The Online Citizen extends our condolence to the family of Dr Goh Keng Swee.
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Source: Straits Times, 14 May 2010
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister and Singapore’s economic architect Goh Keng Swee died early on Friday morning after a long illness. He was 91.
Dr Goh Keng Swee will be remembered, above all, for his role as one of the prime architects of Singapore’s economic success. Many of the key milestones in Singapore’s journey from Third World backwater to globalised, First-World city can be found in the story of his life, vividly portrayed in the new book Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait by his daughter-in-law Tan Siok Sun.
The son of a rich Malacca family – his father, Goh Leng Inn, was a manager of a rubber plantation, his mother was from the family that produced famous Malaysian politicians Tun Tan Cheng Lock and his son Tun Tan Siew Sin – Dr Goh joined the Department of Social Welfare in 1946, and was active in post-war administration.
He resigned from the civil service in 1959 to enter politics and was elected as the People’s Action Party representative for Kreta Ayer, his constituency until he retired in 1984.
He had one word to describe the state of the economy when he became finance minister in 1959: ‘Wretched’.
Upon Singapore’s independence in 1965, Dr Goh also became Minister for the Interior and Defence until 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.
In 1979, Dr Goh moved on to the Education Ministry, where his Goh Report greatly influenced the development of Singapore’s education system, introducing key policies such as streaming and religious education.
Dr Goh retired as Deputy Prime Minister in December 1984, due to personal reasons.
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I am sad that Dr.Goh Keng Swee have passed away, although I don’t know him personally, I still feel sad, and I feel blessed to have him who truly love Singapore and he made Singapore a Success, he worked in so many departments and he worked with his heart.
Rest in Peace, Dr. Goh Keng Swee, a BIG THANK YOU.
Singaporeans may never learn the real reason Dr Goh left the government in 1984.
The country has been deprived of the services of a brilliant mind for the past 26 years.( Can any of the senior ministers today hold a candle to him??)
Condolences to the family who should be so proud of Dr Goh’s life. I regard Dr Goh as a true gentleman and an officer.
T A Balasingam
Thank you for letting us know, the more I learn about this man, the more I admire him.
Now I know why the downfall after the 80′s.
Leesjuanpat
My imagination is running wild with the ‘last of the Mohicans’ – esp the shaved head with hair in the middle.
Its a sad day for Sporeans. I am beginning to understand why the start of the downfall from the 80′s.
Dr Goh, you’re a great man. Without you being the right hand man, I doubt LKY is capable of making his way thru for Singapore. No Doubt, he is a great administrator. However, you’re the great driver with far vision into the future who engineered and execute it thru effectively.
Maybe god needs your help to develop and work out a better heaven.
Too little to just say a big thank you for your effort in building Singapore, Dr Goh rest in peace.
The old guards are real selfless politicians, whereas the present bunch are self serving money clowns!
I seriously literally almost puke in shock when I watched the news where LHL “shed an emotional crocodile tear” when recalling Dr. Goh’s advice on always remembering to serve the people and that they are akin to joining a “holy order”. Same goes to MBT when he boasted that Dr. Goh stopped him from resigning from the civil service.
Welcome the new star search winners. Move aside Mediacorpse, these graduates are conquering the world. Scary!
Dr Goh retired as Deputy Prime Minister in December 1984, due to personal reasons.
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dr gohkengswee already knew leekuanyew smelly pattern when he roped in his son the prince our prime minister
thats the same day dr gohkengswee swore
he hav no parts/heart in this evil scheme
who don’t want to earn over $100,000/month? except the prata president/the former prime minister/the new ministers…
you all mereLEE think dr gohkengswee migrate to hainan island for a long dirty weekends?
Oh well, we all have to go at some point…
At least some people know when to step down while others get to re-appoint themselves with creative titles and be a burden to the parliament payroll.
Now left MM Lee alone, the dynasty builder as compared to his comrades in his younger days the nation builders. MM Lee is indeed a stumbling block to nation building for he is now interested in building the Lee dynasty.
GKS build Singapore econcomy through industrialisation, defence system, education and even entertainment spot for the citizens. LKY job is to fix opposition, enrich his own party and put his own families into the system which resulted in Singapore becoming a LEEgime.
GKS is truly the founding father of Singapore. LKY probably would destroy this country with the influx of foreigners in no time.
Thank you Dr Goh, for showing many of us how a job can be done for Singapore without lust for power nor wealth.
If only we could hear your views on LKY staying on as mentor, Lee Hsien Loong as PM, Ho Ching losing billions, paying multi million $$ to our ministars, selling away state assets, affordability of HDB flats, insufficient CPF for retirement……
My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr. Robert Goh Keng Swee. May God grant him eternal peace.
I watched the tribute to him on TV and read about the many things he had done for Singapore and Singaporeans. Just awesome! Truly only one of a kind (they don’t make them anymore!). Like all Singaporeans, I am deeply grateful for all he did for Singapore and his fellow Singaporeans. Thank you Dr. Goh.
A sample of the simple things he did like washing his underwear in a hotel to avoid laundry cost, walking a few blocks to avoid the cost of using a taxi and using tissues sparingly, all to “save taxpayers money” demonstrated his humility with frugality and his deep respect and concern for the people he served.
I can now understand why today’s government is more materialistic and lacks that “soul” or conscience and clear sense of duty and direction to do what is best for its citizens first.
You cannot ‘buy’ a person like Dr. Goh. His wife says “He did all these things not for money, not for glory or to be honoured but for Singapore and Singaporeans”. This is the lesson the current leaders have not learnt. Their services to the people cannot be simply compared with the 10 most highly paid workers in Singapore because they should perform as if they had joined a “holy order” – a definition of good government by Dr.Goh!
I doubt GKS’s idea of the “Holy Order” includes the provision to pay themselves unholy wages.
If he knew the cost of the payroll. He probabily would have exclaimed :
“Holy shit !”
should see how phony lhl is on tv when talking about gks.
never mentioned him but when he dies, lhl thinks he is god.
how come he never considered consulting gks before lhl invested in citibank?
Dr.Goh Keng Swee is truly a man who we must learn from, whatever we do, we must truly give our best, he is an inspiration to me and I will forever remember this great man, you are truly a man to be respected generation to generation, thank you so very much. No words can describe how truly a great man you are, rest in peace,
Dr.Goh Keng Swee, your legacy will live forever.
Dr Goh’s achievements speak for himself.
Condolences to his family.
the pettiness of Goh CT:
This fella only thought about the time, GKS messed up his career with Shell.
That’s all he could say about GKS.
What a petty guy.
I heard about Dr Goh’s death in school at 17 may 2010. May Dr Goh in heaven.
God bless you
I wish Dr Goh a peaceful death.
hope Dr goh is happy on top. =)
although i don’t know you, you are a great man
you are a great man:)
You are a great man. Hope you rest in peace on top:(:(:(:(
although i dont know dr goh keng swee
he had sacrifice alot for singapore
so farewell dr goh keng swee
may your body rest in peace
GOODBYE
he is a great man if you actually know him
he is a great man although you don’t know him.:(:(
i know he was a great man but cheer up.lets brighten things up telling a funny poem: there was a lady from Texas.who rode,with a smile,on a tiger.they returned from the ride with the lady inside.and the smile on the face of the tiger.
I give my blessings to Dr. Goh. Thank You for setting up the nation and for helping us to be what we are now. Although I am a mere student, I hope you will R.I.P and rest peacefully.
Even though i’m not from singapore, I think that Dr Goh Keng Swee was a very promising man that singapore ought to be hounoured for and may his soul RIP