Goh Keng Swee - Wikipedia Pallbearers For Lee Kuan Yew

Goh Keng Swee Robert, for a quarter of a century.

Born in and Singapore).

From 1945 onwards he worked for the Department of Social Welfare, eventually rising to become its director. In 1958 he resigned from the Civil Service to work full-time for the (1979–80, 1981–84).

Following his retirement from politics, Goh continued to be active in public life, serving as deputy chairman of the (from 1995).

In 1972, Goh was the recipient of the (Order of Temasek), First Class, Singapore's highest civilian honour. He was also made the first Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Development Board Society in 1991.

Goh was diagnosed with bladder cancer in September 1983 and he retired from politics in December 1984. He kept a low profile but remained active with various organisations where he served on the board or as an adviser. After he married Phua Swee Liang in 1991, the couple travelled widely to places such as Australia and Hawaii. However, a series of strokes in the late 1990s and early 2000s took a heavy toll on him. He was bedridden in his final years and died on 14 May 2010.

Early years, education and career[]

Goh Keng Swee was born in

, where Goh Keng Swee spent six years studying (1948–51, 1954–56), photographed in January 2005

Goh won a scholarship which enabled him to further his studies at the

Political career[]

Pre-independence[]

Goh was a key member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee, and later became its vice-chairman. Goh successfully contested the

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 , and captured control of the main trade unions.

Federation of Malaysia[]

The Singaporean government won approval from

Post-independence[]

Minister of the Interior and Defence (1965–1967)[]

Upon independence in 1965, Goh relinquished his finance portfolio and became , a mandatory conscription system for able-bodied young males.

Minister of Finance (1967–1970) and Minister of Defence (1970–1979)[]

He was again Finance Minister between 17 August 1967 and 10 August 1970,

Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (1973–1984)[]

On 1 March 1973,

Other contributions[]

Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC)[]

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

Defence Science Organisation (DSO)[]

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 Dr.

Cultural, sports and recreational[]

Goh was also responsible for projects that sought to improve Singaporeans' cultural and leisure life, such as the In 1968, Goh encouraged the establishment of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Goh was also instrumental in introducing opened in 1991.

Later life[]

After retirement from politics, Goh continued to be active in public life, serving as Deputy Chairman of the

Personal life[]

In 1986, Goh separated from his first wife Alice. In 1991, he married his former Ministry of Education colleague Dr. Phua Swee Liang (

Death[]

On 14 May 2010, Goh died in the early morning at his home in Dunbar Walk off

Awards and honours[]

In 1966, Goh was made an Honorary Fellow of the LSE. In 1972 he was the recipient of the

Published works[]

