chapter Old Frees 9

Profiles

102 LIVE FREE Old Frees’ Contribution To ’s Success Story

What is astonishing too is that the Penangites in Singapore’s administration and three judges mentioned – Tan Ah Tah, the professions that if all were to return home, The Judiciary AV Winslow and JWD Ambrose were all Singapore would not be able to function! Queen’s Scholars. Lawyer and Old Free Kok Weng On And it is not just the judiciary that pointed out, “At one time in the history Old Frees have dominated. They have also of Singapore, the judiciary was almost occupied some of the highest levels of other completely ‘run’ by Old Frees — from the areas of Singapore’s public service as well as Chief Justice and the judges, the Chief t is a well-known fact that Old Frees in private enterprise. Registrar, the Attorney-General and the have dominated some of the top Singapore’s first Speaker of Parliament, Solicitor-General. The legal might of positions in Singapore’s public service Yeoh Ghim Seng, a prominent surgeon, was Free School!” I- a tribute indeed to the calibre of students an Old Free. So was Lim Ho Hup, described who have gone through the portals of the by former PM Lee as the “lieutenant” How it came about venerable (PFS). of then chairman of the Economic How, you might ask, did all this come about This is most apparent in the case of Development Board, Hon Sui Sen (himself – that is, the prominence of Old Frees in Singapore’s Judiciary. This was acknowledged a Penangite, though not an Old Free) who Singapore? no less by the late Singapore’s first prime was responsible for mapping out Singapore’s The answer lies in the historical links minister himself in a speech industrial expansion. Then there was the which date back to 1826 when Singapore, given at a mass rally at the Penang Esplanade chairman of the Singapore Institute of Penang and Malacca were combined as the as far back as 24 March 1964 when he said Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR) Straits Settlements and were an outlying “… (our) Chief Justice and three judges — Lee Kum Tatt. residency of the British East India Company all these people were Penang’s contribution Indeed, one of Penang’s chief ministers headquartered in Calcutta, (now Kolkatta) to the success story of Singapore.” once remarked that there were so many India. In 1867, the Straits Settlements were chapter 9 Old Frees 103 made a Crown Colony and came under the Chairman of the Public Services same administrative entity for over 120 years, direct British control until 1946. Commission (PSC), a Judge of the Supreme first as part of the Straits Settlements and There was a gap during the Second Court appointed by the Chief Justice, the later as part of , it is little wonder World War years of 1942 to 1945 when the State Advocate-General and two other that the movements of people in the two three territories were subjugated under the PSC members. territories would be fluid especially that of Japanese during the Japanese Occupation During the two years of merger from public servants who would serve in wherever of then Malaya and Singapore. The British September 1963, there was a common Fed- their posting would take them. returned in 1945 but a year later, the Straits eral Judicial and Legal Service, with a sepa- That is not the only reason. As former Settlements were dissolved and Singapore rate branch in Singapore. The Legal Service PM Lee put it so well, “It was not chance was made a British Crown Colony while Commission was superseded by the Singa- that brought so many able and outstanding Penang and Malacca became part of the pore Branch Commission under the Federal persons to Singapore. For decades before Malayan Union. Constitution. The High Court of Malaysia the war, Singapore was the centre of In 1959, Singapore achieved self- and the Federal Court of Malaysia replaced education. Before and after the war, many governing status. In 1963, it became part the Supreme Court of the Colony of Singa- able students came to Singapore for their of the newly independent Federation of pore and the Court of Appeal respectively. education - to secondary schools, several Malaysia, together with Malaya, Sabah (the After Singapore’s separation from of which had hostels run by missionaries former British North Borneo) and Sarawak, Malaysia, the Federal Judicial and Legal to (the KE) Medical College (established both former British territories. In 1965, Service Commission was replaced by the 1905), to Raffles College (established 1928), Singapore left the Federation to become an Legal Service Commission. and later, to the , sited independent republic. in Singapore, when these two Colleges Under self-government in 1959, Fluidity of movement combined in 1950 (sic). It was only in 1962 Singapore created a separate Legal Service With such a long intertwined history, and that the University of Malaya moved to Commission comprising the Chief Justice, with Singapore and Penang belonging to the Kuala Lumpur.”

104 LIVE FREE Justice Tan Ah Tah retirement when he finally called it a day four ustice Tan Ah Tah was a Queen’s Scholar years later in November 1975, as he died Jin I924. Born in 1906, he was originally nine months after in August 1976. from Kuala Lumpur where he studied at During his entire career he was very Victoria Institution before enrolling in PFS in active in the Old Frees’ Association of 1918. His scholarship took him to Cambridge Singapore serving as its president for University to read law. He was called to the several terms. Bar in 1930 before returning to Penang Preponderance of Old Frees in where he worked in a legal firm for a decade. Justice James Walter Davy law and medicine In 1941, he moved to Singapore when Ambrose This brings us to another point: Why the he joined the Straits Settlements Legal orn in Penang in 1909, JWD Ambrose was a star student at PFS where he preponderance of Old Frees in law and Service. In 1946, he was made Commissioner B of Estate Duties and Stamps – the first Asian topped the Senior Cambridge examinations especially now in medicine? As an Old Free to be appointed. of 1925. He was awarded the Queen’s put it, “The aspiration for top students in He made news again a year later Scholarship in 1928 to study law in Keble PFS was to become a lawyer or a doctor, when he was the first of two locals to gain College at Oxford University. Apart from as these were considered prestigious promotion to the Colonial Legal Service. his scholastic abilities, Ambrose displayed professions.” The following year saw him being appointed prowess in sports, thanks, no doubt, to his Those awarded Queen’s Scholarships, as first magistrate, civil district judge and PFS’ grounding. He was Oxford’s first foreign student to be awarded varsity colours for which were discontinued in 1957, were district judge in quick succession. In July 1954, he was made acting puisne badminton and was made captain of the invariably sent to the University of judge and confirmed as a judge in October badminton team. Cambridge to study law or medicine. Those 1955. In 1958, he rose to the position of After graduating from Oxford, Ambrose who aspired to become doctors and were acting Chief Justice of Singapore. In 1964, enrolled in the Inner Temple and was called paying their own way came to Singapore after Malaysia was formed, he was made to the Bar in 1935. because of the excellent reputation of the a judge of the Federal Court, which saw Shortly after, he returned to Penang KE (King Edward VII) Medical College. him presiding over cases in Malaysia and where he served an apprenticeship with the law firm, Wreford and Thornton. In 1936, he That PFS had special classes to prepare these Singapore. Slated for retirement in November joined the courts of the Straits Settlements aspiring students for the medical entrance 1971, Justice Tan had his term of office as an advocate and solicitor. He was made exams contributed to the pull factor. extended after an amendment was made to assistant official assignee, assistant registrar the Singapore Constitution to allow judges of companies and assistant official receiver. to prolong their careers. In 1939, he was posted to Malacca to serve Alas, he was not able to enjoy his as assistant public trustee of a newly formed chapter 9 Old Frees 105 Public Trustee Office of Malacca. In 1940, he joined the Straits Settlements Legal Service and in 1953 was promoted to the Colonial Legal Service. He served as the magistrate of Penang in 1954 before his transfer to Singapore as the new registrar in the Singapore High Court. He went on to become magistrate and district judge. In 1957, he was appointed official assignee and public trustee before being appointed high court judge a year later serving in the position for 10 years before his retirement in February 1968. He was the fourth Asian in Malaya to become a high court judge and the first judge of Indian ethnic origin to be made a puisne judge. Chief Justice . Justice Tan Ah Tah. He died on 28 October 1992 at the age of 82. He is remembered for his patience and composure as a judge and praised for his extensive knowledge of the law.

Justice Alfred Victor Winslow orn in 1916 in , AV Winslow was a Bbrilliant student who passed his Senior Cambridge examinations at the tender age of 13. As he was too young to enter university and thus could not sit for the Queen’s Scholarship examination, he spent his time doing other examinations including the London matriculation. In 1934, he was finally considered old enough for university and sat for the Queen’s Scholarship examinations. He aced it and Justice Alfred Victor Winslow. Justice James Walter Davy Ambrose. was awarded a Queen’s Scholarship to study

106 LIVE FREE mathematics in Cambridge University. He Singapore from 1963 till his retirement in coming from Oxford and Cambridge but was a gifted mathematician and indulged in 1990, a post he held for over 27 years. The his favourite was local geography teacher his passion for Part 1 of his “Tripos” before first Asian to be appointed, he was also Zainal Abidin. switching to studying law as he wanted to the longest-serving Chief Justice in the After he was called to the English Bar, join “a profession of high integrity” and Commonwealth. Wee returned to Penang in 1940 where he which also served the common good. Known to be strict in court because of was admitted as an advocate and solicitor of He was called to the English Bar in 1940 his desire to uphold the highest standards the Straits Settlements. after graduating and worked for a while in of the law, he has been praised by many He then went into private practice Britain before returning to Malaya. He joined lawyers - including those who had been in Singapore until 1957, working first with the Straits Settlements Legal Service, serving ticked off by him - for his professional talents renowned criminal lawyer DK Walters and as assistant official assignee, deputy registrar especially a photographic memory that later with Wee Swee Teow and Co. which and sheriff, magistrate and district judge. In allowed him to recall the facts of each case had offices in Singapore and Malaya. Chambers, he was known to be welcoming in precise detail. In August 1957, he was appointed a to newcomers and the inexperienced, often Well-respected and admired, Justice judge at the Supreme Court of Singapore, dishing out friendly advice. Wee was also known to be fair and impartial. the first Asian to achieve this honour. He In 1948, he was made crown counsel Born in Penang in 1917, he attended went on to become the Chief Justice in and deputy public prosecutor. In 1949, he PFS before leaving in 1935 to study law 1963, breaking the century-old tradition of was promoted to the Colonial Legal Service at Cambridge University where he was appointing British Chief Justices. Aged just and was acting senior crown counsel until awarded the MacMahon Law Studentship, 45 then, he was also the youngest to be 1957 when he was appointed solicitor- considered to be one of the most appointed. general. In 1962, he was elevated to the prestigious scholarships. He was also named After his term of office as Chief Justice Bench of the Supreme Court of Singapore the university’s outstanding cricketer in 1937. expired when he turned 65 in 1982, he had where he remained before retiring in 1977 In an interview with The Straits Times his term extended thrice, in 1982, 1985 and because of health reasons. He died in 1984 in 1991 when he was guest-of-honour at a in 1988. at the age of 68. dinner organised by OFAS to celebrate the Justice Wee also served as first Winslow was active in OFAS serving 175th anniversary of PFS’ founding, he spoke chairman of the Presidential Council of as its president for several terms. At his fondly of his student days. He said, “School Minority Rights for 18 years from 1973. passing, his colleagues lamented on “having then was a whole-day thing, with the He had also stood in as Singapore’s lost a legal luminary and one of the most afternoons devoted to sports. For me, that head-of-state on several occasions, as distinguished and learned judges.” was the best part of the day when I didn’t acting di-Pertuan Negara and as have to go home and I could play cricket, acting President. Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin basketball and football.” Acknowledged for his love of sports imilarly lauded was Justice Wee Chong He recalled that many of the school’s especially cricket and badminton, thanks SJin who served as the Chief Justice of teachers were expatriates with many to his PFS days, the Chief Justice kept chapter 9 Old Frees 107 up his interest throughout his career. He Mohamed Ibrahim was made ambassador Eu Cheow Chye was captain of two cricket teams and was to the United Arab Republic (now Egypt). He nother president of the Singapore Golf Association was confirmed in his post in January 1969. Old Free for 40 years from 1962 to 2002. He died As A-G, he was the government’s chief A who served in in 2005. legal adviser and public prosecutor and Singapore’s Legal so played an important role in moulding System was Eu Singapore’s legal environment. Under his Tan Boon Teik Cheow Chye who part from sitting guidance, the Attorney-General’s Chambers won a scholarship on the Bench, produced revised editions of Singapore’s A to study law in there were also other legislation in 1970 and 1985 and the first Raffles College Old Frees serving in reprint of the Constitution in 1980. after leaving PFS Singapore’s judicial One of his major contributions in 1936. system. to Singapore’s legal system was the After One of them was establishment of the Singapore International Eu Cheow Chye as a member of the Penang graduating in Tan Boon Teik who Arbitration Centre of which he was the Chinese Cricket XI in 1935. 1939, he worked was Singapore’s longest-serving Attorney- founding chairman. He realised the The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required as a barrister and General (A-G), a position he held from 1969 growing importance of arbitration as a for reproduction as a member of until his retirement in 1992. means of dispute resolution and advocated the Colony Administrative Service attached Born in 1929, Tan left PFS to study law Singapore’s accession to the New York to the Colonial Secretary’s Office. at University College London (UCL) where he Convention and promoted arbitration In 1952, he became the First District graduated with an honours degree in law in extensively in Singapore and abroad. Judge and in 1963 was made the First 1951. He was called to the Bar the following Despite his heavy legal workload, the Magistrate for three years before his year and in 1953, received his Master of Laws A-G, who was a skilled pianist, devoted appointment as Registrar in the High Court degree from UCL. On his return to Penang, much time to developing Singapore’s arts in 1966. he worked as an advocate and solicitor in scene. He was the founding chairman of the Apart from his legal work, Cheow Chye Malaya and Singapore. Singapore Symphony Orchestra and gave it was also well known as a state cricketer. He In 1955, he joined the Singapore Legal direction for many years. He died in 2012. He played for Singapore in the early post-war Service, serving first as magistrate and later is remembered for his exacting professional years. In fact, before joining Raffles College, deputy registrar of the High Court. He was standards but would give due praise to he was actively playing for Penang and was appointed director of the Legal Aid Bureau good work done. part of the Penang Chinese Cricket XI team. in 1959 and senior crown counsel in 1963 He died prematurely in 1970. before being appointed solicitor-general. In February 1967, he was appointed acting A-G when the incumbent Ahmad

