State funeral for former DPM Goh Keng Swee
SINGAPORE: The late Dr Goh Keng Swee will be given a state
funeral on May 23, according to a statement from the Prime
Minister's Office.
The government will announce more details about the funeral
arrangements.
The body of the late Dr Goh will lie in state at the Parliament
from May 20-22. The public may pay their last respects during this
period.
As a mark of respect for Dr Goh, the State flag on all government
buildings will be flown at half-mast from May 20-23.
President S R Nathan was at the late Dr Goh's home to offer his
condolences. Writing in the condolence book, Mr Nathan described Dr
Goh as a great man. He said Dr Goh was a great teacher and much
beloved mentor for many in the civil service.
Foreign Minister George Yeo was also at the late Dr Goh's home to
offer his condolences.
Dr Goh, Singapore's former Deputy Prime Minister, died early Friday
morning after battling a long illness.
Dr Goh, who was also a former Finance Minister, was 91.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law, two grandsons and
three great grandchildren.
According to his wife, Dr Phua Swee Liang, Dr Goh died from
pneumonia and old age.
Dr Goh came to Singapore at the age of two, and was later educated
at Anglo Chinese School before going on to study economics at
Raffles College.
He worked as a civil servant till the Japanese Occupation of
Singapore during the Second World War.
After the war a scholarship took him to the London School of
Economics.
After obtaining his PhD on a University of London Scholarship in
1956, Dr Goh rejoined the civil service on his return to
Singapore.
Later, he quit to enter politics running in the 1959 Legislative
Assembly Election on the PAP ticket.
With self-government, Dr Goh being the only economist in the first
Singapore cabinet, was given the portfolio of Finance
Minister.
The strategy of Dr Goh was to build a manufacturing sector to
attract foreign multi-national corporations to invest – and so
provide jobs very quickly.
In 1961, Dr Goh set up the Economic Development Board with the
objective of attracting foreign multi-national companies to
Singapore.
Through his efforts 15 thousand acres of swamp in Jurong was turned
into a modern industrial park.
In the late 1960s, Dr Goh became Singapore's first Interior and
Defence Minister, overseeing the introduction of National Service
and the building of the Singapore Armed Forces.
After his success in the Finance and Defence ministries, Dr Goh who
had earned himself the nickname, “Mr Fix It” went on to be
appointed Education Minister in 1979.
During his term the streaming policy and Gifted Education Programme
were introduced, the Curriculum Development Institute was set up
and the foundations laid for the computerization drive in
schools.
During his tenure in government service Dr Goh was also
instrumental in the creation of Singapore's first defence hardware
company Chartered Industries of Singapore, the Jurong Bird Park and
the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
In 1984 Dr Goh retired from politics.
By then, he had been in the Cabinet for 25 years, serving the last
11 as Deputy Prime Minister.
- CNA/ir/ls
