Former S’pore DPM Goh Keng Swee dies

Former Singapore deputy prime minister Dr Goh Keng Swee died early today after a long illness, local media reported.Bernama

Former Singapore deputy prime minister Dr Goh Keng Swee died early today after a long illness, local media reported.

He was 91.

Goh, a peranakan who was born in Melaka on Oct 6, 1918, retired as the deputy prime minister in December 1984, due to personal reasons.

Described as the economic architect of Singapore, he contributed greatly in shaping the development of city-state into a prosperous nation as its first finance minister in 1959 and later as defence minister in 1965.

He held several key appointments including as the first deputy prime minister, minister for education, and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore as well as chairman of several government-led companies.

Goh is the son of a rich Melaka family. His father, Goh Leng Inn, was a manager of a rubber plantation while his mother was from the family that produced famous Malaysian politicians — Tun Tan Cheng Lock and son Tun Tan Siew Sin.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=498117

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