A MAJORITY of Straits Times readers who participated in an
online poll felt that Jurong General Hospital should not have been
renamed Ng Teng Fong Hospital after its biggest donor.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan had announced in Parliament last
Friday that Jurong General Hospital would be renamed Ng Teng Fong
Hospital, after the family of the late property tycoon donated $125
million to the hospital.
Slated to open in 2014, the hospital is fully funded by the
Government but private donations provide additional assistance to
needy patients, among other services.
The name change prompted our reader Andy Lim to write in to The Straits Times Forum
earlier this week, asking if it was appropriate to name a public
hospital after its largest donor, and proposing that the hospital
be renamed after the man credited with the transformation of Jurong
- Dr Goh Keng Swee - instead.
Of the nearly 800 readers who responded to our online poll, 78.4
per cent agreed that Jurong General Hospital should not have been
renamed after its biggest donor.
Here is a selection of the comments we received:
Non-supporters
'It would be more appropriate to have a wing/ward of the
hospital named after Ng Teng Fong in recognition of his sizeable
donation. The hospital itself should bear a different name - one
that reflects Singapore's medical history.' - tanxyme
'We should be thankful that someone generously donated a large
sum of money, but a plaque would do.' - Anonymous
'A hospital's name must instantly reflect its location. Imagine
someone being taken by ambulance to Ng Teng Fong Hospital... would
the family know where it is at?' - Samuel Tiew
'For public institutions, two characteristics need to be
fulfilled. Besides the donation, the life and work of the
individual must be consistent with the message and value of the
institution. Money alone does not carry naming rights at this
level. Chair of a professorship, yes. A public building, no.' -
Anonymous
'Public institutions should be named after national figures and
heroes, not just those with deep pockets. Dr Goh Keng Swee would be
a good example of one such hero of the nation.' - Anonymous
'If one were to secure the land, build the hospital and then
hand it over to the government as a donation, then it would be OK
to name the hospital after the donor.' - Anonymous
'If you donate out of sincerity, you shouldn't want it to be
named after you. You should let the public vote for a name.' -
Chris Chan SC
' I don't find it wrong to name the hospital after him. $125m is
a lot of money... Would you donate even a million just to have your
name on a building?' - Olivia Sin Leow
Supporters
'I think it's fine. It's also part of Singapore history. 50
years down the road, people will remember him the way they remember
Tan Kah Kee, Lim Boon Seng, etc. Better than Jurong. Zero meaning.'
- Ivy Teo
'It's a way to remember the generosity of people who help in
many different ways...' - Anonymous
'Mr Ng Teng Fong is the King of Orchard Road. Without his
contributions, some parts of Orchard Road wouldn't be what it is
today. He had the vision and foresight... and contributed much to
developing Singapore's commercial, industrial and residential
properties.' - Leona Wong
Others
'A name is just a name. What matters most is that it brings
benefits to mankind.' - Right Eye Man
'We should make a list of the people (who made important
contributions) from the birth of the nation till now, and come up
with a list of criteria (for naming buildings after them).' - David
N
