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Tan Teck Chwee

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Tan Teck Chwee
DUBC BBM
Tan in the 1980s
Chairman of the Public Service Commission
In office
19 June 1975 (1975-06-19) – 10 April 1988 (1988-04-10)
Preceded byPhay Seng Whatt
Succeeded byLee Hee Seng
Personal details
Born1917 (1917)
Died10 April 1988(1988-04-10) (aged 70–71)
Singapore
SpouseChong Yuet Ngan (m. 1967)
Children6
EducationRaffles College
Raffles Institution
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陳德水
Simplified Chinese陈德水
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Déshuǐ
IPA[ʈʂʰə̌n.tɤ̌.ʂwèɪ]

Tan Teck Chwee[a] DUBC BBM (c. 1917 – 10 April 1988) was a Singaporean teacher and businessman, who served as chairman of the Public Service Commission from 1975 until his death in 1988.

Early life and education

[edit]

Tan attended Raffles Institution. He received a School Certificate in 1932,[1][2] and a Special Certificate for Malaya with honours in 1934.[3] He enrolled at the University of Hong Kong to study engineering, but was forced to stop due to a lack of finances.[4] In 1936, Tan was awarded an entrance scholarship to attend Raffles College.[5][6] In 1939, he obtained a Diploma in Science (Class III),[7][8] and in 1940, a Diploma in Education (Pass).[9][10]

Career

[edit]

In 1941, Tan began his career as a teacher in St Andrew's School,[4][11] and later Raffles Institution.[12][13] In 1956, he left and became a businessman, working in the textile industry, engineering firms, and granite quarries.[14][15] In 1959, due to his experience with earthworks contracts, Tan was appointed as a commission of inquiry member to look into the capacity of the building industry, and propose possible expansions if needed.[16][17]

In April 1963, Tan was appointed as a director of the newly-created Jurong Shipyard.[18][19] In April 1968, he was appointed as a board member of the Public Utilities Board.[20]

On 18 December 1970, Tan was appointed as a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC).[12][13] In 1973, he became the chairman of Jurong Shipyard. On 31 May 1973, Tan announced the construction of the shipyard's third dry dock In Tanjong Kling, at a cost of more than S$30,000,000.[21]

On 19 June 1975, Tan succeeded Phay Seng Whatt as chairman of PSC.[22][23] In August 1977, after more than 200 British school teachers applied to teach in Singapore, he headed to London to interview 75 shortlisted candidates.[24][25] In September 1978, Tan headed to New Zealand to interview 40 shortlisted candidates. The aim of both recruitment drives was to increase the teaching standard of English in Singapore.[26]

In January 1981, Tan was appointed as a board member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.[27][28] In December 1981, he said that computer science was "too narrow" a discipline and that computer science students would only become programmers or computer operators. He believed that junior college students needed to study disciplines that granted broader career choices.[29]

Personal life

[edit]

Tan was married to Chong Yuet Ngan, and he had four daughters and two sons.[30] They lived in Caldecott Hill. He was admitted to the Singapore General Hospital in February 1988[31] and died from leukaemia on 10 April 1988.[32]

In a condolence letter to his family, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew described Tan as "an outstanding Singaporean: able, upright, and many-sided in his talents and accomplishments".[11][32] During the eulogy, Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin said that Tan was "a perfect example of the Confucian gentleman", as he "embodied all the virtues of Confucianism, especially gentleness, humility and compassion". On 14 April 1988, Tan was cremated at the Mount Vernon Crematorium.[33]

Awards and decorations

[edit]

National honours

[edit]

Foreign honours

[edit]

On 3 September 1985, Tan received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the National University of Singapore, for his contributions to the public service and industrialisation of Singapore.[36][37]