108 LIVE FREE had, which helped to stimulate young He and six of his cohort were selected minds. There was an Art Society which he for the scholarships for which three were Medicine could belong to as he was interested in art for medicine and the rest for science and and painting. He was also a member of the engineering. Aristotelian Society, which was about maths He studied in the University of and science while a Debating Society helped Adelaide and after obtaining his MBBS to sharpen one’s oratorical skills. returned to Penang where he said he had He joined PFS from Bukit Mertajam a wonderful working experience at the High School where former Malaysian prime Penang General Hospital. Lee Seng Teik minister Abdullah Badawi was a classmate. “Then came Confrontation with Professor of Plastic Surgery Enrolling in Form 3, he remembers being Indonesia and doctors were needed to Year left school: 1959 interviewed by the outgoing headmaster JE serve in the armed forces. We were asked Tod. He studied in PFS from 1954 to 1959 to volunteer especially those who wished to ubbed the father when the new headmaster JMB Hughes go overseas for post-graduate training. I was Dof plastic surgery took over. one of them. in Singapore, Lee He said, “The spirit of the school was to “We trained for three months as Seng Teik is a doyen in go for excellence in study, sports and other medical officers in the army and were then the field of medicine. activities which served to inculcate qualities posted to various military units. He attributes his of tolerance, leadership and sportsmanship “I was with the Third Malay Regiment, achievements to the for all irrespective of background. an active fighting unit in Alor Star where I solid foundations laid “The pride for our school was served 18 months. That was in 1966. Later, down by PFS for which he is grateful. something that grew in us and we just I was sent to Taiping to serve in the artillery “We were so very fortunate because PFS cannot help it.” unit for six months. was at the pinnacle during the era of colonial On how he came to specialise in “In 1968, after finishing my scholarship English schools and English government medicine, he said, “In school, there was bond, I went to the UK for post-graduate schools. While Penang had Chinese, Malay a natural gravitation towards medicine as training, which was long and tedious, taking and other vernacular schools and mission we excelled in the sciences especially in six and a half years. Training in the UK at that schools as well, in terms of public schools, the biology. Maybe I was also influenced by time was very tough and highly competitive. Free School was right on top. Albert Schweitzer’s writings. The Colombo The country was flooded with doctors from “The school excelled in sports and Plan Scholarships then (which replaced the sub-continent – India and Pakistan – so other activities and out of this milieu you find the Queen’s Scholarships) given out to qualifying for training positions in institutions the best people.” developing countries were awarded more was very tough. What impressed him was the range of for medicine and science than for law and “I enrolled in the Royal College of activities and unusual societies the school other disciplines.” Surgeons to do the basic fellowship exam so chapter 9 Old Frees 109 that I could compete for the better training come to Singapore where I had a meeting time and resources for further study, such posts. I was in rotational posts for two years with the then permanent secretary of regeneration is possible.” after which I could choose any discipline. health, Andrew Chew, a trained doctor Before completing it I presented myself himself, who offered me a job on the spot. for the Edinburgh fellowship exams. I went I have been here since.” Chin Wah Seng to see my supervisor and said I wanted to Professor Lee has held various posts Radiologist learn something I had seen in the course of in SGH such as Head of Plastic Surgery and Year left school: 1961 training – burns. Burns. He is the founding director of the “There was a nasty accident when an SGH-Postgraduate Medical Institute and oil truck had gone through a tunnel after the founder director and advisor of the SGH someone threw a cigarette. It caught fire Museum. He also founded the skin culture and I saw patients with burns but did not lab in the National Burns Centre in SGH know how such patients could be treated. in 1990. My supervisor Dick Heslop said he would Today, he is an emeritus consultant at put me in the burns unit in a hospital in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Birmingham, which was a leading centre and Aesthetic Surgery in SGH and holds then, to learn. So I went there as a registrar a faculty position in Duke-NUS graduate and learned all about burns in a very medical school. research-oriented and academic unit. It In 2015, he and a close family friend, or Chin Wah Seng, PFS was a school like was the best trauma unit at Birmingham Lee Hoo Leng, contributed $2.5 million to Fno other. He counts his fondness for his Accident Hospital (BAH). set up a new Professorship in Plastic Surgery alma mater in many ways. “I did six months’ training in burns and and Regenerative Medicine to encourage He said, “It starts with the physical from there gravitated into plastic surgery research into the regeneration of body parts. surroundings. It has fantastic grounds. because of reconstruction work and for the He said that while laboratories in the There is this huge field surrounded by next four years I trained in plastic surgery Burns Unit have been growing skin for architecturally beautiful old-style buildings. in the UK. I was lucky to end up in various transplant onto patients for several years Then there is the culture of closeness that hospitals that were top plastic surgical now, it is hoped that the same thing could binds the students. I can’t quite pin it down centres. And this end part of training was be done for other damaged or ageing but I think it stems from the leadership very gratifying because I worked with the organs and tissues. shown by our headmasters and senior best people. He said, “In an ageing population, teachers. It also stems from our curriculum “Returning to Malaysia in 1975, I went regeneration of body parts is crucial. Tissue and the wide range of activities that catered directly to Kuala Lumpur to look for a job and organ regeneration is possible but we for the sporty boys and the less sporty types. but they could not offer a suitable position have a long way to go before we can achieve “I was taken by the number of societies for what I was trained for. So I decided to it. I believe that if researchers are given the we had, including even an Aristotelian Society.

110 LIVE FREE “In my mind, we clicked not because Tinggi and also two years of compulsory we were looking for something like in some National Service as a doctor (Captain) in schools where students are there because the Malaysian Armed Forces. This was they want to build up a network for the during the communist insurgency period future. We were more altruistic and valued when there was combative activity in North more the spirit of comradeship. Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. “Another binding thread was the school He subsequently joined Singapore’s magazine given free (until 1962) to each Ministry of Health where he specialised student at the end of the year. It was a kind in diagnostic radiology in the Singapore of year book encapsulating what had gone General Hospital. He obtained a on in the school for the whole year. It made second Colombo Plan Scholarship to for good reading and helped to strengthen Winners of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s Cup do postgraduate studies in London the sense of belonging.” 1961; from left, Khor Cheng Chye, Lee Chong Hoe and subsequently sub-specialised in (Captain), JMB Hughes (Headmaster), Chin Wah Seng One of his favourite recollections was and Phoon Chek Hoong. Interventional Radiology where radiological the school assembly on Monday morning techniques are used in treating diseases in when every student would gather in the badminton and went on to win the inaugural the internal organs. school hall to listen to the headmaster’s Agong’s Cup for the school in 1960. Thanks In 1979 he was head-hunted to join speech and teachers’ announcements of to him, other boys represented the school at the newly formed private Mount Elizabeth activities for the week. The occasion was a the state level in rugby and other sports. Hospital as consultant radiologist. poignant one for him when he was elected “All this has contributed to the feeling His greatest pride, he says, was in head prefect (school captain) and it became of pride among Old Frees that holds them setting up the first diagnostic interventional his duty to call the school to attention to together,” he said. radiology and cardiovascular laboratory, await the arrival of the headmaster. The school was tops not only in sports the first of its kind in a private hospital in “The prefect system was well organised. but also on the scholastic side, sweeping Southeast Asia. This was with the help of Prefects had their own room and well- many Queen’s Scholarships in the past and a specialised supporting team consisting defined roles of helping to keep discipline in later years the Colombo Plan Scholarships. of an angiographic radiographer, nursing in the school. As part of the system, senior He himself was a beneficiary having clinched sister, cardiac cath technician and dark prefects had to mentor junior prefects so a Colombo Plan Scholarship to study room technician. that they could step up, thus adding to the medicine in Canada where he graduated After five years with Mount Elizabeth grooming of leadership.” with a MD degree in 1967. Hospital, he decided to open his own The way Wah Seng sees it, PFS did On his return to Malaysia, he served practice in the then Promenade. He ran it not do things by half. He talked about how two years as a medical officer in the General for 17 years before The Promenade was re- he was inspired by his physical education Hospital in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, developed in 2000. When the hospital made teacher Teh Kheng Chooi to take up district hospital in Batu Pahat and Kota an offer then to buy over his practice, he chapter 9 Old Frees 111 accepted and he has been with the renamed lymphoma. Since 2000, more new drugs are secondary three and if we wanted to get into practice, Parkway Health Services, Singapore available for treating other cancers.” the science stream which took the crème ever since. Fascinated by the changes in the de la crème of students, we had to do well. world of oncology, he says, “Now you can There was more streaming to get into Lower offer patients hope that they can be cured. Sixth Form. Tan Yew Oo For those who cannot be cured, they can “All this helped to keep you focused, Oncologist live longer. The pace of change has been competitive and achievement-oriented.” Year left school: 1964 tremendous and I am very excited by how All of which came in useful when it the changes can give hope to people came to deciding on a medical career. chat with Yew Oo and how these have changed people’s Opting for the more established medical Areveals his passion perceptions that cancer is not all doom school in Singapore over Kuala Lumpur’s for his work - oncology and gloom. newly opened medical school of two years, or the treatment of “What I find satisfying too is in how Yew Oo graduated with a MBBS degree cancers. these changes have inspired bright young then went to Canada, the US, Scotland and Yet if he were to doctors to go into medical oncology.” Australia for specialist training in internal pursue his original Yew Oo’s journey in medicine had its medicine, haematology and oncology. dream to become beginnings in PFS. His plans to return to Penang to an agronomist, he would not have been an “I was in a cluster of students for practise were scuttled when he was offered oncologist and Singapore would have lost whom floating into medicine seemed to a position that did not allow him to make an important mentor and trainer in medical be a natural thing to do. But it was very use of what he had been trained for so he oncology. competitive trying to get into medicine.” decided to join the University of Singapore’s He said, “Forty years ago, there were Then again, the school prepared its Faculty of Medicine where he was a tenured hardly any drugs for cancer treatment, students well because of its “culture of faculty staff for 20 years from 1973 to 1993. perhaps just four or five drugs. No one had diligence in which you are ingrained to During this period, he helped to establish heard of oncologists until 1978 and the rate work hard but also play hard. So while we the Department of Medical Oncology in the of cure for patients then was very low. were expected to do well academically we Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and later “Today over 100 drugs can be used were also expected to enjoy sports and in the National University Hospital (NUH). for treating cancer. So there has been other activities. He became a mentor and teacher to doctors an explosion in the knowledge of cancer “Our school system may not have among whom are several well-known biology and cancer treatment. Now people been like a pressure cooker but it was medical oncologists today. can be cured and the rate of survival has still competitive because of the practice Despite being in private practice, gone up by about 20 per cent. of streaming. Yew Oo is still active in teaching and “Before, in the 1990s, drugs were “Before we could get into secondary postgraduate medical training. He continues available mainly for treating leukemia and four, we had to pass our streaming exams in to be involved in clinical cancer research and

112 LIVE FREE clinical trials on novel anti-cancer agents. training where hospitals and developments “Singapore is an active centre for trials. in oncology treatment are considered more For new drugs to be licensed, they have to modern and structured, he was able to gear go through trials and if data can be shown teaching methods towards those practised that the drugs are good, safe and useful for in the US, a turn-around of 180 degrees from patient use, drug companies are allowed to the former British-based system. sell them. We get experts to evaluate the The change was justified as major drugs and submit their reports. discoveries in medicine have recently been “The government here approves new done more in the US, he said. drugs quite quickly so in neighbouring countries, if doctors cannot get access to these drugs, they can at least send their Lee Eng Hin Examining a disabled child. patients here. Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon “This helps make Singapore an Year left school: 1966 attractive place to come to for treatment. “After all, the government wants to or Lee Eng Hin, life promote Singapore as a medical hub and Fin school was not centre for this part of the world.” all work and no play, To this end, doctors in oncology are thanks to The Fenders, given training here and elsewhere to equip a band that he formed them with special skills, thus “adding to “modelled after the the talent pool”, he says. “It also helps Shadows.” to publicise Singapore’s expertise in the He said, “The treatment of certain cancers and enhances lead guitarist was Khoo Soo Teik, (he’s its reputation as a medical hub.” teaching in Kuala Lumpur) while Yong Leong Eng Hin (second from left) with fellow residents Today, Singapore has 96 oncologists, Chong, who trains pilots in Singapore during orthopaedic training in Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. the highest number in this part of the world. Airlines was our rhythm guitarist. Lawyer Yew Oo does his bit to contribute Chan Ban Eng was our drummer while I appeared at talentime shows and played by providing training and mentoring, played the bass guitar and accordion. state-wide in Penang as guest artistes and something he has been doing for the past “We also had two buddies, Koh Kim even did two recordings. 15 years. Eow and Fong Chek Hong who sang with us, “I come from a musical family. My father As he was head of department in singing hits from the Everly Brothers and The played the violin, my mother the piano while the Faculty of Medicine, he was able to Blue Diamonds. I played the guitar and ukulele. We started institute changes. Thanks to his American “We played at school concerts, the band when we were 14 years old and

chapter 9 Old Frees 113 stopped playing to study when we were 17. Hospital (NUH). In 1997, he was made a they can see their environment instead of “Our school mates enjoyed our music full professor of orthopaedic surgery. He just looking at the ceiling, and to learn to and found us entertaining.” then went on to head the Department of use their hands. He was inspired to do this Despite a musical background, when Orthopaedic Surgery at NUS and NUH because of his training in Toronto. it came to a career, he decided to follow and eventually became the Dean of the One of his other contributions is the a different path. With a Colombo Plan Faculty of Medicine at NUS. As Director of setting up of two special schools under the Scholarship, he left to study medicine at the the Division of Graduate Medical Studies at Rainbow Centre to provide early intervention, University of Western Ontario in Canada NUS he was responsible for ensuring that all as well as programmes for autistic children where he graduated with a MD in 1973. postgraduate trainees were properly trained and physically disabled children. One of the “I had to decide on whether to be and rigorously assessed for competence aims, he said, was to help integrate these a general practitioner or a specialist, and before becoming specialists in their children into normal schools. I chose orthopaedics as it was a happy respective fields. For his efforts, he has won the specialty where most of the conditions were He recalled, “Nobody had been President’s Social Service Award, Public not life-threatening and patients would formally trained in paediatric orthopaedics Administration (Silver) Medal, Public Service usually get better,” he explained. here and as one of the first to have special Medal and the Clinician Mentor Award for He trained in Orthopaedic Surgery training, I was asked to start and develop mentoring students and trainees. at the University of Toronto Residency it as a sub-speciality in NUH. When KK His contributions go beyond medical Training Program, obtaining his FRCS(C) in Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) was education, specialist training and social Orthopaedic Surgery in 1982. He continued, established in 1997, I was asked to start the service. He has also contributed in research “When I did residency training I enjoyed Orthopaedic department. by setting up the NUS Tissue Engineering my stint in paediatric orthopaedics and “As part of my university work, I teach Programme, in which he and his team decided to do a fellowship at the Hospital undergraduates and train post-graduate are working on stem cells to regenerate for Sick Children in Toronto. I was attracted students to become orthopaedic surgeons. cartilage. “Instead of replacing worn out to paediatrics because it is very challenging I have been doing this for over 30 years joints with metal and plastic prostheses, we to treat children as the treatment has to take since 1983. I am glad to have played a try to heal them with the patient’s own cells.” into account that they are still growing. part in nurturing our young doctors and In addition, he was involved with “In 1983, the head of orthopaedics in increasing the pool of paediatric and general Singapore’s biomedical initiative from the Singapore heard of me and went to Toronto orthopaedic surgeons; I find it very satisfying start in 2000 and he was the Executive to recruit me while I turned down a job offer and fulfilling.” Director of the Biomedical Research at the same time at the Chinese University of He also started Multidisciplinary Clinics Council of the Agency for Science, Research Hong Kong.” for disabled children in both NUH and KKH, and Technology (A*STAR) between 2008 He was appointed as a senior including a Seating Clinic which builds and 2012. lecturer at the National University of special seats to help severely disabled Eng Hin reflects, “From a lowly Singapore (NUS) and National University cerebral palsied children to sit up so that background in Penang, I have helped

114 LIVE FREE Singapore in medicine, education, social or Soo Khee Chee, what stood out Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. service and research. I probably would not Ffor him in PFS was the “intense sense After deciding to specialise in head be able to do all this if I had remained in of belonging that comes from a total and neck surgery and surgical oncology, Penang.” He attributes much of his success immersion in an old school culture that he moved to London to work in the Royal to the early formative years in the PFS. emphasised not just achievements in Marsden Hospital and later in the US at the He is currently still actively practising academic studies but also in extra-curricular Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre’s as a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at both activities, especially sports.” Department of Surgery in New York. NUH and KKH. He is a Senior Consultant He credits the school’s British In 1988, he returned to Singapore to to the Ministry of Health, Senior Advisor to headmasters for having set the traditions work at the Department of Surgery at the the Division of Graduate Medical Studies and tone, running it like an English public Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In 1993, at NUS and is also helping Nanyang school. But the teachers were “rather stern” he was appointed head of the department Technological University (NTU) and Imperial and he remembers being punched by one of and also senior consultant surgeon until College London with the development them in the face when he was in Form 2 as a 2004. In 1995, he obtained his Doctor of of the new Lee Kong Chian School of means of instilling discipline – “all part of the Medicine from the National University of Medicine as member of their Governing growing up experience,” he said. Singapore (NUS). Board and Chairman of the Academic What he treasures most are the Today, Khee Chee is the director of the Affairs Committee. friendships forged among students of diverse National Cancer Centre, providing strategic races and the “intense loyalty all of us have to leadership to more than 500 staff engaged in our friends and school.” As proof, he has kept clinical care and research. He is also Vice- in touch with his classmates over the years, Dean of Clinical and Faculty Affairs at the Soo Khee Chee especially those who had enrolled in the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. He is Head of National Cancer Centre University of Singapore’s Medical School. also Professor of Surgery at NUS. Year left school: 1969 “There were six of us and we are all still He has helped to introduce a speciality here,” he said. “I think the school provided of head and neck surgery and surgical us with a vision of a broader world. It taught oncology in Singapore. He is also involved us good written and spoken English. It in mentoring and nurturing a group of provided us with friends for networking and clinical scientists. “These are positions gave us a sense of belonging and pride in actively involved in medical science and the achievements of our old boys.” serve as a bridge between basic scientists After graduating in 1975, Khee Chee and clinicians,” he said. “It is about bringing went to New South Wales, Australia where discoveries from the bench to the bedside he worked as a Resident and Registrar at and from the bedside to the bench.” the Prince of Wales-Prince Henry Hospitals. He has wide-ranging research

