singapore: Printed by Singapore National Printers, OCLC 416421063.
  22. ^ Michael Barber; Chinezi Chijioke; Mona Mourshed (2010), Education: How the World's Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better, London: McKinsey & Company, pp. 101–118.
  23. ^ MOKHTAR, FARIS. "Timeline: How secondary school streaming evolved over the decades". TODAY. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  24. ^ Chua Mui Hoong (15 May 2010), "Passing of a S'pore titan: Former DPM Goh Keng Swee was economic architect of Singapore and mentor to many", The Straits Times, pp. A1–A2.
  25. ^ Janadas Devan (15 May 2010), "Remembering Goh Keng Swee, 1918–2010", The Straits Times (Saturday), p. D2.
  26. ^ Hamilton-Hart, Natasha (2003). Asian states, Asian bankers : central banking in Southeast Asia. Singapore: Singapore University Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0801439872.
  27. ^ Melanie Chew; Bernard Tan (2002), "A Tribute to Dr Goh Keng Swee" (PDF), Creating the Technology Edge: DSO National Laboratories, Singapore 1972–2002, Singapore: Epigram for DSO National Laboratories, pp. 4–9, ISBN 978-981-04-7199-6, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
  28. ^ Imelda Saad (15–16 May 2010), "S'pore's master builder", Weekend Today, p. 2, archived from the original on 18 May 2010.
  29. ^ Leong Weng Kam (15 May 2010), "A thinker and a doer: Dr Goh was a 'great intellectual', recall PAP Old Guard members", The Straits Times, p. A6.
  30. ^ "'One of the most brilliant architects' of the country, says SM Goh", Weekend Today, p. 3, 15–16 May 2010, archived from the original on 18 May 2010.
  31. ^ Nur Dianah Suhaimi (28 May 2010), "Love against the odds [interview with Dr. Phua Swee Liang]", The Straits Times, pp. A40–A41.
  32. ^ Lydia Lim (7 July 2007), "No regrets despite objections, except one", The Straits Times (reproduced on the AsiaOne website), archived from the original on 2 December 2012.
  33. ^ EAI's profile & objectives, East Asia Institute, National University of Singapore, 2008, archived from the original on 21 December 2010, retrieved 16 May 2010.
  34. ^ "Farewell to one of Singapore's prime architects", Weekend Today, p. 1, 15–16 May 2010, archived from the original on 16 May 2010. See also Rachel Lin (15 May 2010), "A quiet passing for a quiet man: He lived simply, was a private man, with S'pore uppermost in his mind", The Straits Times, p. A3.
  35. ^ Esther Ng (21 May 2010), "From all walks of life, they came to pay their respects: More than 5,000 queue up at Parliament House to honour Dr Goh", Today, p. 3, archived from the original on 23 May 2010; Nur Dianah Suhaimi; Kor Kian Beng (22 May 2010), "'Thank you and goodbye': Young and old, from near and far, over 7,000 pay respects to Dr Goh", The Straits Times, p. A16.
  36. ^ Cassandra Chew (22 May 2010), "State funeral an honour reserved for rare few", The Straits Times, p. A16; Chua Mui Hoong (24 May 2010), "Goodbye, Dr Goh: Tributes flow at state funeral for one of Singapore's founding fathers", The Straits Times, pp. A1–A2; Rachel Lin (24 May 2010), "A simple, moving funeral for Dr Goh: Nation mourns one of its founders in a sombre but intimate ceremony", The Straits Times, pp. A2–A3; Zul Othman (24 May 2010), "A nation says goodbye", Today, pp. 1 & 3, archived from the original on 29 May 2010.
  37. ^ "State funeral on May 23", Weekend Today, p. 2, 15–16 May 2010, archived from the original on 16 May 2010.
  38. ^ 1972 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Services: Biography of Goh Keng Swee, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, August 1972, archived from the original on 1 August 2008, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  39. ^ Phua Kai Hong (25 May 2010), "The day Dr Goh removed words from his citation [letter]", Today, p. 8, archived from the original on 27 May 2010.
  40. ^ Clarissa Oon (30 August 2010), "SAF institute, education centre named after Goh Keng Swee", The Straits Times, p. B4; Alicia Wong (30 August 2010), "Military college and education centre to be named after Goh Keng Swee", Today, p. 13.