• The Economic Front: From a Malayan Point of View. Singapore: Government Printers. 1940. ..
• Urban Incomes & Housing: A Report on the Social Survey of Singapore, 1953–54. Singapore: [Department of Social Welfare]. 1956. ..
• 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. ..
• This is How Your Money is Spent [Budget statement by Goh Keng Swee, Minister for Finance; Towards Socialism, vol. 3]. Singapore: ..
• Some Problems of Industrialisation [Towards Socialism; vol. 7]. Singapore: Government Printing Office. 1963. ..
• Communism in Non-Communist Asian Countries. Singapore: Printed by the Government Printing Office for the ..
• .. Later editions:
  • The Economics of Modernization. Singapore: Federal Publications. 1995. ..
  • The Economics of Modernization. Singapore: ..
• 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. ..
• Some Unsolved Problems of Economic Growth [Kesatuan lecture; 1]. Singapore: Kesatuan Akademis Universiti Singapura. 1976. ..
• The Practice of Economic Growth. Singapore: Federal Publications. 1977. .. Later edition:
  • The Practice of Economic Growth. Singapore: Federal Publications. 1995. ..
• Goh, Keng Swee; Education Study Team (1979). Report on the Ministry of Education 1978. Singapore: Printed by Singapore National Printers. ..
• Goh, Keng Swee (1995). Low, Linda (ed.). Wealth of East Asian Nations: Speeches and Writings. Singapore: Federal Publications. ]
  1. (PDF) from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  2. ^ (15 May 2010), p. C28.
  3. .
  4. . www.mas.gov.sg.
  5. ^ on 23 June 2008, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  6. ^ , Singapore, p. 10.
  7. ^ "From civil servant to PAP stalwart", The Straits Times (Saturday), p. D2, 15 May 2010.
  8. .
  9. .
  10. on 2 December 2012, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  11. ^ on 5 October 2018.
  12. .
  13. ^ "Parliament pays respects", The Straits Times, 18 May 2010.
  14. on 25 May 2010.
  15. ^ , pp. 12–13, 15–16 May 2010.
  16. : 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.
  17. (24 May 2010), "He made the greatest difference: Eulogy by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew", The Straits Times, p. A6.
  18. .
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Janadas Devan (15 May 2010), "Remembering Goh Keng Swee, 1918–2010", The Straits Times (Saturday), p. D2.
  22. .
  23. (PDF) on 28 September 2007.
  24. on 18 May 2010.
  25. 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.
  26. on 18 May 2010.
  27. on 21 December 2010, retrieved 16 May 2010.
  28. Nur Dianah Suhaimi (28 May 2010), "Love against the odds [interview with Dr. Phua Swee Liang]", The Straits Times, pp. A40–A41.
  29. on 2 December 2012.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. on 29 May 2010.
  33. on 16 May 2010.
  34. on 1 August 2008, retrieved 15 May 2010.
  35. on 27 May 2010.
  36. 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.

  References[]

  • "From civil servant to PAP stalwart". (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..
  • "Parliament pays respects". The Straits Times. 18 May 2010..
  • Tien, Jenny Mui Mun (8 October 2002). ]

    Books[]

    • Austin, Ian Patrick (2004). Goh Keng Swee and Southeast Asian Governance. Singapore: ..
    • Desker, Barry; Kwa, Chong Guan, eds. (2011). Goh Keng Swee – A Public Career Remembered. Singapore: ..
    • 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.: ..
    • Kuah, Adrian (2007). UnChartered territory: Dr Goh Keng Swee and the ST Engineering Story. Singapore: Published for ..
    • 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. ..
    • Nair, E. Shailaja (2008). The Master Sculptor: Goh Keng Swee [Great Singapore Stories. Founding Fathers.] Singapore: SNP Editions. ..
    • Ngiam, Tong Dow (2006). A Mandarin and the Making of Public Policy: Reflections by Ngiam Tong Dow. Singapore: ..
    • Ooi, Kee Beng (2010). In Lieu of Ideology: The Intellectual Biography of Goh Keng Swee. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ..
    • Tan, Siok Sun (2007). Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait. Singapore: ..
    • Yeo, Siew Siang (1990). Tan Cheng Lock, the Straits Legislator and Chinese Leader. Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Pelanduk Publications. ]
      • on 26 May 2010..
      • on 26 May 2010..
      • on 26 May 2010..
      • Goh, Ken-Yi (24 May 2010). "A caring, selfless grandfather: Eulogy by grandson Goh Ken-Yi". The Straits Times. p. A10.. See also Zul Othman (24 May 2010). on 26 May 2010..
      • Hui, Marian (24 May 2010). "He motivated me to pursue my dreams: Excerpt of eulogy by Grand-niece Marian Hui". The Straits Times. p. A8..

      Letters of condolence[]

      • Lee, Hsien Loong (15–16 May 2010). on 16 May 2010..
      • on 16 May 2010..
      • on 22 June 2011..
      • ]
        • 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". . p. A8..
        • "Leaders salute 'this marvellous man'". The Straits Times. 15 May 2010. p. A4..
        • S. Ramesh (15–16 May 2010). 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). 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..

        External links[]

        • on 1 April 2013