Khee Chee examining a patient. In 1982, he obtained his Fellowship of the interests in conducting clinical trials for new chapter 9 Old Frees 115 cancer treatments as well as in the field of build the cancer centre while we provide the hard and striving for your goals. These biophotonics and its role as a new imaging expertise. We also host training sessions for qualities are what older schools effectively modality for the early detection of cancer. their doctors and nurses here.” put in you as they have been developed He has also trained international It is a project that resonates with him for over the years. surgeons and has been Visiting Professor in as he says, “Penang is close to my heart”. “These traditions are very important the University of Toronto, Canada, the Jaslok as you know you are part of a distinguished Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai, school where very notable people came India, as well as Stanford University Medical from – high court judges, kings and our first Center (USA). Peter Lim Ai Chi prime minister. The implication was that you For his work, he was recognised with Senior Consultant should similarly distinguish yourself because the Outstanding Teacher’s Award in 1995 Singapore General Hospital this is your bloodline and roots. It gave us and Best Teacher (Undergraduate) Award in Year left school: 1972 a sense of belonging and continuity that 2001. In 2003, he was awarded the National goes back two hundred years and a sense Day Award, Public Administration Medal of fellowship with people who are highly (Gold) for all his contributions. accomplished in other fields. In 2008, he was given the National “Oxford, Cambridge or Harvard are Outstanding Clinician Mentor Award from the successful and create successful graduates Ministry of Health. In 2011, he was awarded in part because belonging to such august the President’s Science and Technology institutions imbues in the students a sense Medal in recognition for his contributions to that they are in a special place. They tend to Singapore’s clinical service and healthcare be self-motivated and self-confident. landscape. He is currently the Benjamin “So too in PFS where we were expected Sheares Professor of Academic Medicine in to do well in education while also focusing Peter teaching in Qingdao, China. Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. on outdoor activities and developing other He is now involved in establishing eter Lim was in PFS for three years qualities. Being in the Boy Scouts, for collaborations between Singapore and Pfrom 1970 to 1972 studying from Form instance, taught us character, resilience, and Malaysia to bring the latest in cancer 1 to Form 3 before moving with his family cheerfulness. We went on tough hiking trips, treatment to those who need it. to Kuala Lumpur, where he completed his camped in the pouring rain, but also had “This is a cancer centre that we are secondary education. fun campfire sessions where girls from St helping to set up in Penang. It started five Yet, despite the short stint in PFS, his George’s and from the Convent Green Lane years ago and we are partnering with the time there made the greatest impressions also took part. I used to be sickly as a kid but Adventist hospital to set up the Adventist on him. when I joined the Boy Scouts, I rarely got Oncology Centre. It is a not-for-profit He explained, “The school instilled in sick again.” venture – the hospital provides the land to us loyalty, camaraderie, an ethos of working He was referring to a time when as

116 LIVE FREE a young boy he was often in and out of Speaking of his work, he said, “We take of orthopaedic surgeons to lead the hospitals and clinics. He found hospitals care of people with disabilities – patients development of Rehabilitation Medicine and their smell of antiseptic fascinating. “I with strokes, spinal injuries, multiple as a medical specialty in the Singapore saw things such as needles and syringes fractures, joint replacements or cancer. General Hospital (SGH). Today, there are being boiled for reuse, as well as sick “We are doctors that can cross 10 consultant physicians and three senior people getting well. That was the start of boundaries as our training is medical; we resident specialists in training with the SGH my interest in medicine,” he said. It was also understand surgery, know what therapists Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. the school spirit and ethos of serving which do, and know what support systems exist in Setting up the programme was in a explains why “there are so many doctors the hospitals and community. In other words, sense fulfilling his duty. He continues to among Old Frees.” it is holistic medicine. be actively involved in the teaching and He took a less well travelled path “Immediately after an accident or development of medical rehabilitation not when he went to medical school in stroke, after the neurologist or surgeon only in Singapore but also in Malaysia and India after completing his A-levels. He finishes his job we take over. We have three around the region. went on to do postgraduate medical main jobs. We take care of medical issues He is President of the Rehabilitation training in the US where he specialised in such as high blood pressure, blood sugar Medicine Society in Singapore, Chair of the rehabilitation medicine. Peter’s interest in or electrolyte control, manage infections, Rehabilitation Physicians Chapter, College this field stemmed from his orthopaedic and help to set medical parameters for of Physicians Singapore, and was President surgery postings in India which included therapists to work with. We also deal with of the ASEAN Rehabilitation Medicine rehabilitation, and when he received an offer complications resulting from these types Association. He is an associate editor of from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago of illnesses such as neurogenic bowel and the American Journal of Physical Medicine (RIC) at Northwestern University Medical bladder, autonomic dysfunction, neuropathic and Rehabilitation, and is peer reviewer for School to further this interest, he took it or musculoskeletal pain. And we lead the various journals. up immediately. rehabilitation team which includes therapists, A senior consultant of SGH and After the residency programme, he prosthetists and social workers. Group Chief Risk Officer, SingHealth, stayed at the RIC as an attending fellow to “Our job is to help people get back on he holds four faculty positions: Clinical do a subspecialty in arthritis-orthopaedic their feet or regain mobility and function so Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, rehabilitation, working with patients with that they can return home and into society.” Houston; Adjunct Professor, Medical arthritis, fractures and joint replacements. He returned to the US in 1993, where Faculty, University of Malaya; Clinical When he arrived in Singapore in 1992, he established a fellowship programme Senior Lecturer, NUS (National University he joined the only other rehabilitation for Singapore rehabilitation doctors of Singapore) Yong Loo Lin School of physician in the public sector then and to train at Baylor College of Medicine Medicine and Adjunct Associate Professor, together they went on to train new in Houston, Texas. He was persuaded Duke-NUS Medical School. specialists in rehabilitation in Tan Tock to come back to Singapore in 2000 by Seng Hospital. Professor N Balachandran, the doyen

chapter 9 Old Frees 117 Lim Beng Hai for Hand and Microsurgery in 1994. schools such as a recent team which had Hand surgeon He now wants to improve on it. He said, arrived to play in a rugby tournament with Year left school: 1976 “I am developing a tendon development Raffles Institution. device, provisionally called a teno button. I Of his donation, he said it was or Lim Beng Hai, have been working on this since 1997/98. It prompted by a suggestion of his former FPSF provided the is a long road and we are now almost in the classmate, Jalil, the school’s past principal platform for what first stage. who said that help was needed to replace he is doing now – “I want to do a stronger technique some ageing equipment, among them the microsurgery. after tendon repair. This is a paradigm shift basketball court, to maintain the school’s He explained, since the patient does not have to wear a standards. “Our teachers splint, usually for six weeks, for the hand to “Since I benefitted from the school, I encouraged us to be heal. He can go back to work much earlier. thought I should give back and so made the creative and to think out of the box. Because In other words, I am aiming to go towards a donation,” he said. of the many experiments we were tasked splint-free repair which will be pioneering in “Some Old Frees among us went back to do, I realised I was good at tinkering the world.” to PFS last year to visit the place and some with many hands and that is how I ended Of his time in PFS, he said, “I have very old boys relived their experience there by up in microsurgery as it is the only thing in good memories. They were very stimulating sitting in the chairs in the classrooms!” medicine that allows me to do that. times.” Beng Hai’s journey as a hand surgeon “What’s good about it too is that I can Yet for him, life was about meeting began after he graduated from the National recreate nice things so it is very satisfying.” targets rather than studying hard. He said, University of Singapore (NUS) with a medical Microsurgery is surgery that requires “I was in Wellesley School and knew that degree in 1985, following which he obtained a microscope as the structures being if I did well enough I would end up in Free his Master of Medicine and joined the Fellow operated on are very small such as blood School. Every year, the quota was the first Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in vessels, nerves and capillaries, so it is “very best performing 50 students. But in one 1990. In the same year, he did an Advanced challenging,” he said. year, it took only 45 and since I was 46th on Hand Surgery Traineeship. Beng Hai is also involved in research. He the list, I did not get in. I finally entered the After completing his training in the was part of the team that developed the six- school only in the Lower Sixth Form.” Christine Kleinert Institute, he was awarded strand loop suture tendon repair technique Despite spending two years there, he the Senior Fellowship in Hand Surgery by used for flexor tendon repair known as the said he benefitted from the school. He also the University of Louisville Hospitals in 1995 Lim-Tsai technique. He had developed it has a strong attachment to it as evidenced to 1996. He was later appointed Adjunct with his boss Dr Tsu-Min Tsai when he was by his donation to build a new basketball Assistant Professor to the Department of studying in the US where he was doing court to replace the old court and his Surgery, University of Louisville. his fellowship in Hand and Reconstructive efforts to host students from PFS coming He returned to Singapore and in 1998, Microsurgery at the Christine Kleinert Institute to Singapore to play games with Singapore was accredited as a Specialist in Hand Surgery.

118 LIVE FREE He was appointed consultant Hand Wong Peng Cheang Surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital Obstetrician and gynaecologist (SGH) and in 2000 became Chief of the Year left school: 1970 Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the National University studied four years Hospital (NUH). “Iin PFS before He revels in teaching undergraduate leaving after Upper and postgraduate students. Among his Six in 1970 for the accomplishments as chief of the Department University of Malaya to of Hand and Reconstructive Surgery study medicine. I had was setting up the Department’s annual been in the Science cadaveric symposium and workshop for stream all along. General Practitioners in 2000 and in 2001, “For me, the school was probably the the Foundations in Musculoskeletal Surgery best school in Penang and perhaps in all of for advanced trainees in Hand, Plastics and Malaysia. It was very old with a long history Orthopaedic surgery. with many illustrious alumni. Looking at the He also established the Microsurgical long list of successful alumni and what they Training Laboratory in NUH in 2001. As achieved only motivated us to excel. its Programme Director, he set up a joint “A few things stood out during my training programme in microsurgery with time there. Germany’s Aesculap Academy in 2003. The “One was the ‘click-clock’ sound of my success of the training laboratory prompted Headmaster’s (Tan Boon Lin) shoes as he him to set up the STAR (Skills, Training And walked around along the corridors inspecting Wong Peng Cheang (standing, extreme left, in the group photo on the front page of The Straits Research) Laboratory two years later, in the school, staff and students. Another was Times, 21 May 1983) was a member of the original NUH. This has since expanded to include a rather painful witnessing of a boy receiving team which pioneered IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) in Singapore. the Digital Medicine Laboratory. public caning during school assembly in front Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction Today, Beng Hai is the director and of all the teachers and students. senior consultant hand surgeon at the “Lower Six was a year of reckoning Centre for Hand And Reconstructive because my class became co-ed and we had of the famous Kandang Kerbau Hospital MicroSurgery (CHARMS) located at Mount five girls joining us. They were very popular and of its doctors like Dr Lean Tye Hin and Elizabeth Medical Centre. He is also a among the boys. We welcomed them. Professor SS Ratnam. visiting senior consultant hand surgeon at “After graduation, I came to Singapore “After obtaining my MRCOG, I became the Department of Hand and Reconstructive in 1977 because I wanted to be trained to be interested in the study and treatment of Microsurgery, NUH. an obstetrician and gynaecologist. I heard fertility problems and was a member of the chapter 9 Old Frees 119 original team which pioneered IVF (in-vitro Chan Kong Thoe Recalling the times then, he said, “I was fertilisation) in Singapore. Retired surgeon in PFS in December 1941 for only about a “Next I went to the US on a fellowship Year left school: 1948 week. I was so impressed by it. The school and on my return to Singapore started to get looked immense with its long corridors. The even more involved. By then the thought of school field was endless in my mind with a returning to Malaysia did not arise because shooting range at an inner end which made at that time IVF treatment was not carried the school look ‘very advanced’. But I never out in Malaysia. It was obvious that if I saw it used though. wanted to progress in this field, I should “After the war was over when Penang remain in Singapore and pursue my career was liberated in August, PFS reopened further here. in September. Things happened pretty “The school’s motto ‘Strong and quickly. A brigadier in the British Army was faithful’ struck a chord with me. The school appointed our headmaster but was soon helped us to learn how to be independent. assigned to Kuala Lumpur to be the Director In extracurricular activities or in the various of Education, Malaya. Some teachers were societies that we joined, the teacher-in- also from the British Army. I remember charge was more of a guide and we were a Major Miller who taught Geography; largely left to pursue our projects. So we he always wore shorts and had a very developed a lot of leadership, drive and strong Midlands accent and it was difficult team building. We grew into the role. sometimes to make out what he was saying. “I think one of the school’s special traits “Our Maths teacher and Form Master, is well reflected in our school song which we s a star surgeon he made headlines Mr Ong Teong Guan was outstanding; he sang at assembly. One of its lines was ‘Free Ain May 1970 when he performed was patient and made maths easy. Later, it School for the brave and for the true’ - it was Singapore’s first kidney transplant. Yet, that was Ooi Khay Bian, who had a BA. He was a constant reminder that we should pursue was only one of a long list of milestones also very good but had favourites, which was our goals with heart and soul.” Chan Kong Thoe had been chalking up, quite a common weakness in those days. right from the time when he enrolled in Targar Singh was a great Geography teacher, Penang Free School in December 1941 to making the subject lively and interesting. begin Standard VI. He was a very friendly man who used to Alas, his education was interrupted cycle to school. I had known him since my when Penang fell to the Japanese soon after elementary school days at Westlands School. and it was not until September 1945 when Later, he went to PFS and was an excellent World War II ended that he was able to Scoutmaster and became the Rover Master resume schooling. when I started the first Rover Crew in PFS for