Sources

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  • "From civil servant to PAP stalwart". The Straits Times (Saturday). 15 May 2010. p. D2.
  • Nur Dianah Suhaimi (16 May 2010). His work was his passion: The late Goh Keng Swee showed brilliance even when he was a child. Singapore. p. 10.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • "Parliament pays respects". The Straits Times. 18 May 2010.
  • Tien, Jenny Mui Mun (8 October 2002). "Dr Goh Keng Swee". Singapore Infopedia, National Library, Singapore. Archived from the original on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2010.

Further reading

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Books

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  • Austin, Ian Patrick (2004). Goh Keng Swee and Southeast Asian Governance. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Academic. ISBN 978-981-210-351-2.
  • Desker, Barry; Kwa, Chong Guan, eds. (2011). Goh Keng Swee – A Public Career Remembered. Singapore: World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-4291-38-5.
  • Doshi, Tilak; Coclanis, Peter (1999). "The Economic Architect: Goh Keng Swee". In Lam, Peng Er; Tan, Kevin (eds.). Lee's Lieutenants: Singapore's Old Guard. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin. pp. 24–44. ISBN 978-1-86448-639-1.
  • Kuah, Adrian (2007). UnChartered territory: Dr Goh Keng Swee and the ST Engineering Story. Singapore: Published for ST Engineering by SNP International. ISBN 978-981-248-169-6.
  • Kwok, Kian-Woon (1999). "The Social Architect: Goh Keng Swee". In Lam, Peng Er; Tan, Kevin (eds.). Lee's Lieutenants: Singapore's Old Guard. St. Leonards, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin. pp. 45–69. ISBN 978-1-86448-639-1.
  • Nair, E. Shailaja (2008). The Master Sculptor: Goh Keng Swee [Great Singapore Stories. Founding Fathers.] Singapore: SNP Editions. ISBN 978-981-248-160-3.
  • Ngiam, Tong Dow (2006). A Mandarin and the Making of Public Policy: Reflections by Ngiam Tong Dow. Singapore: NUS Press. ISBN 978-9971-69-350-3.
  • Ooi, Kee Beng (2010). In Lieu of Ideology: The Intellectual Biography of Goh Keng Swee. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 978-981-4311-30-4.
  • Tan, Siok Sun (2007). Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. ISBN 978-981-4155-82-3..
  • Yeo, Siew Siang (1990). Tan Cheng Lock, the Straits Legislator and Chinese Leader. Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Pelanduk Publications. ISBN 978-967-978-236-3.

Eulogies at the state funeral

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Letters of condolence

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News reports

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  • Chang, Rachel; Cai, Haoxiang; Kor, Kian Beng (15 May 2010). "Ex-MPs recall a fearsome technocrat: A strict taskmaster who didn't suffer fools, but he was never brusque". The Straits Times. p. A8.
  • "Leaders salute 'this marvellous man'". The Straits Times. 15 May 2010. p. A4.
  • S. Ramesh (15–16 May 2010). "A national hero who touched people's lives". Weekend Today. p. 2. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010.
  • "Goh Keng Swee: Passing of a colossus [editorial]". The Straits Times. 22 May 2010. p. A32.
  • Balji, P.N. (22–23 May 2010). "Dr Goh, the Dream No 2". Weekend Today. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010.
  • Devan, Janadas (23 May 2010). "Simply sincere: Dr Goh's simple yet eloquent writing style showed desire to reach out to ordinary people". The Sunday Times. Singapore. p. 35.
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Library resources about
Goh Keng Swee
By Goh Keng Swee
Political offices
Preceded by
New post
 Minister for Finance
1959–65 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New post
 Minister for Defence
1965–67 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Finance
1967–70 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Finance
1970–79 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Education
1979–80 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Education
1981–85 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
1973–85 		Succeeded by
Parliament of Singapore
New constituency Member of Parliament for Kreta Ayer
1959–84 		Succeeded by
Military offices
New title 1st Director, General Staff of Defence Force
1965-1967 		Succeeded by
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