Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Remember and compare

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Remember and compare - Goh Keng Swee

I received this message that was purported to be sent by Mrs. Goh Keng Swee. I knew of Dr. Goh's circumstances after his retirement and stroke and can confirm personally that these facts are true. Tan Kin Lian.

What never? Goh Keng Swee after he completely retired from public service, had no driver but was always driven around by his wife. Whenever he went to SGH for medical treatment, his wife and he were often denied a reserved parking lot and was told that the lots were for VIP only. Once when he was warded, his wife had to be given a lecture by a sister on the proper use of a syringe when she asked the staff nurse to use a $1.25 syringe for cleaning
him. Whenever he was warded in SGH, his wife was with him throughout his stay, very often acting like his nurse. All this while she slept on a sofa/recliner chair in the room at night.

When a Singapore GLC (set up by GKS) learnt that he was living on a net monthly income of S$8500/- per month, offered a cheque for S$500K to his wife under the guise of a lump sum loyalty payment for a book they wrote on him, his wife instantly cancelled the cheque and wrote to the CEO to thank him for his kind gesture, and explained that she couldn't receive the cheque because what her husband had done for the company was not for money, not for power, not for glory, or even to be honoured, but for Singapore and Singaporeans.

Maybe Goh Keng Swee's official status cannot be compared to any Head of State, but his contributions to his country are just as sincere and honest as that of any honest and caring political leader.

10 comments:

Weng Mao Fa said...: 1993, monthly charge of a non-subsidised bed in community hospital was S$8000+; May 22, 2011 9:11 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: "..sincere and honest as that of any honest and caring political leader..."

1970s, my eternal-grandpa had a football size of farm in Lim Chu Kang. The farm was acquired under the law. Two uncles become drivers till aged. At 70yo+, they are sick in a HDB flat struggle to survive.
Had the farm was not acquired by CAPITALISM, my uncles are multi-millionare now.

Today, my uncle's story is repeating in PRC. You can see land dispute and relevant protest under the direction of CAPITALISM.; May 22, 2011 9:41 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: Capitalist/politician acquired farm land at very cheap cost in 1970-1980s, bankers/property developers incrrease land band by all means, higher land cost transfer to consumer and society at large, social enterprise such as hospital cost is higher, the cost of a bed is as expensive as star hotel room. WHO TO BLAME?; May 22, 2011 9:52 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: That is why Dr Cheng Bock disagree Jurong Hospital's rename !; May 22, 2011 9:54 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: Most French negative on capitalism
•Published: 13/04/2010 at 11:29 PM
•Online news: Breakingnews
French men and women by a large majority contend that capitalism is unjust, benefiting only a small number of people, and want to see a better alterative, a poll published Tuesday showed.

For 71 percent of the people questioned by the Opinonway Institute, "capitalism'' evokes a negative response, a sentiment that transcends age and class and is shared by 47 percent of those who consider themselves right wing.

Economic growth under capitalism benefits relatively few people, according to 77 percent of those responding to the survey.

The poll found that the principal charge against capitalism is the fact that it is "always the same people'' who benefit from it. For 87 percent of respondents, the main beneficiaries are shareholders while 67 percent maintain that workers are the first victims.

One French person in two holds that a market-oriented economy is not compatible with policies that respect the environment.

Fifty-eight percent of those polled are convinced that a better system can be devised, a position held by 48 percent of those on the right and 66 percent on the left. Only 7.0 percent however are confident that significant changes will occur because of the recent global financial crisis.

But while profit and the market are viewed as negative concepts by most French people, money and competition are judged to be positive. Ninety-two percent hold that the possession of private property is a basic right.

At the same time, 91 percent of those questioned believe that the goal of a company is to earn profits while for 83 percent, the objective is to create jobs.

Sixty percent would describe the French economy as "liberal,'' based on free-market principles, but is best characterised by the notions of "social protection'' and "public spending.''

The poll, carried out on February 17 and 18 from a sample of 1,001 people over the age of 18, was published by the Institut de France, which groups five prestigious French academies, including the Academie Francaise, the venerable French language guardian.

About the author

Writer: AFP News agency
Position: Agence France-Presse

(This article was reprint in Bangkokpost online); May 22, 2011 10:23 PM
this old man said...: Mr. Tan, after reading the above I really really don't what to say. At least now I truly know the real person behind the name GOH KENG SWEE.; May 22, 2011 11:35 PM
Tan Kin Lian said...: It is very sad that our current ministers (including those who retired from cabinet recently and two former PMs who know of Dr. Goh personally) can earn a few million dollars of salaries a year and maybe a 6 figure salary in monthly pension on retirement can close their eyes on the plight of Dr. Goh Keng Swee's family.; May 23, 2011 5:36 AM
michael13 said...: Very sad to say that they do not feel shame at all! Yet they proclaimed wanting to be 'our servants'. No wonder, George Yeo confessed to PM Lee that the resentment on the ground was just too strong and widespread during the recent election campaign in Aljunied GRC. His immediate task now, is to transform/reform the PAP. The rest is history.; May 23, 2011 8:15 AM
Singapore's 5 Minute Investment Diary said...: Wow!
If this is the way you treat a former political party comrade, what are you going to do to me and my family in my old age?; May 23, 2011 10:19 AM
yujuan said...: Hougang used to be the backyard for veggie and pig farmers, and they were made redundant when Govt acquired them under the pretence that such farms were polluted and unhealthy. Yes, they were given HDB flats and some money, but their livelihood were taken away from them.
These Hougang residents have never forgiven the Govt, and remain opposition supporters till today.
Also LKT is as Teochew as these former farmers, and this man really work very hard for this ward, always turning up to attend wakes or weddings with a packet of white silver or an angpow.; May 23, 2011 8:39 PM