120 LIVE FREE Senior Scouts. I was the Senior Rover Mate, although they never persuaded me.” three months of preparation instead of a which was the equivalent to Troop Leader in He was thrilled to be awarded the projected 33 months, Kong Thoe worked in Scouting. A Rover crew traditionally cannot Queen’s Scholarship although by his own two of England’s most famous hospitals – be headed by a minor (below age 21) and admission, he was “not too surprised”. He St Thomas and St James University Hospital we were all schoolboys. It was the first Rover explained, “I had a very good academic – with top British surgeons. Crew in a school in this part of the world so record and could speak well and with After two years, he returned to work in we made history. confidence in interviews. By special the University of Singapore’s department of “Competition in PFS was very keen as it dispensation from the Malayan Government, surgery as a lecturer and also as a surgeon had high academic and leadership standards I was allowed to keep the title of Queen’s back in the “A” unit at SGH where he did all and we were studying among the very best. Scholar as I had won a better scholarship the liver surgeries using techniques he had The kind of environment it provided helped from the Singapore Government. I kept learnt from England. to shape and mature my character.” the title of Queen’s Scholar but had no In 1965, he took a sabbatical leave of It also propelled him to maintain emoluments. The rule then was that a six months after he had won a Hunterian high standards for himself throughout his person could hold only one scholarship or Professorship from the Royal College of life - winning awards in school, getting prize at any time. It also meant that I had to Surgeons, England to do research on liver appointed as School Captain, winning the give up a Hutchings Scholarship that I had cancer. He later went on to study kidney coveted Queen’s Scholarship in his final also won.” and liver transplantation in the United year at PFS and topping his medical school He began his medical career in 1955 as States where he performed experimental examinations for all his six years of study. a trainee under (who later kidney transplants on dogs. In 1967, he was In his graduation year in 1954 when he was became Singapore’s second president) in the appointed head of the “A” unit as well as awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynaecology department of head of the university department of surgery and Bachelor of Surgery, he scooped up Kandang Kerbau Hospital (KKH). Part of his where he introduced new and up-to-date all seven awards that were up for grabs by two-year training had to include six months surgical procedures. He was the first to do medical students. of full-time surgical training. He was attached gastroscopy, laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) Ironically, medicine was not his first to the “A” unit at the Singapore General and other surgical procedures. choice. He said, “It was engineering all my Hospital (SGH). The unit was headed by His preoccupation then as he puts it, life till then. I had scholarships for both the Yeoh Ghim Seng who was later appointed “was to do liver transplants as liver cancer King Edward VII Medical College and Raffles as Singapore’s Speaker of Parliament. It was one of the commonest cancers here. College in Singapore, but my preference was Professor Yeoh who steered him into a I was learning about liver transplants at was Science and to obtain a BSc at Raffles surgical career by declining to let him return Harvard Medical School and was on its Liver which baffled all the teachers and my fellow to KKH. Transplant Team but no liver transplant students as medicine was the prime choice In 1959, after passing the difficult was done during my time there. Finally, in then. I changed to medicine at the last FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Singapore, we did kidney transplants instead minute as I knew my parents would like it Surgeons) England examination after only as all artificial kidneys for dialysis then at the

chapter 9 Old Frees 121 National Kidney Foundation were fully used.” monuments, Chong Keat has put an His historic kidney transplant in 1970 indelible mark on Singapore’s architectural was so successful that the recipient of the Architecture scene. transplanted kidney, who had been very The former, which has been recognised ill prior to the surgery, went on to live for as a first-rate example of international style another 22 years. architecture in Singapore, emphasises the Although Kong Thoe retired from the universality of his work even though it has department of surgery before it carried out also been noted for the mengkuang mat- Singapore’s first liver transplant in 1990, it inspired mosaic pattern on one of its exterior was his work and teaching that had set the walls, a nod to the architect’s penchant for stage for the transplant. Lim Chong Keat including local elements in his designs. He observed, “There has been Year left school: 1948 And thanks to his background in immense progress since I started doing acoustics, Chong Keat went on to design surgery with many new surgical procedures ato’ Seri Lim other concert halls such as DBS Auditorium and research being done now.” DChong Keat is in Singapore, the Geodesic Dome (Dewan a significant figure Tunku) and Shah Alam Town Council in Singapore’s Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s post-independent 65-storey Komtar Tower in George Town, architectural scene, Malaysia’s tallest building until 1988. having been the Outstanding practitioner apart, Chong man behind some of Keat has also been influential in moulding the Republic’s most noteworthy buildings the earliest batches of architectural built in the 1960s and 1970s. They include graduates when he was a lecturer at the Singapore Conference Hall and Trade Union Singapore Polytechnic where architecture House (completed in 1965 under Malayan was first established as a course in 1958 Architects Co-partnership with partners before it became a degree course at the Chen Voon Fee and William Lim), Malaysia- University of Singapore in 1965. Singapore Airlines Building (completed in Chong Keat has also played an 1969 under Architects Team 3) and important role on the architectural Town Hall (completed in 1974 also with world stage in organisations such as the Architects Team 3). Commonwealth Association Architects With two of these buildings - Singapore (CAA), as the co-founding chairman of Conference Hall and Trade Union House Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) and Jurong Town Hall - declared national and as chairman of the Commonwealth

122 LIVE FREE initiative to develop a database on pioneer Tay Lee Soon architects and to record the republic’s Year left school: 1949 architectural history as part of its SG50 efforts to celebrate Singapore’s Jubilee he ‘accidental year of its modern founding. He has served “Tarchitect’ label as president of the Singapore Institute of given to me may Architects and on several public boards appear to be so when including the Singapore Housing and one looks in retrospect Development Board. to the years spent in Today, the retired architect spends schools in Penang and Singapore Conference Hall and Trade Union House. his time researching on botanical species in the University in and conservation in Penang and publishes Melbourne. Board of Architectural Education (CBAE). the journal Folia malaysiana. As an avid “Listening to stories from family Chong Keat belongs to one of Penang’s botanist for the past 30 years, Chong Keat is members of the greatest school in Malaya most prominent families. His brother, Lim passionate about documenting the island’s and to enrol in it in January 1950, from Chong Eu, served as the state’s second Chief rich flora, particularly palms and gingers Francis Light School was a dream. I could Minister from 1969 to 1990. of which he has discovered some 30 new not forget the concern of the class masters, Chong Keat studied architecture in species that are endemic to Penang. the winning spirit of the sports masters and the University of Manchester where he Apart from pursuing his botanical the camaraderie of the fellow students in graduated with a BA Hons in architecture passion, Chong Keat continues to cultivate the classes. and at the Massachusetts Institute of his long-standing interest in the artworks of “I played cricket and hockey for Wu Technology (MIT) where he obtained his regional artists of which he has a very large Lien-Teh’s House and was swimming captain master’s degree in architecture with special private collection. A man of eclectic tastes, for the school. We all wanted to do well and interest in acoustics. Chong Keat’s interests extend to design, give our best. Like when I hit the winning Although he was born in Penang, his anthropolgy, music and art. run in the inter-college cricket match against links with Singapore go deep as it was the He is the founder chairman of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar or when the birthplace of his father, Lim Chwee Leong Penang Heritage Trust and has served on School beat Chung Ling High School in who was sent to Penang to serve as a doctor the board of the Penang State Museum. water polo. Announcements were made in by his father while his brother, also a doctor, the school assembly recognising the feats of remained to serve in Singapore. the sportsmen of the school. Chong Keat was invited back to “In the early days at school, I dreamt of Singapore in April 2015 to share his joining ‘General Templars 1000’ or the police memories by giving a public talk as part force or the teaching profession since both of the Singapore Institute of Architects’ my parents were school teachers, as some of chapter 9 Old Frees 123 my buddies in the projects I have done, I find that I enjoy the cricket, hockey and challenges imposed on the conservation swimming teams of old buildings and houses, where I have did. However, after to balance and appreciate the philosophy much thought and and structure of the original architect and advice, and the also enhancing the buildings to meet the family realising requirements and aspirations of the Clients. that I had the Architecture to me is to not only to conceive ability, talent and beautiful building structures but it has to tenacity to achieve meet the owner’s functional requirements Lee Soon on his design for the Tan Chong Motors showroom on Bukit Timah Road: something, I “I deliberately made it slightly slanted so that the cars in the showroom did not reflect and complete it within the budget and time. decided to study off the cars passing by thus blinding motorists.” Within these confines and if we can produce a architecture. This masterpiece, then it is a bonus. decision did not arrive easily as I was made practising as an architect. I was a member “The grounding of honesty, integrity to sketch most of the iconic buildings in of the very successful Singapore Water Polo instructed and learned early from family and Penang such as the Municipality Buildings team at the SEAP (Southeast Asia Peninsular school has been my guiding principle through at the Esplanade, Buddhist Association Games) and SEA (Southeast Asia) Games the years. An ‘accidental’ architect? … Building at Anson Road and, of course, from 1965 to 1969. I don’t think so. FORTIS ADQUE FIDELIS.” the Penang Free School. Finally I secured “On graduating in 1961, I joined Booty a job as an apprentice draughtsman in an Edwards Sdn Bhd and later was transferred to architectural office in Singapore. its Singapore office. I started Architects 61 Pte “I made an application to the Royal Ltd in 1974 and retired from practice in 2008. Heah Hock Heng Melbourne Technical College and joined the Architects 61 Pte Ltd developed into one Year left school: 1953 college in January 1956. I later joined the of the major architectural firms with offices University of Melbourne and graduated in and projects completed in Kuala Lumpur, nother architect 1961. That was how I became an architect. Penang, Jakarta, Manila, India, Cambodia Awho has put his ‘Accidental’? No, and it did not turn out too and Vietnam. I completed many major works mark on Singapore’s badly. and won awards including the Presidential architectural landscape “In keeping with and true to the PFS Award for Design of the Conservation of is Heah Hock Heng. spirit, I managed to balance studies and Fullerton Hotel in Singapore. The firm has He is best known sports, excelling in hockey. I played premier also associated and collaborated with many for having designed grade hockey for the school, the Crusaders renowned architects such as Paul Rudolph, I the tower wing of and the University of Melbourne. The M Pei, Kenzo Tange and Helmut Jahn. the Shangri-La Singapore, which opened in work/sport spirit held on even when I was “On reflection of the many types of April 1971 as one of Singapore’s first five-star

124 LIVE FREE luxury hotels. Its owner, Robert Kuok, also concept,” he says. “Deciding that I would be safer out tasked him to build the Rasa Sayang Resort Hailing from a prominent family in of Penang, he packed me off to England to in Penang, which opened in November 1973. Penang, Hock Heng was the youngest of do my ‘A’ levels. I suspect he also did not Located at Batu Ferringhi, it earned a name several brothers who all studied at PFS. “I approve of my being smitten with a fellow as the largest beach resort in the region thought it strange at first as our father was student in PFS!” and till today is known for its distinctive himself educated at St Xavier’s. He was a He went on to study architecture in Minangkabau roofs. rubber magnet and had dealings with many Cambridge. Working on hotels was a delight for British brokers and I guess he could see Despite being in PFS for only three Hock Heng as he had written on hospitality the difference between PFS which had the years, Hock Heng says he has fond architecture for his thesis at Cambridge cream of the crop among its teachers, many memories of his school days. University. His first project though was not of whom, like our headmaster then (JE Tod) “We had a maths teacher, Khoo Kay a hotel building but Singapore’s Ngee Ann came from Cambridge and Oxford University Beng, who gave us a good grounding in College (now Polytechnic) on Clementi Road. while St Xavier’s was run by missionaries. the subject. Our headmaster JE Tod who From hotels, his architectural firm, “My brothers and I, however, were came across as very strict was actually very Seah, Lee & Heah went on to design several grateful for being in PFS as we were able to kind. He helped me when I was in England other buildings in Singapore – many of benefit from its traditions, its emphasis on and got me to understand what studying in them luxury condominiums such as Futura, good ethics and the teaching of English.” Cambridge was all about. Draycott Towers and Westwood that were His school years were compressed as “We also had a voluptuous biology classified as iconic then because of their he did not start education until the age of teacher and her classes were always well- unusual look. 11. Recalling the circumstances, he said, attended and we all passed with flying colours. He said, “We were experimenting with “I was in Westlands Primary School for just “I was involved in sports - badminton, new forms then. Having studied classical three days when the Japanese bombed volleyball and football - which led to a lot architecture we did not do irregular shapes Penang and our family was whisked to of camaraderie among players. Through that computers can now give you. We had to Penang Hill for our safety. We stayed there badminton, I got to know Eddy Choong, draw then and that was the most satisfying for four years.” who later became a four-time champion of part of our work.” After the end of the war, he returned the All-England Open. However, he laments that after 30 years to Westlands to study for four years before “There were less glorious moments many of his projects have been torn down he moved on to PFS in 1950. “I left in 1953 though like when I was made to stand on the during the enbloc sales fever a decade ago at age 17 without finishing school. My father chair at the back of the classroom for being which saw owners selling their properties to Heah Joo Seang was heavily involved in naughty and a girl that I liked came by and developers to re-build anew. politics as president of the Malayan Chinese saw me – it was most embarrassing.” Today, Hock Heng works as consultant Association (MCA) and Penang had a lot of These days, it looks as if Hock Heng’s to firms such as New Space Architecture. thugs then. I remember having bodyguards life has come full circle. He is about to embark “I bring in projects and do the initial when I was in my teens. on another hotel project, back in Penang.

chapter 9 Old Frees 125 “This is to restore the former Crag naturally-ventilated central atrium and other and biointegrate with nature instead of the Hotel on Penang Hill to AmanCrag and innovations. other way around, as has been the standard make it a luxury resort. It will have 20 rooms Another building that Ken completed practice. To do this, his design approach and the plan is to offer guests who stay there in Singapore is the Solaris at the one-north is to mimic the attributes of ecosystems in the same unique Aman experience of resort business park which has received numerous nature. Besides his work on eco-architecture, living,” he said. awards. The building uses a ‘tree’ as a he is also a pioneer in the bioclimatic design metaphor for its design, with a spiralling of tall buildings. vegetated ramp in an ecological nexus from His bioclimatic designs can be seen in Ken Yeang the basement to its top-most level, which Malaysia and elsewhere in the world. The Year left school: 1962 Ken calls a ‘vertical linear park’. Solaris was high-tech Menara Mesiniaga in Subang also given a BCA Green Mark Platinum Jaya, Selangor is a 15-storey tower capped ecognised Award and was shortlisted for the Royal by a sun-roof over a pool. Built over a raised Rglobally as an Institute of British Architects’ Lubetkin Prize green mound, it has terraced gardens eco-architect, Dato’ in 2012. gracing the balconies and external louvres Dr. Ken Yeang’s Eco-architecture, also known as as sun-shades while the tower uses natural design for Singapore’s green architecture, gained prominence ventilation in its elevator lobbies to reduce National Library in 1990 when the United Nations met energy consumption. It received the Aga Board headquarters to discuss the impact of climate change Khan Award for Architecture in 1995 and on Victoria Street and what could be done to deal with several other industry awards. received Singapore’s Building and it. For Ken, however, his interest in eco- Even Ken’s residence, the Roof-Roof Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark architecture started long before it became House completed in 1985, reflects his novel Platinum Award when it opened in 2005. This an industry buzzword in 1971 when he did ideas on bioclimatic passive-mode low- is the highest level of rating for environment- his PhD at Cambridge University on the energy architecture, having a double roof friendly buildings. topic. He started as a researcher at the that lets in light and shades out the sun The building, besides consuming university working on the “autonomous” depending on the time of the day and the 70 per cent less energy than the industry house project as a building that operated sun’s path. His recently completed Extension average, also scored in its deployment of without relying on the city’s utilities of to the Great Ormond Street Children’s other ‘green’ features such as the ecological electricity, water and sewerage. His Hospital in London received the UK’s use of vegetation and landscaping that doctoral dissertation on ecological design BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating. contributed to improving the indoor thermal and planning gained him a PhD in 1974, Ken interned for a year in Singapore environment and enhancing the biodiversity and became his life’s agenda. He was made from 1969-1970, working on the Mandarin of its urban locality, its multi-storey sky- an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College Hotel extension before returning to the UK courts, large light-shelves to the Reading in Cambridge University in 2015. to complete his studies. He is a corporate Rooms, solar sun-shading to the facades, a For Ken, buildings should respect member of Singapore’s Board of Architects

