Mr Wee Cho Yaw, SFCCA President, together with the representatives of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), pay their respects to the former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Goh Keng Swee
Dr Goh Keng Swee, one of Singapore’s founding fathers and former Deputy Prime Minster of Singapore, passed away on 14 May at the age of 91. Mr Wee Cho Yaw, the President of SFCCA, led a group of over 60 representatives from various committees and their affiliated clan associations to the Parliament on 21 May to pay tribute and bid farewell to Dr Goh, who contributed significantly to Singapore.
Earlier, during a media interview, Mr Wee revealed that he and Dr Goh had known each other for more than 50 years. To him, Dr Goh was a trusted friend with whom he could have open and honest discussions on any topic. Dr Goh’s passing is a loss to Singapore; he was an outstanding founding father. Personally, for Mr Wee, it is also a loss of a trusted good friend.
Mr Wee also mentioned that Singapore would not enjoy her current economic status today without Dr Goh’s far-sighted decisions. Dr Goh was a pivotal figure in the development of Singapore’s economy.
Dr Goh joined politics in 1959 and retired only in 1984. Over his 25 years in politics, he held positions as Singapore’s Minister for Finance, Minister for Defence, and Minister for Education.
During his time as the Minister for Finance, he established the Economic Development Board (EDB) and, through economic incentives and persuasive efforts, successfully managed to attract many international corporations to set up their factories in Jurong, launching the industrialisation plan in Singapore. He made significant contributions to the economic development of Singapore, especially in the areas of industrialisation and economic development, earning him the title of the ”Economic Architect of Singapore”.
Additionally, he founded the Singapore Armed Forces and, in 1967, implemented the National Service system, along with setting up the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute and laying the initial groundwork for the developmental scale of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
When Dr. Goh took on the role as the Minister for Education, he proposed a major reform to the local education system. This included the initiation of streaming in primary school, the introduction of the N-Level examination, establishment of the Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore (CDIS) under the Ministry of Education, and an increase in teachers’ salaries to boost their morale.
After retiring, he officially became an economic and tourism advisor for China’s coastal development area in 1985. Subsequently, he also led several delegations for inspections in China. He played an active role in planning China’s reform and opening up, the development of special economic zones, and the growth of tourism, making significant contributions to China’s development.
The state funeral is a solemn ceremony held by the entire nation to bid him farewell, as well as the last national honour the government can bestow upon him on behalf of its citizens.
