I was ashamed of myself to know so little of a great man who together with Mr Lee Kuan Yew led Singapore from a 3rd World to 1st.. It was his demise that I finally realise that Singapore had lost a great man, a person that Singapore is indebted to. The news article is forever eched in me.
From Channelnewsasia.com
SINGAPORE: Singapore's former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee was given a State Funeral on Sunday.
The casket carrying Dr Goh's body was transported from Parliament House to the Singapore Conference Hall on an Artillery Gun Carriage towed by a ceremonial Land Rover.
The vehicular procession from Parliament House to the Singapore Conference Hall started at 2pm.
The casket was draped with a state flag, the highest honour given to a man who had introduced sweeping initiatives that set the basis for Singapore's long-term prosperity and security.
The casket arrived at the Singapore Conference Hall just before 2.30pm. There, moving tributes were delivered.
In his eulogy, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong traced Dr Goh's life-long contribution to Singapore.
PM Lee recalled how as Singapore's first Finance Minister, Dr Goh inherited a government that was almost broke with an expected budget deficit of S$14 million.
Prudent and thrifty by nature, Dr Goh introduced drastic measures to cut spending, including civil service salaries.
PM Lee said: "This was obviously unpopular, but Dr Goh stood firm. When he delivered the Budget at the end of the year, he proudly declared that the government had achieved a small surplus of $1 million.
"He had drafted the speech personally, after secluding himself on the remote island of Raffles Lighthouse to concentrate on the task. Dr Goh set the tone for the PAP government, which ever since has steadfastly upheld budget discipline and fiscal prudence."
Dr Goh then jump-started the stagnant economy with a strategy of rapid industrialisation, attracting investments from MNCs, creating jobs and exports.
As Defence Minister, Dr Goh set up the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from scratch. And as Education Minister, Dr Goh's approach was systematic, analytical and results oriented, said Mr Lee.
The Prime Minister added that Dr Goh also had a tremendous zest for life and work, and was a mentor to many in the public service.
Outside of government, Dr Goh also connected with many Singaporeans.
PM Lee said: "The media have reported a few of their stories - the old lady who was visited by Dr Goh when the family was very poor; another lady whom Dr Goh had come across as a little girl weeping in school, and had comforted; the young navy officer who reported to Dr Goh after making a grave mistake, but was forgiven because he owned up.
"These personal gestures and kindnesses reflected Dr Goh's character and compassion, which underpinned his enormous contributions to Singapore."
Also delivering a eulogy was Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew who worked alongside Dr Goh in the tumultuous years of Singapore's Independence.
Minister Mentor Lee said: "It was my good fortune to have strong men around me. Of all my Cabinet colleagues, it was Goh Keng Swee who made the greatest difference to the outcome for Singapore.
"He had a capacious mind and a strong character. When he held a contrary view, he would challenge my decisions and make me re-examine the premises on which they were made. As a result, we reached better decisions for Singapore.
"In the middle of a crisis, his analysis was always sharp, with an academic detachment and objectivity that reassured me. His robust approach to problems encouraged me to press on against seemingly impossible odds."
Minister Mentor Lee recalled Dr Goh as "hopeless as a campaign orator" but a man with a formidable analytical mind.
The late former Deputy Prime Minister played a key role in Singapore's decision to make a clean cut with Malaysia in the Terms of Separation.
Minister Mentor Lee said: "He was my trouble-shooter. I settled the political conditions so that his tough policies which we together formulated could be executed.
"I gave him the toughest jobs in government: the Ministry of Finance from 1959 to 1965 when economic survival was crucial; Ministry of Defence in 1965 when all we had were two battalions of the Singapore Infantry Regiment, which then had more Malaysians than Singaporean soldiers."
"With his passing, we have lost a remarkable and outstanding son," said Minister Mentor Lee.
Temasek Holdings Chairman and former Cabinet Minister S Dhanabalan was the third person to deliver a eulogy at the funeral service.
He recalled how as an undergraduate, it was Dr Goh's intervention that had changed his career and course of his life.
Mr Dhanabalan said Dr Goh was jealous to retain talent.
He cited Dr Goh's influence on Singapore's Ambassador to Japan, Brigadier-General Tan Chin Tiong, and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Dr Goh managed to convince both men to contribute in specific areas of public service.
Mr Dhanabalan added that as a young MP, Dr Goh had made it a point to have meals with him in an informal setting, guiding him on some controversial issues.
Mr Dhanabalan said: "In my first few months as Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development I had to deal with a controversial land clearance issue involving a religious building.
"The parties concerned were using the media to stir up public sentiments. He called on the phone, out of the blue, and described to me the principles to follow in addressing the issue. He did not tell me what exactly to do but his call was very helpful in clarifying my thinking and I resolved the problem successfully."
The State Funeral service also saw Dr Goh's grandson Mr Goh Ken-Yi and grand niece Marian Hui reading out their eulogies. They spoke about a caring and kind man who often went out of his way for others and also as someone who's an inspiration for the future generation of Singapore.
The service ended with the sounding of the Last Post.
After the service, Dr Goh's body was moved to the Mandai crematorium for a private ceremony for family members.
Source/ Channelnewsasia.com
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