126 LIVE FREE and a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of 2006 and he is credited with pushing Asian degree in architecture in Yale University. He Architects. architecture into new directions. moved there after completing a degree in Singapore’s BCA awarded him He has a slew of other awards to his architecture from Washington University. He its lifetime achievement award in name including the Miami Biennale 2005 then worked for two years in the well-known green architecture in 2015. He received International Competition for The Ladyhill architectural firm of Kohn Pederson Fox. A Malaysia Government’s Merdeka and The Royal Institute of British Architects company project in Singapore led him here Award, being its equivalent of the Worldwide Award 2005 for the Lincoln Modern in 1990. Nobel Prize. The UK newspaper, Guardian - both condominium projects in Singapore. He later joined Architects 61 before named him as ‘one of the fifty people Founder and principal design director striking out on his own with SCDA (Soo who could save the planet.” of SCDA Architects, his company is engaged Chan Design Associates) in 1995. He lives between Kuala Lumpur and not only in architecture but also in interiors, Soo Khian has expanded the scope London. landscaping and product design. of his company’s work to include other Its multi-faceted approach has led it aspects of lifestyle such as the design and to work in areas such as master planning, furnishing of Alila Villas Soori, Bali, a luxury Chan Soo Khian resorts and hotels, commercial buildings, resort that he owns and Comptoir Soori, a Year left school: 1980 high-rise luxury apartments and houses wine bar and epicerie located in the same all over the world. This includes the row of shophouses as SCDA in Singapore’s han Soo Khian, Lonudhuahuttaa in the Maldives, the OneKL Chinatown. C also known as condominium in Kuala Lumpur and the Apart from being a practitioner, he Soo K Chan, is known Singapore High Commission in New Delhi. imparts his knowledge through teaching for clean modern lines Currently, he is involved in four projects architectural courses in various universities yet with a touch of the in New York City, three of which are luxury such as the University of Paris and Notre classical when it comes condominiums while the fourth is a hotel in Dame University, Syracuse University and to designing buildings. Lower Manhattan. the National University of Singapore, which However, while His first development, the 31-unit Soori recently conferred him as Professor in NUS aesthetics are important in architecture, he High Line project made headlines with its (Architecture). firmly believes that buildings must also be “resort living in the city” theme when it was He has fond memories of his time functional and serve the client’s needs. launched in 2014. Half of its units will feature in Penang Free School where he enjoyed He describes his style as “neo-tropical a private pool while all of the interiors drawing caricatures of his teachers and architecture”, a term that has since become and furniture in every one of its units are passing them around. This penchant for part of the architectural lexicon. personally designed by Soo Khian. drawing and his interest in building toys such Indeed, his characteristic tropical yet Soo Khian’s interest in New York as Lego stimulated his desire to become an contemporary buildings earned him the stems from the time he had spent there architect – a good choice indeed. President’s Designer of the Year Award in as a doctorate candidate for a master’s

chapter 9 Old Frees 127 It may be a bit of a bohemian lifestyle, “These were presented by various he says, but he enjoys it despite the organisers including Donald Moore, the then The Arts uncertainty about where he might be going. Ministry of Culture and the Singapore Music With his regular concert schedule, however, Teachers’ Association. he knows well in advance where he is “It was a helpful experience for a young heading to. The 40 concerts he does each aspiring pianist like me. I also played a year take him around the world but he says concerto with the Goh Soon Tioe Orchestra, he tries to make sure he returns to Singapore as well as charity recitals for churches and and Penang at every available opportunity. orphanages. Both places hold a soft spot for him “Later on, there was a ‘mixed’ Dennis Lee – Penang as it was his hometown and programme presented by the Economic Pianist Singapore as it is where he has held many a Development Board at Suntec, and more Year left school: 1962 concert over the past four decades. recently, two recitals of French piano music His interest in music began when at the National Museum when the Musée he started piano lessons in the 1950s. He d’Orsay of Paris loaned Singapore more than remembers how he used to practise on 100 Impressionist paintings. the piano and the violin instead of joining “There have also been numerous his classmates in playing football in PFS. masterclasses at the Nanyang Academy Although it might have created a bit of a of Fine Arts, and various talks about the barrier then, he managed to forge some importance of careful reading of piano long-lasting friendships with other Old Frees. repertoire and how to prepare for music One of them is Tan Yew Oo who always exams for private music schools. looks forward to welcoming Dennis “I treasure the many occasions when I to his home whenever he is in Singapore have played with the Singapore Symphony to perform. Orchestra, at the Victoria Concert Hall as Dennis says, “I left PFS after Form 5 in well as the Esplanade Cultural Centre. Most iving the life of a nomad is par for the 1962 to take my A-levels, two diplomas and recently, my wife (Toh Chee Hung) and I Lcourse for Dennis Lee, a world renowned two degrees in the UK. I also hold Singapore performed a recital at the newly refurbished concert pianist. His performance schedule Permanent Residence. Already when I was Victoria Concert Hall for SG50. is booked two years ahead but he can still studying in the UK, I came back to “We continue to hold dear our links sometimes receive a call to replace someone the East periodically and gave recitals in with the cultural life of Singapore, while who has fallen ill and he has to take the first Singapore - usually at the Victoria Concert fulfilling our commitments in Europe, the flight out as a replacement with just a few Hall, Conference Centre and the DBS USA and Canada, and other parts of Asia.” hours’ notice. Auditorium. “I was also an examiner for the (UK)

128 LIVE FREE Royal Schools of Music for over 30 years, While carrying out his duties as an appreciated for his willingness to help. and this work took me to many countries interpreter, CM Wong found time to deepen His home in Tiong Bahru was described including Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, his interest in Chinese arts and to share his by a journalist Hoo Yew Gee during a visit as USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Switzerland and knowledge with others. being akin to a Chinese museum. He wrote, Scandinavia. Now and then I am still invited To this end, he co-founded the China “The furniture in his home and the paintings to judge festivals and competitions all over Society of Singapore with Lee Siow Mong, on the walls were all antiques.” the world, as well as give masterclasses. another renowned Chinese culture expert, Despite his large collection of priceless I find this variety stimulating, and hearing in January 1949. The idea behind the society treasures, he was quoted by his daughter how other people approach music in was to spread the word on the finer aspects Rollyne, at his passing at the age of 88 in different countries has helped me widen of Chinese culture to locals and expatriates 1991, “All of man’s material possessions are my horizons.” alike. He reached out to them with talks transient. Only experience and knowledge and courses in Chinese arts and literature in our minds can be permanent and no one conducted in English. can take them away from us.” CM Wong He even put together a book on the Chinese Antiques Collector and Historian subject in a 25th anniversary journal of the Year left school: 1921 China Society of Singapore 1949-1974 as P Ramlee part of the organisation’s commemorative Actor/director noted antiques collector and celebrations. The China Society with Year left school: 1947 Aacknowledged as an authority on its office at the Singapore Chamber of Chinese arts and culture, Wong Chong Min, Commerce on Hill Street still thrives today. he name P Ramlee better known as CM Wong, received his For years, CM Wong and Lee Siow Tis synonymous with early education in English at PFS after his Mong were much sought after to give talks on the Malay film industry. family had moved to Penang from Hong “all things Chinese” at luncheons organised He was a man Kong where he was born. by associations such as the Rotary Club. He of many talents – The year was 1910 and the family was was often quoted for his views on Chinese actor, film director, to move again in 1921, this time to China. culture and had been referred to on many an singer, songwriter, It was during his two-year stay there that occasion as a “Chinese almanac expert”. music composer he developed an interest in the Chinese To further promote Chinese antiques and comedian. On top of this, he was an language and culture. and paintings, he formed the Eastern Antique accomplished musician who played the In 1923, the family moved to Singapore and Appreciation Society in 1980 with fellow ukulele, guitar, piano and violin. No other where the young CM Wong’s proficiency in antiques collector Lieu Tien Chung. artiste in the Malay entertainment industry English and Chinese landed him a job as a An affable man, CM Wong was also could hold a candle to him – even today, 40 court interpreter, a position he held for well noted as an authority on Chinese jade. years after his passing. over 35 years. He was well-respected by his peers and Born in Penang in 1929 of an Achehnese

chapter 9 Old Frees 129 father and Malayan mother, P Ramlee legendary figure and an icon of Malay arts studied in PFS until the outbreak of World and entertainment. War II. During the Japanese Occupation In 1967, MFP shut down when Kuala that followed, he attended the Japanese Lumpur became the new hub for Malay films Navy Academy but after the war ended, he after Shaw Organisation set up the Merdeka was able to resume his studies at PFS where Film Productions studio there. he was very active in sports, particularly Ramlee relocated there and made badminton, football and sepak takraw. several more films before it closed down In 1947, P Ramlee made a name for in 1977. But alas, he was unable to retain himself when he came in first in a song the fame that he enjoyed while he was in competition organised by Penang Radio. The memory of P Ramlee lives on in his old family Singapore. Still, no one has come close to home, which has been preserved in Penang. A year later, he was spotted by film director matching him in his acting talents. B S Rajhans when he sang in a music festival cinema, the Shaw Brothers’ studio located at He died of a heart attack in May 1973, in Bukit Mertajam, Province Wellesley. 8 Jalan Ampas was prolific, churning out 150 aged only 44. In 1990, he was posthumously Rajhans offered P Ramlee a role in Malay-language films in 20 years. P Ramlee awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota Singapore as a playback singer for the lead was involved in one third of them. The 1950s (PSM), with the title Tan Sri. In the same actor in a movie titled Cinta (Love). It was and 1960s were truly the Golden Age of year, he was accorded the title of Seniman to be produced by Malay Film Productions Malay cinema. Agong (Great Artiste). (MFP) which had been set up by the famed Hardworking and talented, P Ramlee Although MFP in Singapore was shut Shaw Brothers in 1947. went on to not only act but also direct down after Ramlee had left, its premises at It was another film director, L Krishnan movies. He acted in 65 movies, directed 34 Jalan Ampas remain and there has been talk who gave P Ramlee his big break when films and sang 390 songs. He had a close about preserving it as a film museum. he cast him in the lead role in Bakti relationship with Run Run Shaw, who was Today, Ramlee is remembered in (Faithfulness) in which he was required to running the family business in Singapore. He Penang by a road named after him in sing five songs. It would be the first time that brought Ramlee to film festivals around the 1983 – Jalan P Ramlee, formerly known as an actor would sing in his own voice. It was globe. It was said that Run Run Shaw had Caunter Hall Road where he was born. His L Krishnan’s first film after joining MFP such faith in P Ramlee that he would easily family’s wooden house, built by his father in 1949. The movie was to launch both approve the projects that the latter wanted and uncle, has been restored and is open for Krishnan’s and P Ramlee’s careers. to work on. visits. Next door is the Pustaka Warisan Seni The movie premiered at Shaw’s Rex Ramlee directed his first movie Penarik Complex which houses the P Ramlee Gallery Cinema in April 1950. It was a box office Beca in 1955. Some of his best known films displaying various aspects of the artiste’s success and the film was shown in cinemas were Hang Tuah (1956), Musang Berjanggut illustrious career. throughout Malaya as well. (The Bearded Fox, 1959) and Madu Tiga Acknowledged as the pioneers of Malay (The Three Wives, 1964). Ramlee became a

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adjust to school so he quit in 1946 to work in a trading company Chee Seng & Co that Business had been set up by his father and some partners. The company was an importer and exporter of goods and produce to and from Indonesia. Trade had to be conducted by barter as Indonesia, which was fighting the Dutch for independence then, did not have a lawful currency of its own. The company had to obtain permits Chan U Seek from both Dutch and Indonesian officials Businessman to conduct its business. What’s more, all Year left school: 1946 cargo had to be inspected by the Dutch navy to ensure that restricted items were e was one of the earliest high-flyers, not entering Indonesia. Despite the trying Hholding a trusted position as director times, the work that U Seek did provided him with valuable experience in dealing with Chan U Seek was a well-respected figure in in various companies and as a government Singapore’s business community and beyond. advisor. the Indonesian business community and Born in 1925 in , Chan U Seek spent Indonesian officials – know-how that would his early childhood in Medan, Sumatra, come in useful later in his career. where his family had settled when he was In 1955, the Hong Kong-based Jardine just six months old. Matheson Group (Jardine Group) was keen In 1938, he was sent to Penang to be to expand their business in Southeast Asia educated in a secondary school. He secured due to trade restrictions in China. The a place in PFS but the Japanese invasion Jardine Group conducted this expansion of 1942 and subsequent occupation of through an investment in Henry Waugh and Penang cut short his schooling. He returned Co. In the same year, U Seek was offered to Medan where he worked as a clerk for employment by Henry Waugh and Co (later Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha. When the war ended renamed Jardine Waugh Limited) as an in 1945, he went back to Penang to resume executive director based in Singapore. his studies but a lack of tables and chairs in The Jardine Group did not have PFS saw him spending the first several weeks business in Indonesia at the time, and U Seek was responsible for expanding its in Chung Ling High School. U Seek at the Airbus Golf Invitational in Maui, Hawaii Alas, U Seek found it difficult to re- business interests there in various sectors in June 2008. chapter 9 Old Frees 131 In the early days of the Jardine Group in Singapore. U Seek was intimately involved in the aviation industry. such as consumer goods, aviation and held until his resignation from the Jardine Sim Kee Boon. In the same year, U Seek newsprint. In September 1963, U Seek Group in 1970. accepted an appointment as a member and a colleague from the Jardine Group Building on the foundation laid by of the Economic Development Board (EDB), were appointed by the Deputy Colonial his exposure to businesses and government a government agency in charge of Secretary of Hong Kong to negotiate the in Indonesia early on in his career, U Seek creating business and job opportunities terms of agreements between Hong Kong became an advisor to the Singapore for Singaporeans. and Indonesia for the processing of raw government on the development of trading Through to around 1969, U Seek cotton supplied to Indonesia. Hong Kong relations with Indonesia on numerous continued to promote trade between was involved as Indonesia did not have occasions. Singapore and Indonesia through various sufficient spinning capacity to turn the raw The earliest known record of U Seek’s official dialogues of a similar nature held in cotton into yarn. U Seek negotiated the public service was his participation as a each of the two countries. One of these was allocation of raw cotton and yarn prices member of Singapore’s trade and economic a Tourism Technical Fact Finding Mission on with the Indonesian government. mission to Indonesia on 12 February 28 April 1968 to discuss with the Indonesian U Seek rose through the ranks steadily 1967 in response to an invitation from the government certain proposals to develop and was appointed by the Jardine Group Indonesian government. This mission was the island of Bali for tourism. to act as its Director of Aviation and led by then permanent secretary (Economic Led by then deputy secretary of the Armaments in 1963. This was a position he Development) at the Ministry of Finance Ministry of Finance and deputy chairman

