Goh Keng Swee

former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore (1918-2010)

Goh Keng Swee (simplified Chinese: 吴庆瑞; traditional Chinese: 吳慶瑞; pinyin: Wú Qìngruì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Gô͘ Khèng-sūi; 6 October 1918 – 14 May 2010) was the second Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1984, and a Member of Parliament for the Kreta Ayer constituency for a quarter of a century.

Goh Keng Swee
吴庆瑞
2nd Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
In office
1 March 1973 – 3 December 1984
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Preceded byToh Chin Chye
Succeeded byS. Rajaratnam
ConstituencyKreta Ayer
Minister for Education
In office
12 February 1979 – 31 May 1980,
1 June 1981 – 3 December 1984
Preceded byChua Sian Chin
Succeeded byTony Tan Keng Yam
3rd Minister for Defence
In office
11 August 1970 – 11 February 1979
Preceded byLim Kim San
Succeeded byHowe Yoon Chong
3rd Minister for Finance
In office
17 August 1967 – 10 August 1970
Preceded byLim Kim San
Succeeded byHon Sui Sen
1st Minister for the Interior and Defence
In office
9 August 1965 – 16 August 1967
Preceded byNone (Post newly created)
Succeeded byLim Kim San
1st Minister for Finance
In office
5 June 1959 – 8 August 1965
Preceded byNone (Post newly created)
Succeeded byLim Kim San
Personal details
Born
Robert Goh Keng Swee

6 October 1918
Malacca, Straits Settlements
Died14 May 2010(2010-05-14) (aged 91)
Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
Political partyPeople's Action Party
Spouse(s)Alice Woon (1942–1986), Dr. Phua Swee Liang (from 1991)[1]
ChildrenGoh Kian Chee[1]
Alma materAnglo-Chinese School (SC), Raffles College (Dip. A.), LSE (B.Sc. (Econ.), 1951; Ph.D., 1954)
Military service
Years of service1939?–1942
RankCorporal
UnitSingapore Volunteer Corps
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Goh.

Goh died in the early morning of 14 May 2010 at the age of 91.[2] His body lay in state at Parliament House from 20 to 22 May.[3] A state funeral was held on 23 May 2010 at the Singapore Conference Hall. After the ceremony, a private ceremony for family members was held at the Mandai Crematorium.[4] As a mark of respect, the State flag was flown at half-mast from all Government buildings between 20 and 23 May.[5]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Obituary notice of Dr. Goh Keng Swee, The Straits Times (15 May 2010), p. C28.
  2. "Farewell to one of Singapore's prime architects", Weekend Today, p. 1, 15–16 May 2010, archived from the original on 18 May 2010, retrieved 3 February 2012. See also Rachel Lin (15 May 2010), "A quiet passing for a quiet man: He lived simply, was a private man, with S'pore uppermost in his mind", The Straits Times, p. A3.
  3. Esther Ng (21 May 2010), "From all walks of life, they came to pay their respects: More than 5,000 queue up at Parliament House to honour Dr Goh", Today, p. 3, archived from the original on 21 May 2010, retrieved 3 February 2012; Nur Dianah Suhaimi; Kor Kian Beng (22 May 2010), "'Thank you and goodbye': Young and old, from near and far, over 7,000 pay respects to Dr Goh", The Straits Times, p. A16.
  4. Cassandra Chew (22 May 2010), "State funeral an honour reserved for rare few", The Straits Times, p. A16; Chua Mui Hoong (24 May 2010), "Goodbye, Dr Goh: Tributes flow at state funeral for one of Singapore's founding fathers", The Straits Times, pp. A1–A2; Rachel Lin (24 May 2010), "A simple, moving funeral for Dr Goh: Nation mourns one of its founders in a sombre but intimate ceremony", The Straits Times, pp. A2–A3; Zul Othman (24 May 2010), "A nation says goodbye", Today, pp. 1 & 3, archived from the original on 28 May 2010, retrieved 3 February 2012.
  5. "State funeral on May 23", Weekend Today, p. 2, 15–16 May 2010, archived from the original on 18 May 2010, retrieved 3 February 2012.