Legacy

[edit]
  • Tan Teck Chwee Scholarship, a scholarship offered by the National University of Singapore to undergraduates reading civil engineering.[38] The scholarship funds, S$100,000, were donated by Jurong Shipyard and Jurong Engineering in 1988.[39]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION RESULTS". The Malaya Tribune. 6 April 1932. p. 13. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  2. ↑ "Cambridge University Examinations". The Straits Times. 12 April 1932. p. 19. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  3. ↑ "FULL RESULTS OF CAMBRIDGE DECEMBER EXAMINATIONS". The Straits Times. 26 March 1934. p. 16. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. 1 2 Low, Mei Mei (9 August 1985). "Gallery of glory". The Straits Times. p. 4. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ↑ "Raffles College Scholarships". Singapore Free Press. 5 June 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ↑ "RAFFLES COLLEGE". The Straits Times. 5 June 1936. p. 13. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ↑ "Raffles College Exam. Results". The Malaya Tribune. 24 March 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ↑ "RAFFLES COLLEGE DIPLOMA EXAMINATION RESULTS". The Straits Times. 24 March 1939. p. 14. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ↑ "RAFFLES COLLEGE RESULTS". The Malaya Tribune. 3 April 1940. p. 12. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ↑ "RAFFLES' EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS". The Straits Times. 3 April 1940. p. 13. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. 1 2 "Pengerusi PSC rakyat Singapura yang cemerlang, kata PM" [PSC chairman an outstanding Singaporean, says PM]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 12 April 1988. p. 1. OCLC 53812840. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. 1 2 "TWO APPOINTED TO THE PSC". The Straits Times. 19 December 1970. p. 13. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. 1 2 "2 di-lantek sa-bagai anggota baru PSC" [2 were appointed as new members of the PSC]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 19 December 1970. p. 6. OCLC 53812840. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ↑ "Phay tipped for top job as envoy to Europe". The Straits Times. 19 June 1975. p. 6. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ↑ "Dual life of private sector boss and public sector hirer". The Straits Times. 4 September 1985. p. 8. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. ↑ "Building trade: Govt, orders an inquiry". The Straits Times. 22 November 1959. p. 5. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. ↑ "Govt. D-plan spending will reach peak in 1963". The Straits Times. 18 September 1961. p. 6. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  18. ↑ "BOOST FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIES". The Straits Times. 20 February 1964. p. 8. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  19. ↑ "DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS OF JURONG SHIPYARD". The Straits Times. 5 November 1965. p. 13. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  20. ↑ "Services for over 230,000 homes". The Straits Times. 20 April 1968. p. 11. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  21. ↑ "Jurong to build third giant drydock". The Straits Times. 1 June 1973. p. 8. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  22. ↑ "Tan is named the new PSC chairman". The Straits Times. 18 June 1975. p. 13. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  23. ↑ "Encik Tan dilantik sebagai pengerusi PSC mulai esok" [Mr Tan appointed as PSC chairman starting tomorrow]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 18 June 1975. p. 1. OCLC 53812840. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  24. ↑ Ngoo, Irene (11 August 1977). "200 FROM BRITAIN APPLY TO TEACH IN S'PORE". The Straits Times. p. 6. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  25. ↑ "Drive for expat teachers: Response good". The Straits Times. 23 September 1978. p. 27. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  26. ↑ "TEAM FOR NZ TO RECRUIT TEACHERS". The Straits Times. 27 September 1978. p. 8. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  27. ↑ "New directors". The Straits Times. 12 January 1981. p. 17. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  28. ↑ Soh, Tiang Keng (7 August 1982). "Yong resigns as director of OCBC". The Business Times. p. 1. OCLC 464696647. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  29. ↑ Tan, June (6 December 1981). "Scholarship fears of computer science students". The Straits Times. p. 14. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  30. 1 2 "The man with a big say in hiring and firing civil servants". The Straits Times. 9 August 1982. p. 30. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  31. 1 2 "PSC chairman, 71, dies of leukaemia". The Straits Times. 12 April 1988. p. 1. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  32. 1 2 "PSC chairman dies". The Business Times. 12 April 1988. p. 2. OCLC 464696647. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  33. ↑ "'Perfect example of Confucian gentleman'". The Straits Times. 15 April 1988. p. 12. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  34. ↑ "A moment of pride". The Straits Times. 27 November 1982. p. 9. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  35. ↑ "AG eulogises late PSC chairman". The Business Times. 15 April 1988. p. 2. OCLC 464696647. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  36. ↑ "Thai minister and PSC head to get honorary degrees". The Business Times. 3 September 1985. p. 3. OCLC 464696647. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  37. ↑ "Dunia sebagai pilihan tempat siswazah2 bekerja" [The world as a place of choice for graduates to work]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 4 September 1985. p. 8. OCLC 53812840. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  38. ↑ "Tan Teck Chwee Scholarship (1988)". National University of Singapore. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "JSL, JEL donate $100,000 to scholarship fund". The Business Times. 17 August 1988. p. 2. OCLC 464696647. Retrieved 17 August 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
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