132 LIVE FREE of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board skilled negotiator, he was involved in in Singapore and the activities of OFAS. He Ngiam Tong Dow, the mission comprising 10 Metro Holdings’ acquisition of the Orchard would attend meetings regularly to give his delegates spent 12 days in Jakarta and Bali. Square Project (today’s Ngee Ann City) input,” recollected OFAS’ honorary secretary With great foresight, the Singapore from the British Crown Agents for Overseas Gabriel Teh. government believed that tourists flying to Governments and Administrations in 1975. Sadly, he passed on in 2009 without Bali would pass through Singapore if Bali In 1973, U Seek was a founding director seeing the book to fruition. He was aged 84. were to become a tourist destination. U Seek of Avimo Singapore Ltd, a joint venture was appointed advisor to the mission. between Sheng-Li Holdings Co Pte Ltd With contribution from Nicholas Thio, As a result of his business and personal (predecessor of Singapore Technologies a grandson of Chan U Seek. reputation in Singapore, U Seek was also Engineering) USH International and himself. invited to chair the Singapore Ex-Political Avimo was engaged in the making of Detainees Aftercare Society from March defence-related electro-optical equipment, John Lim Kok Min 1970 to 2000 (following his role as committee and held a successful public offer in 1987. Company Director member since April 1968). This was an A regular fixture at the Paris and Year left school:1958 organisation formed to reintegrate former Farnborough air shows for decades, U Seek political detainees into mainstream society had a keen interest in aviation and was the hile many Old and to help them live stable and productive Chairman of Aerostar Leasing Ltd, a company WFrees have been lives in Singapore. Having served its purpose, formed in the 1990s which helped to modernise known to have made the Society was dissolved in 2000. In the fleet of Vietnam Airlines through the an indelible mark in recognition of his contributions, U Seek was leasing of Airbus aircraft to the airline. the fields of law and honoured with a National Day Award in 1984. Despite a very successful career that medicine in Singapore, In 1970, U Seek resigned from saw him moving around in the highest levels others have made their Jardine Waugh Limited to set up his own of the business world and in top government own contributions in a business, conducted through Associated circles, those who knew U Seek recall him totally different field – the corporate world. Equipment Pte Ltd. Over the years, he as an amiable, warm, down-to-earth person John Lim Kok Min probably would acquired a reputation as a leader in the with no airs. not have imagined the significant inroads business community by embarking on a Outside the corporate boardroom, he he would be making when he first joined myriad of commercial ventures in diverse always found time for friends and treasured Singapore’s Fraser & Neave (F&N) as a sectors ranging from aviation to retail by particularly his involvement with The Old trainee executive in 1962 after completing forming lasting partnerships with local Frees Association, Singapore (OFAS). He was his BA Honours degree at the University of business magnates. proud to be an Old Free. Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. He served as a director in Metro “He was, in fact, one of the prime He climbed up the corporate ladder Holdings Limited for more than three movers of having a coffee-table book very quickly and eventually became F&N’s decades, since its listing in 1973. As a published to document PFS, the Old Frees Group Deputy Marketing Manager. He later

chapter 9 Old Frees 133 joined Pepsico International, an American Authority, Senoko Power Ltd, Gas Supply “In addition, the school taught me multi-national company as its Regional Pte Ltd, Singapore Institute of Directors as the values of honesty, integrity and humility, Marketing Director in 1978, based first in well as deputy chairman of four institutions: especially in victory, and the importance Bangkok and then in Singapore. Agri-Foods & Veterinary Authority, Temasek of teamwork.” He was head-hunted four years Polytechnic, NTUC Fairprice Co-operative He looks back with fondness on later to join Cold Storage Holdings as its and Singapore Institute of Management. He his days at PFS where he studied from Distribution Director and rose to become is also a past president of Golf Club. 1953 to 1958. He excelled in football and its first local Group CEO (Chief Executive Another area of his expertise is hockey, representing the school in many Officer), a significant milestone as this corporate governance and he is recognised competitions and was a school prefect as position had until then always been held as a leading figure in this field in both well as House Football Captain. by expatriates. Singapore and the region. Since the He said, “I have wonderful memories He has also been Group Managing beginning of 2000 he has been a core of PFS – my time there were some of the Director of JC-MPH Ltd, Pan-United member of the OECD (Organisation for best years of my life. The friends I made Corporation and finally as President and Economic Co-operation and Development) and the camaraderie forged, especially on Executive Deputy Chairman of LMA - Asian Roundtable on Corporate ‘outstation’ trips for inter-school football and International NV, from which position he Governance and is a Resource Person for hockey matches are memories that I always stepped down at the end of 2010. Asian Development Bank and International treasure. I also have fond recollections of my Today, more than five decades since he Finance Corporation, which is part of the many expat teachers who took a genuine started his career, and at 75, an age when World Bank. He also served as Chairman interest in our welfare and treated us, in many others would have long retired, John of the OECD Asian Corporate Governance many respects, as equals.” remains active in the corporate world. He Network for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Of his past headmasters and teachers, continues to serve on the boards of various from 2006 to 2012. both local and expatriate, he remembers public listed and private companies. He For his outstanding contributions to the best JE Tod, JMB Hughes, Brian Smith, is currently the Independent Chairman of corporate community, John was awarded the G Bainbridge, WE Howe, W Williams, Boustead Projects Ltd and of IREIT Global Public Service Medal (PBM) by the President De Turville, Ong Poh Kee, Rajendra Nath, among other directorships. of Singapore in 2006. Lim Boon Hor, Teoh Cheng Hai, Tan Boon John is also active in the public sector John credits Penang Free School for Soon, Tan Ah Fee, MSR Ambrose and and GLCs (government-linked companies) having shaped his life and career. He says, Tan Boon Lin. as well as the non-profit sector, devoting “My alma mater prepared me well for my For John, one of the school’s special much time and energy to serve on several many leadership roles in life. It gave me self- traits was that every boy studying there statutory boards, GLCs, trade associations confidence and resourcefulness to adapt to - irrespective of race, language, religion, and professional bodies over the years. His all kinds of environment and equipped me social status or wealth - was treated equally. many appointments have included being with the ability to adjust where necessary He said, “It was all about integrity, chairman of the Building & Construction and to strive to succeed. fairness and treating others as you would

134 LIVE FREE want others to treat you. This was what though he and his fellow editors did not redevelop the land by building office blocks, the school imparted to me - the virtue take part. he and his buddies were able to sell the of humility and the importance of racial Luckily, upon appeal to the state plot to Far East Organisation for more than harmony in a multi-racial society.” authorities, he was allowed to enrol in PFS 20 times their purchase price after a short where he sat for his ‘O’ levels. period of time. Ng Kong Yeam He started working life as a chief clerk in Much of Kong Yeam’s life after that Retired. Formerly Group Chairman, a village council in Perak and later became a would bear proof of the entrepreneur that Sino-America Tours. court interpreter. he is. Year left school: 1961 Determined to get into university, he After the windfall, he quit his career as sat for his ‘A’ level examinations after just six a lawyer to become a property developer. ato’ Ng months of self-study. His results enabled him He was only 40 then. Although most of his DKong Yeam to clinch a place in the law department at developments were in Singapore, Johor, demonstrated the the then University of Singapore. Kuala Lumpur and Penang, he ventured as staunch spirit of an However, he was no ordinary student, far afield as the United States. In the 1990s, Old Free by adopting skipping classes while working as a full- he developed a 394-unit condominium a ‘never say die’ time court interpreter in Johor Bahru and named Opulence in Las Vegas and it quickly attitude in the face of attending only evening tutorials. sold out. adversity. And like a He was 25 and had a wife and young He is noted for giving unusual touches true alumnus, he believes in ‘giving back to daughter to support. to his properties such as the Tudor-styled society’ and so had been quietly donating to Graduating with honours after four Greenridge housing project in Singapore. his former schools to assist needy students. years, Kong Yeam landed a job in a law firm. From developing properties, Kong Born into a wealthy family, the young The income then was so good and costs Yeam moved into the travel business. He Kong Yeam lived a life of luxury including of living so cheap that he was able to save bought over Sino-America (SA) Tours with a even wearing a Rolex watch when he was money to invest in property. partner UIC. In 2003, he decided to buy over just in Primary 1. However, when his father, In an interview with The Straits Times in UIC’s share and became the sole owner of who owned a chain of goldsmith shops and 2006, Kong Yeam said that back in the 1970s, the agency. several properties in Penang, was cheated he was able to earn more than enough to He admits that it is difficult to make and saw his business collapse, Kong Yeam buy a car (it cost just $8,000 then) and a profits in the travel agency business but he was steeled to rebuild his family’s fortunes. house in two months. says he is in it not for the money but for the He was 15 then and to make matters He and a few friends pooled their pleasure it gives. worse, the young boy who had been savings to invest in a piece of land and some Not surprisingly, he has travelled studying in Chung Ling High School was shophouses on Cecil Street. extensively for business and leisure. Old expelled for writing about a students’ It proved to be a fortuitous move. After Frees remember the golfing trips he often demonstration in the school magazine even receiving approval from the authorities to organised including one to the UK, which

chapter 9 Old Frees 135 included visiting JMB Hughes, the popular was excellent and I enjoyed her classes headmaster. He was also a prime mover in tremendously. inviting Hughes to visit Old Frees in Penang, Education “Mrs Hughes was approachable and Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, contributing had a talent for story-telling. She and the generously to host him. other English teachers would begin each In fact, Kong Yeam revealed that he has lesson by getting the students to laugh to been contributing to his two alma maters – make them at ease and win them over. That Chung Ling and PFS - regularly. must have rubbed off on me as I tend to do “I support education. It enhances that with my audiences whenever I give a the human race,” he has been quoted as Catherine Lim talk. But as our teachers used to say, being saying, and this is reflected in his children’s Educator/Author sincere was important as well. education and careers. His eldest daughter Year left school: 1958 “Mr Hughes himself was extremely Irene is a Professor at Warwick University popular. He was very fair, kind and honest and and a senior member of Wolfson College, s an author, was greatly missed when he retired. Over the Cambridge University. His second daughter ACatherine Lim years, ex-students invited him back to Penang Iris graduated from Pepperdine University in needs no introduction – that was a measure of his popularity. California and is in the Film/TV production having published, to “I was very diffident and shy as a business in New York, while his son Gabriel date, nine collections student but I spent many happy moments completed his undergraduate and Master’s of short stories, five there. I played netball and enjoyed the degrees from the London School of novels, two collections school’s scout outings. When I was in the Economics and Political Science, and has of poetry and several Bukit Mertajam Convent prior to PFS, now taken over the family businesses. political commentaries. I related only to the nuns. But in PFS, Today, at 76, Dato’ Ng is retired to Although she traces her love for suddenly we had to learn to relate to boys Johor Bahru and lives with his wife Datin literature back to her childhood days in and to teachers from overseas. We also had Ling Chooi Sieng, who was also a lawyer and Kulim, Kedah where she was born and in to do projects that I never did before in the his partner in his legal firm. He leaves the Province Wellesley where she first studied, convent such as giving speeches. I wouldn’t overseeing of his travel agency and other devouring books by Enid Blyton and Richmal be surprised that my confidence to speak in businesses to his son. Crompton, she acknowledges that her time front of others today stemmed from there. in PFS helped to deepen her interest in the “We also had social gatherings which written word. was nice as I had never been to dances or She said, “We had good English parties before.” teachers, one of whom was Mrs Hughes, Catherine credits the exposure to a the wife of the headmaster JMB Hughes. new environment and a different culture in She was not a regular teacher but she PFS for instilling in her certain skills that have

136 LIVE FREE since stood her in good stead such as social In 1980, she went into administrative Betty Ooi Poh Gek skills and public speaking. work as a project director with the Teacher/Principal/Deputy Director Schools (West) “Our literature texts were more Curriculum Development Institute of Year left school: 1964 demanding than what I had been exposed Singapore. to before and this pushed us up to a higher In 1988, after completing her PhD n alumna of St level of thinking,” she explained. in applied linguistics from the National AGeorge’s Girls’ Catherine began her teaching career University of Singapore, Catherine was School, Poh Gek at St Andrew’s School soon after graduating appointed a specialist lecturer with the recalls having to from the University of Malaya in Kuala Regional English Language Centre teaching sit for an entrance Lumpur and moving to Singapore in 1967. sociolinguistics and literature. In 1992, she examination to get Determined to make sure her own students left her educational career to become a full- into the Sixth Form would enjoy literature as much as she did, time writer. of PFS. she found ways and means to inject interest It was not a difficult decision as “St George’s had no sixth form classes and inspire creativity. Catherine had been published much earlier, then,” she said, “and we all aspired to get “I made sure my students would not be starting with her first short story collection into PFS because of its reputation as a bored. I would encourage them to write of called Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore premier school. local superstitions for instance. Sometimes in 1978. “When I first entered, I was in awe I got them to prepare three stories “I was lucky as I was publishing at because of my impression of it producing beforehand - one happy, one sad and one of a time when it was a novelty. I also used top scholars. The school took in top students a personal experience. I taught them how to names like Ah Bah, which resonated with of diverse backgrounds. We mixed well fit their story to a title thus preparing them the local environment. I had these 18 stories together but there was always the pressure for composition. and I showed them to Heinemann and they to do well and to excel. “I wanted to make a good job of my decided to publish them. I think there is “The culture of diligence in school was work and help the students to build up on an element of luck when it comes strong, the teachers were caring and we their vocabulary. to publishing.” were all motivated to do well. “I was excellent in preparing them for Catherine has not looked back “Girls were in a minority and thank exams, I think. I would scour exam papers since. She continues to write focusing on goodness, the boys treated us sensitively. for the past ten years, observe trends and Singapore society and themes of traditional They were quite mischievous though. I was advised the students to go for topics that Chinese culture. in the science class and often when we did were easy to write. “My stories always have an underlay dissection classes, I remember a few of the “I taught them to use dialogue and of humanity, courage, compassion and boys were fond of putting in things like rats’ write local stories as examiners tended to trust, which are the most important human tails in the pockets of our skirts! be taken by these. I loved interacting with attributes that I got from my parents,” “But there was a lot of collaboration young people so it was a gorgeous job.” she concludes. among us even if we were in competition. chapter 9 Old Frees 137 We helped each other with schoolwork and deputy director schools (west). In all, she by rote but to explore and go beyond their shared notes. spent 34 years in the education service. textbooks and to have a joy and passion for “In PFS, we were also encouraged to Her time in PFS helped her to deal with learning and – like in PFS - help develop the be well-rounded, so I took up badminton. her ‘difficult’ task of disciplining the students students’ leadership potential. The annual sports day was a big affair and of Yuan Ching Secondary School. She said, “It worked well with the students the House fever was very great as those “Most of them were latch key children who taking part in project work, leadership belonging to the various Houses would did not know how to spend their time after programmes, a diverse range of co-curricular cheer vociferously for their team-mates to school; they were not very disciplined. I tried activities and community service.” win the championship shield. to inculcate a sense of discipline among In her last posting from 2002 to 2003, “Apart from sports day, the other them and raise their self-esteem and to get Poh Gek was still involved in developing memorable occasion for me was the them to take pride in their work, just like the leadership, this time among principals and weekly school assembly. It was a formal and students in PFS. vice-principals. dignified affair. The school captain would “I focused on pastoral care “As deputy director of schools, I go on stage to announce the arrival of the programmes and after three years could led a group of cluster superintendents in headmaster. He was Tan Boon Lin then and derive satisfaction from the programmes as the west zone with over 90 primary and he would stride into the hall amid a hushed they had a positive effect on the students. secondary schools and junior colleges,” she silence. Only his shoes could be heard – clip The students were involved in community explained. “Our main role was to supervise clop, clip clop…” projects including dancing and singing. the principals and vice-principals in these After PFS, Poh Gek studied science at They learnt to gel together and were schools and evaluate and develop them the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. extremely proud that they could even beat to make sure there was quality leadership She taught for one and a half years in some of the better schools in a whole-school in schools. We worked closely with them Penang and Kuala Lumpur before moving to effort national community singing/ to ensure that schools were effectively Singapore in 1970. dancing competition. managed and quality staff and quality She began her teaching career as a “I guess it all stemmed from my PFS programmes were in place with students the biology teacher in Beatty Secondary School experience where our teachers were caring ultimate beneficiary.” before moving on to Anderson Junior and so I tried to do the same to the students College and Cedar Girls’ Secondary School. at Yuan Ching. She was later appointed principal of Yuan “At Temasek Junior College which Ching Secondary School and of Temasek is one of the top five junior colleges, the Junior College. She also took up a series of students there were already very motivated, appointments at the Ministry of Education so my role was different. My mission was to as senior inspector of schools, assistant build a caring and achievement-oriented director of schools, deputy director of school college. My focus was to stretch the placement and scholarships and finally, potential of the students further, to learn not

138 LIVE FREE Chong Tian Hoo ”In 1965, I was recruited as a headmasters’ and teachers’ names, events Teacher/Educator mathematics and physics teacher in PFS by such as Additional Sports in which everyone Year left school:1961 the then headmaster Tan Boon Lin. had to take part and School Sports, and the ”In 1970, I left for the United States to school’s special milestones. was born in do a master’s degree in education at Eastern ”Mr Tod (when I was admitted into PFS ”IPerak in a small Illinois University. After graduating in 1971, in 1955) and the ever popular JMB Hughes rubber estate known I taught in the university for a year before were our headmasters when I was a student. as Banir Estate, 12 coming to Singapore in 1973 as I had been After Malayanisation, Tan Boon Lin was the days after Japanese offered a teaching job by the Ministry of headmaster, the first Asian to be appointed troops landed in Kota Education. I was posted to the Teachers’ after colonial rule. Poon Poh Kong was Baru, Kelantan. I don’t Training College (TTC) as lecturer. I was headmaster just before I left for my further think the estate exists offered sabbatical leave to do a masters’ studies in USA. anymore. degree in Computer Science in Western ”I also remember my teachers very well. ”I came to Singapore in 1947 and Michigan University in 1980 and later in 1984 Among those who taught me were Ong enrolled in the Chinese Commercial and was awarded study leave to do my PhD at Teong Guan and Lye Tong Weng (Maths), Industrial School (renamed Gong Shan Primary the University of Pittsburgh. Tan Ah Fee (Chemistry), Lim Boon Hock School now located in Tampines) in Tiong ”I went on to become senior lecturer and Lim Boon Hor (Geography), Teh Kheng Bahru. After my primary education in the and principal lecturer in TTC and at Chooi (History), Tan Boon Soon (PE), Chinese stream, I went to St Patrick’s School the Institute of Education (IE). Later, JMB Hughes (English Literature), for Standard III and IV from 1953 to 1954. when IE became part of the Nanyang Mrs Hughes (General Paper), Eddy Chung ”I moved to Penang and continued Technological University and was renamed (Applied Maths), Lee Eng Leong and Khoo Elementary 6 in Westland School. I was National Institute of Education (NIE) I was Tiang Lim (Biology), Beh Teik Chooi and Lim selected for Form 1 in PFS in 1955, sat for elevated to associate professor and made San Hoe (English Language), Capt Mohd the Lower Certificate of Education at Form an associate dean in 2000. As a maths Noor and Iskandar (Bahasa Kebangsaan), 3, completed Form 5 and obtained the specialist, I headed a project to train Teoh Cheng Hai and GS Reutens (Art) and School Certificate. I continued with Lower selected groups of experienced maths C Ganasalingam (Physics). and Upper Form Six classes in PFS after teachers so that they could go back to their ”The school in my time had a spirit which I sat for the Higher School Certificate respective schools to conduct refresher of excellence and focused on character examinations in 1961. courses for their teachers – it was a kind of development so that we might grow up to ”My results got me admitted into the train-the-trainers programme. be well-behaved and refined “gentlemen”. 2nd year of a science course in the University Besides excellence in studies, good values, of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. I graduated with Fond Memories of PFS integrity, trustworthiness and kindness were a BSc in 1963 and Diploma in Education ”I have fond memories of my time in some virtues constantly being emphasised, in 1964. PFS. I can even remember to this day, our encouraged and inculcated. To achieve chapter 9 Old Frees 139 these goals, all of us had to perform additional sports & school sports, to be still graces the tower of our main building. chores including the daily cleaning of our competed among the five Houses named It was our own ‘Big Ben’. I remember on classrooms and painting of classroom walls after headmasters and a well-known Old one occasion when the clock needed once a year. Free: Cheeseman, Hamilton, Hargreaves, massive repairs, Old Frees in Singapore ”As an elite school, it accepted some Pinhorn and Wu Lien-Teh. Tunku Putra House were asked to donate money. We all 200 students each year from various feeder (named after the founding Prime Minister contributed willingly. schools (Westland School, Hutchings School of Malaya who was also an Old Free) was ”Another tradition was that every 21st and Francis Light School) who had to sit for later added. I was the Housemaster of the October, which was Founder’s Day, the an entrance exam. last two mentioned Houses for a number of headmaster and prefects at PFS would go, ”We had many school traditions. years. We also had an annual cross country in the early morning before school began, School assembly was held once a week in run (from school through Batu Lanchang to the tomb of Reverend Hutchings, our the school hall; male teachers had to wear a cemetery), and an annual hike up Penang Hill founder, to attend a memorial service. I tie and coat (as the oldest school in Malaya, from Moongate near the Waterfall Gardens. was a Hutchings scholar and was given we were following the British grammar ”Another valuable feature of the school the honour to lay a wreath. The tomb in school model). The whole assembly was was the extra-curricular activities held every the Christian cemetery in Farquhar Street called to attention by the head prefect – Monday and Thursday afternoons. I was is incidentally the resting place of Francis in my Upper Sixth Form year it was Chin in charge of the Sixth Form Recreational Light, Penang’s founder.” Wah Seng – after which the school bell Activities (SFRA) and Alex Ooi Koon Hean would ring announcing the arrival of the was the inaugural chairman before he left for headmaster who would walk from one end Singapore to do his medical course at the Lily Yeap Lay Leng of the hall through the middle aisle to get to university. It was an enjoyable time for me as Teacher/Educator the stage at the other end. the student leaders were very enthusiastic Year left school: 1962 During the assembly, teachers would and hard-working involved in not only make announcements and the headmaster planning physical activities but also writing was in St would give his message touching on various and designing newsletters for distribution ”IGeorge’s Girls’ topics such as academic excellence, values, as well as organising other activities such as School and sat for integrity, good attitude and behaviour, and movie shows. the entrance exams filial piety. We would finish by singing “God ”Other cherished memories were our for PFS as I wanted Save the Queen” before independence and school hall which had a uniquely designed to get into Form Six “Negara Ku” after Merdeka; this would be cement semi-dome above the stage at one to learn among boys! followed by the School Song composed and end of the school hall. It was a bit echoey Apart from the school’s written by GS Reutens. and was demolished and replaced with what image of excellence I also liked the way in ”Then there were the Sports days. it has today. which Penang Frees carried themselves; they We had two kinds of sports, namely ”There was also our school clock which were gentlemanly and not stuck up.

140 LIVE FREE ”I remember JMB Hughes teaching me e was Singapore’s Speaker of Geography, Mrs Hughes General Paper, and HParliament for 19 years — from 1970 to Mr Bennet and Mr Baird English Literature. Public service 1989 — one of the longest-serving of any What I recall vividly was our English parliament in the world. Language teachers insisting that we should Born in Ipoh, Perak, in 1918, he studied always speak properly. in St Michael’s Institution in his hometown ”Tian Hoo and I met in PFS. Our ‘love before entering PFS. affair’ only started when we were in the He then went to Cambridge University University of Malaya. My career more or to study medicine in the 1940s. After less paralleled that of Tian Hoo’s as I also Yeoh Ghim Seng graduating, he worked on attachments became a teacher and served in the Penang Speaker of Parliament/Surgeon with various hospitals before becoming Chinese Girls’ School after graduation with a Year left school: 1940 a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons BA degree and Diploma in Education. I also of England (FRCS) in 1950. A year later, he studied in USA at Eastern Illinois University returned to Malaya and was appointed (MS in Ed), Western Michigan University consultant surgeon to the Singapore (MS in Librarianship) and University of General Hospital (SGH). Pittsburgh (Doctor in Education), specialising In 1956, he was made Professor of in pedagogy. I also joined TTC and IE as Surgery at the University of Malaya in Lecturer and Senior Lecturer and NIE as Singapore, the first Asian to hold the chair. Associate Professor before retiring. He left in 1962 to go into private practice ”What I found amazing about PFS although he continued to train medical was how great its reputation was when for graduates from the university. Six feet tall its 150th anniversary or sesquicentenary a and lanky, he was dubbed “the biggest but special postage stamp was issued by the fastest Asian surgeon”. Malaysian Government.” The Old Frees’ Association, Singapore President Alex Ooi, himself a doctor, said Tian Hoo and Lay Leng are still contributing that he was reputed even among surgeons to society today. They helped train in-service to have the “steadiest pair of hands”. teachers in Indonesia and the United Arab Professor Low Cheng Hock, emeritus Emirates and are doing consultancy work consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and in schools. Past Associate Dean and Chairman, Medical Board said, “Professor Yeoh Ghim Seng symbolises the great Asian surgeon of the early days. I admired his confident hands

chapter 9 Old Frees 141 that moved with beautiful dexterity. I could Ahmad Ibrahim in the Legislative Assembly elections as an never get more than being a third assistant Minister for Health/Minister for Labour independent candidate for Sembawang. or a note-writer.” Year left school: 1947 He won and later was co-opted into the In 1962, Dr Yeoh entered politics after People’s Action Party (PAP) central Executive accepting an invitation to join the People’s Ahmad Ibrahim was born in 1927. After Committee in 1956. Action Party. He stood in a by-election in the completing his education in Penang Free In 1959, contesting under the PAP constituency of Joo Chiat, which he won by School, he made his way to Singapore, banner, he again won the Sembawang seat a walkover. He was to serve as its Member of where he already had an older brother as a member of the Legislative Assembly. In Parliament for 22 years. working and where he believed he would the same year, when the PAP government In 1968, he was made Deputy Speaker secure a better job with his fluency in the formed its first Cabinet, Ahmad was of Parliament and in 1970, he was elected English language. appointed the Minister for Health and was Speaker of Parliament, which was a He was able to clinch a job, soon after also made Assistant Secretary-General of the departure from the norm as those before his arrival, as a telephone operator at the PAP’s central Executive Committee. him came from a legal background. Singapore Naval Base in Sembawang. In September 1961, in a Cabinet reshuffle, If not for his dedication to medicine, It proved to be the turning point in his he was appointed the Minister for Labour. he would have become a minister – a life resulting in him eventually carving a He died prematurely at the age of fact alluded to by then Minister of Law, name for himself as one of the early Malay 35 in 1962 while still in office because of a Environment, Science and Technology, E W pioneers of Singapore, including being an liver ailment. Barker, who said if not for his commitment active unionist and a political leader. Despite his short stint in public office, to surgery, Dr Yeoh “could with ease and Working at the Naval Base was an he made an impression on those around him. distinction occupy one of the front benches eye-opener for Ahmad as he learnt about He was given a state funeral, which was on this side of the House.” the poor working conditions of his fellow attended by Singapore’s then Head-of-State In 1977, Dr Yeoh was appointed the workers such as the long hours they put in, , then Prime Minister Lee Kuan ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation’s the late payment of their wages and how Yew, other Cabinet Ministers, and thousands (AIPO) first president. A Public Service badly treated they were. It was to provide the of people from all walks of life. Star (B.B.M.) recipient, an active Rotarian platform for his leap into the world of politics. Then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in and Justice of the Peace, Dr Yeoh sat on He quickly gained the respect of his a tribute said, “He made friends easily, and various boards as chairman including the colleagues who elected him as the Vice- there are many in Singapore who cannot Detainees’ Aftercare Association and the President of the Naval Base Labour Union. help liking him as a man, his modesty and University of Singapore Council. In 2005, He later also became the first branch straight-forwardness.” the National University of Singapore secretary of the All-Singapore Fire Brigade Today, he is remembered in Singapore created the Yeoh Ghim Seng Professorship Employees Union. in many ways - by a road called Jalan Ahmad in Surgery in his honour. In 1955, he was persuaded by his Ibrahim in Jurong, two schools (Ahmad He died in 1993 aged 74. trade union in the Naval Base to contest Ibrahim Primary School and Ahmad Ibrahim

142 LIVE FREE From left: The Straits Times 10 June 1959, The Straits Times 24 September 1959 The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction. chapter 9 Old Frees 143 Secondary School) both in Yishun (a district East Asia, in the Department of History in former colleagues, next to Sembawang) and a mosque, the newly formed University of Singapore students and friends. Masjid Ahmad Ibrahim, also in Yishun, named in 1959, later renamed National University To this day, the gold after him. of Singapore (NUS) in 1980. He rose to medal and book eventually head the department. In 1966, prize are awarded he was made Raffles Professor of History each year to the top (the first time a local had been appointed), a student from the Wong Lin Ken chair he held until his demise in 1983. NUS’ Department Historian/Minister of Home Affairs He left academia for about a decade of History. Year left school: 1951 to make forays into the world of diplomacy Professor Wong and politics. He was appointed as is also remembered Born in Penang in 1931, Wong Lin Ken, who Singapore’s first Ambassador to the United through two books was known to be a bookworm since his early States, serving with distinction from May and several articles days was a respected name in academia. He 1967 to December 1968. While serving as that he has authored. was a brilliant student in Penang Free School ambassador, he entered politics to contest One of them is on after which he entered the University of the General Elections of April 1968 as a Penang, entitled Malaya in Singapore where after graduating candidate for the People’s Action Party. He The Revenue Farms with an MA in 1955, he was awarded a was elected as Member of Parliament for the of Prince of Wales Queen’s Scholarship to do his PhD in Britain. Alexandra constituency, a position he held Island 1805-1830 first At the age of only 24, a thesis which he from 1968-1976. published in 1964 in had submitted for his Master’s degree was In September 1970, he was appointed the Journal of the published in 1961 and was acknowledged as Minister for Home Affairs but left two years South Seas Society a work of classic. Entitled Trade of Singapore later in September 1972 to return to the and reprinted by the 1819-1869, it was praised for its meticulous academic fold. National University research and has long been recognised as He was active in other realms - as of Singapore in 1985. having made an invaluable contribution to a member of the Cinematograph Films Another article, the economic history of Southeast Asia. Appeal Committee (1963); Chairman of the first published in After graduating, he went to the Singapore Adult Education Board (1964- 1978, in the Journal School of Oriental & African Studies of the 1967); and Patron of the Junior Chamber of Southeast University of London where he obtained of Singapore. He was conferred the Public Asian Studies was his doctorate with his thesis, The Malayan Service Star in 1966. Tin Industry up to 1914. Upon his return, He died in 1983 at the age of 51. In the The Straits Times 5 July 1959 he was appointed a lecturer to head a new same year, a Wong Lin Ken Memorial Medal The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission course, Economic History of Southeast and and Book Prize was set up in his name by his required for reproduction.

144 LIVE FREE was a clamour among Asia. But after he returned to academia them to have his first from politics, he widened his scope of work Trade of Singapore research to the recent political history of 1819-1869, which had Singapore, and Singapore’s place in the been long out of print, history of Southeast Asia.” republished. Mr Kwa elaborated, “He started In the reprint, researching into Singapore’s strategic and eminent historian military history, on which topic he asked Professor Wang deep questions about Singapore’s strategic Gungwu wrote a special location and was working towards an answer preface about Professor terminated by his premature death. Wong whom he had “His talk to the Singapore Command known when they were and Staff College on ‘The Fall of both undergraduates Singapore [in 1941] A Wider Historical and graduate students Perspective’ provided an insight into the at the University of line of questioning he was developing on Malaya in Singapore in Singapore’s military history. the 1950s. “I republished the text of Professor According to Wong’s talk in a small volume I edited on another renowned Singapore’s military history, Defending historian Kwa Chong Singapore, 1819-1965 in the Singapore Guan who knew Armed Forces publication Pointer in 1996. Professor Wong and His essay on ‘The Strategic Significance worked with him in the of Singapore in Modern History’ was one University of Singapore of his last articles published in 1981 and and later in NUS, republished in A History of Singapore, The Straits Times 5 September 1970 Professor Wang also edited by Ernest C T Chew and Edwin Lee, The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction. noted in his obituary of outlining the deep questions Professor Singapore: Its Growth as an Entrepot Port Professor Wong published in the Journal of Wong was asking about Singapore history.” 1819-1941. Southeast Asian Studies vol. 14, no. 2, Sept As Professor Wang Gungwu observed, So acclaimed are his scholarly 1983, that “in the first half of his academic “Wong Lin Ken was intense in his enquiry, contributions that a tribute was made to career, from his MA thesis to his PhD thesis, rigorous in his thinking and extremely him at a meeting of historians of Southeast Prof Wong was working towards becoming demanding of himself as he was of his Asia in Singapore in October 2002. There the first economic historian in Southeast colleagues and students.”

chapter 9 Old Frees 145 Lee Kum Tatt Chairman of SISIR Year left school: 1947

orn in Penang in B1927, he had to disrupt his studies at Penang Free School to move to Medan, Sumatra with his family due to the impending war. He was only able to return in 1947 to resume his studies. In 1948, he won a scholarship to study science in Raffles College. After graduating in 1954, he joined the Government Department of Chemistry as a chemist, toxicologist and biochemist. Two years later, he went to Canada and the United States on a United Nations (UN) fellowship to study the international opium trade and represented Canada in the UN Narcotic Commission. Returning in 1958, he was appointed head of the forensic laboratory in the Department of Chemistry. A year later, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Singapore Polytechnic. In 1960, Dr Lee was appointed biochemist in the Department of Pathology in the Ministry of Health. In 1965, he was made Chairman of the Science Council with the task of creating activities to promote science to the public. He also travelled Lee Kum Tatt at Raffles College.

146 LIVE FREE Dr & Mrs Lee Kum Tatt: Courting days at the Botanic Dr & Mrs Lee Kum Tatt (1976). Gardens (1956). to London and California seeking expert beyond even his expectations. seem to be on the fringe of grey areas that advice on the notion of establishing a Describing how RISIS came about at nobody wants to touch. And I enjoyed science centre. It took seven years before its launch in 1976, Dr Lee said in an oral doing that. You see, you trace my life, it’s his efforts bore fruit with the opening of the history interview: like that. Science, I never do Science. Bio- $14 million Singapore Science Centre “RISIS was a fluke. It was a fluke. It chemistry, I never do bio-chemistry. Quality in 1977. was never planned. Everyone comes and control, I know nothing about quality In 1969, Dr Lee was also appointed asks me: ‘Dr Lee, how did you think of control. Business, I never trained to do chairman of the newly formed Singapore the orchid?’ It was never planned. So we business. Standards Council, I never know Institute of Standards and Industrial said, ‘Okay, we just try and do the orchids anything about standards. There must be Research (SISIR) which was responsible for and preserve it.’ Can we do it? Well, we’ll something basic that we can use in some of the promotion of scientific research and try. We’ll get the technology. Orchid is us…So creativity means you see things like development. something native to us. The technology is other people are staring at you and other In the 1970s, he spearheaded efforts ours. How do we overcome time? So we people cannot see or dare not see. And I to develop a tourism souvenir that could put some gold on it because gold is time- seem to enjoy doing that kind of thing.” be identified as unique to Singapore. The honoured. After that, it caught.” When Dr Lee retired as Chairman of result was RISIS – SISIR spelt backwards - a Looking back at his long civil service SISIR in 1985, it had a staff of 360. He died gold-plated orchid that became a success, career, Dr Lee had this to say, “I always in 2008 at the age of 81.

chapter 9 Old Frees 147 Recalling his spirit of adventure first came to know Dr. Lee Kum Tatt when and Industrial Research (SISIR). He was of “applied science” in the true sense. Ihe was in his Honours year (B.Sc) at the the Founder Chairman, a post he held He was able to take an orchid, which University of Malaya, now the National until retirement in 1985. The “SISIR Mark” is organic in nature, and find a way to University of Singapore (NUS) in 1952. I was became a hallmark of quality and reliability gold-plate it, without contaminating and one of his lecturers. and was much sought after by both local destroying the gold bath. It may seem I supervised his PhD in Chemistry which and foreign manufacturers. simple, but it took a lot of research to he was awarded with in 1955, becoming the Always passionate about Science, he perfect the technique, and he was awarded first recipient of a Chemistry doctorate from founded the Singapore Science Council many patents for the technique. To this the University. During the period he was and was instrumental in initiating the day, the RISIS orchid remains an iconic preparing his thesis (1952-1954), he became Singapore Professional Centre and the and unique gift from Singapore. very close to me and my family. He treated Science Park. He also helped to initiate Kum Tatt received many awards for me as his “surrogate” family as he had no the Singapore Quality and Reliability his achievements, but perhaps the award relatives in Singapore, being from Penang. Association (now the Singapore Quality he treasured most was the Distinguished These were important years that forged the Institute). To inculcate the love for science Alumni Award presented to him by the bond between us which lasted a lifetime. in the young, he created the Science Quiz, Faculty of Science of NUS in 2005. Kum We chose different career paths – I a popular TV programme where children Tatt always regarded himself as a Scientist, continued in academia and he ventured from various schools competed to answer and Chemistry held a special place in his into the “open” untested waters. He questions about science. This programme heart. He felt therefore, like the prodigal started off as a Forensic Chemist with the sparked interest not only in the school son, highly honoured that the Faculty of Government Chemistry Department but children, but also in their parents and Science recognised him for his scientific made the first side-step in 1960, when he grandparents, who, whilst supporting their achievements. assumed the post of Senior Biochemist children by watching the programme, in the Department of Pathology, Ministry were also learning science. Thereafter he Professor Rayson Huang taught chemistry at of Health. He subsequently became initiated the Science Centre, today a well- the University of Malaya in Singapore and later the Chief Biochemist serving for seven years visited attraction for school children, the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. In 1969, he before his second side-step, when he was public and tourists. was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Nanyang University, Singapore and in 1972, he became the first Chinese Vice- Another example of the innovative seconded to lead the Industrial Research Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. The article is Unit. He transformed it into the well- side of Kum Tatt is the creation of the RISIS part of a foreword he wrote for Lee Kum Tatt’s published respected Singapore Institute of Standards orchid in 1976. This is probably an example blog, A Fabulous Journey.

148 LIVE FREE Lim Ho Hup Higher School Certificate and got the credit “After seven years, Jurong Town Cor- Director, Economic Development Board in English language that I wanted. With this poration (JTC) was set up as our task was to Year left school: 1949 and some luck in getting a scholarship, I was promote investment and create new industries able to get into the University of Malaya in and jobs and not be a real estate operator ntering PFS for Lim Singapore, studying science.” running the industrial estate, a role handed EHo Hup was for Describing himself as a ‘Johnny come down to JTC. Later, we started the Industrial one reason: Acquiring lately’ he said, “I was not a typical ‘Old Free’ Research Unit (IRU) which morphed into the a qualification in who would have studied four to six years.” Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial English to enable him After graduating, he worked at Research (SISIR). I knew Lee Kum Tatt, another to get a ‘proper’ job. the university as a graduate assistant, Old Free, who was a chemist in the General He said, “I demonstrating laboratory sessions, which Hospital and asked him to look after the IRU as needed an English enabled him to study for his master’s its first director. He made a good job of it.” education, otherwise I would starve. Coming in Chemistry. “I then got a job in the In 1970, he was seconded to the Ministry from a poor family, I needed to ensure I Government Chemistry Department as a of Education as director of technical education. could get a job. A Chinese education was document examiner. My job was to identify His role was to develop and promote not good enough; one needed grounding handwriting in criminal cases and for the technical education. “In those days, if a in English so I moved from Chung Ling High Special Branch, to identify people involved student’s primary school results were not School to PFS in mid-1947. It would be a in communist activities.” good enough for mainstream schools, he lifelong handicap if one were not able to In 1961, when the Economic Develop- would be posted to a technical school, which speak English. I had actually spent two years ment Board (EDB) was formed, Ho Hup was was considered inferior. in an English primary school before the war made the first local director, taking over from “My task was to change this thinking. disrupted everything. an appointee of the United Nations. He was The first thing I did was to induce confidence “Being in Free School helped because to occupy the post for nine years. in technical teachers by increasing their of its ambiance; everybody spoke English Citing it as his most important career pay and to instil pride in them so that good so I was forced to speak English too. It also move, he was the right-hand man of then students would not shy away from the had top English teachers; as a school that chairman, Hon Sui Sen, a Penangite himself technical stream. was free of religion, race and promoting free (alumnus of St Xavier’s Institution). “After all, a school is good only if it can thinking, it attracted the top teachers. “EDB in those days did nearly every- attract good students and the quality of the “The Free School culture must have thing. Our role was to promote industrial school is determined by the student intake.” influenced me as I went from junior middle development and provide facilities for indus- He must have done a sterling job as in Chung Ling to completing Standard Eight; tries. We had to create the right climate and after his two-year secondment was over, before the war, I managed to only finish overcome difficulties of land supply, water the post of director of technical education Standard One in English. and infrastructure. So we developed Jurong was scrapped. “After one and a half years, I sat for my Industrial Estate to house the industries. He then returned to EDB, leaving in the chapter 9 Old Frees 149 early 1980s to start a plastics company. that was instilled in us. It prepared us well “We bonded in other ways through Declaring that no other school came when the time came for my classmates sports and going on excursions. I was close to PFS, he said, “There has been no and me to think of how we could establish honorary secretary of a UNESCO club which true competition, even from our rival, St the best route to get into university. There organised trips to various places in Malaysia Xavier’s. We had illustrious Old Frees. When were not many international schools in to visit historic institutions such as the Yeoh Ghim Seng was appointed as the first Malaysia then so we had to look outwards. Parliament in Kuala Lumpur. These were very Asian professor in the university, we were all We found out about the prestigious ASEAN popular.” very proud. Then there was Lim Chong Keat scholarships that were being offered by After his ‘A’ Levels, Keat Chuan who designed some of Singapore’s best Singapore to students wanting to pursue applied for, and was awarded, a Glaxo- known buildings. There was also Wong Lin their ‘A’ levels so quite a few of the students EDB scholarship that enabled him to study Ken, a history professor and later Minister in my batch applied for them. chemical engineering at the Imperial for Home Affairs. He was the patrol leader “Eight of us from PFS were awarded College of Science, Technology & Medicine of boy scouts in PFS while Chong Keat was the scholarships. I went to Temasek Junior at the University of London the tenderfoot. College and stayed in Anglican High School He was part of the first batch of “The school had a well-deserved Hostel. I learnt to be independent, living scholarship holders of Glaxo, which reputation.” on my own for the first time. My time in had donated S$60 m to the Singapore PFS helped me adjust as we were taught government to start a scholarship fund to to study on our own. Coming from a top help students kick off an EDB career. Yeoh Keat Chuan school with an exceptional reputation, even “Three hundred people have benefitted Managing Director in Singapore, we knew we had to represent from this programme to date,” he said. Economic Development Board it well and not let it down while studying for When he returned, he joined the EDB Year left school: 1988 our ‘A’ levels.” as senior officer in the Industry Development Keat Chuan has other fond memories Division (Chemicals) in 1994. e is the second of his schooldays. “There was this tradition In 1997, he was posted to Washington HOld Free to of throwing first-year newcomers into the DC as EDB’s centre director. Then he was head the Economic school pond if they happened to be nearby. based in New York in 2000 as regional Development Board I enjoyed being part of the scouts move- director for Eastern Americas for the next (EDB) following in the ment. We had a wonderful scoutmaster, three years. footsteps of Lim Ho Mr Khoo Poh Kheng, who guided us well. His role was to travel around the US to Hup, who was the first We went camping, learnt to cut bamboo to meet with companies to persuade them to director. build things and cook. We did other out- invest in Singapore. For Yeoh Keat Chuan, it all began door activities in the beach, park or botanic He went on to enrol in Stanford thanks to a solid foundation gained at PFS. gardens which all helped to get the scouts University’s Graduate School of Business “It was the school’s drive for excellence to know each other. Masters in Management Science

150 LIVE FREE programme graduating in 2004. He returned in 2005 to head the Biomedical Sciences Cluster in EDB. In Sports 2008, he was posted to San Francisco as international director overseeing the Americas region, which included the EDB’s seven offices. He returned to Singapore in 2010 as Assistant Managing Director overseeing the engineering industries. In July 2012 he was appointed Managing Tan Poh Seng Director of EDB. Tennis coach/teacher Conscious of how he has benefitted Year left school: 1964 from scholarships, Keat Chuan says one of the reasons why his work is perfect for lthough Tan Poh Seng taught biology helping him “give back” is because of the Ain New Town Secondary School, he was EDB’s role to create a better economic also well known outside the classroom for future for Singaporeans. another activity — tennis. He said, “We are proud of our role to Indeed, several old boys of New Town bring in and develop industries in Singapore. have fond memories of the man who taught “EDB is responsible for securing multi- them to wield a tennis racket, play the sport million dollar investments leading to good well and help pave their paths to a lucrative jobs and exciting careers for Singaporeans. future career — as a tennis coach — when I am privileged to have had the opportunity they found studies were not their forte. A to work with companies such as Shell, few like Wong Chee Leong and Yang Siang ExxonMobil, GlaxoSmithkline, Novartis, played Davis Cup for Singapore. Rolls-Royce, and ST Engineering. When reminded of this, Poh Seng “Our role is to look at which industries modestly brushes aside his role, remarking are competitive and in which area and that he did not consciously get his students try to bring in the leading companies in to choose coaching as a career, but it these sectors. did dawn on him that for those not too “EDB’s industry clusters contribute 35 to academically inclined, tennis coaching could 40 per cent of Singapore’s GDP.” become an alternative career. Apart from mentoring his young charges, Poh Seng also played a major chapter 9 Old Frees 151 role in training and grooming promising While in Penang as a Biology teacher at taught in the classroom but were actively Singapore tennis talents who went on to Methodist Boys’ School, a number of his engaged after school activities. In games, become national players when he served tennis students like Kuldip Singh and Francis the older students - many of them school not only as the Republic’s national coach, Su became national players and represented team players - would teach the younger Davis Cup non-playing captain but also Malaysia in Davis Cup. ones and pass on their skills. As such, every as the Head Coach of Singapore Sports At the Chinese Recreation Club where student had the opportunity to participate Council Junior Scheme in the late 1980s and he was the Captain and Head Coach of the and appreciate the varied activities offered. early ’90s. Tennis Section, the club produced many Our headmaster whose house is situated He also served as Vice-President of national champions like Toh Seok Har and within the school grounds would be around the Singapore Lawn Tennis Association Albert Cheah. Poh Seng himself was the most afternoons at inter-school matches in charge of technical development for Malaysian National Champion in 1974-75. mingling with the students and lending several years. By wearing many tennis hats, He represented Malaysia in the Davis Cup his support.” he could set up a nation-wide scheme to tournament in 1970, 1974 and 1975 and the He attributes his love of sports to his groom young tennis talents as well as run SEAP (Southeast Asian Peninsular) Games in father who not only encouraged him to play age-group tournaments to give aspiring 1973 and 1975. different sports but also bought him all the juniors exposure to competitive tennis. By Like most Old Frees, Poh Seng is equipment that he needed. As for tennis, his being involved with the Singapore Lawn very passionate when it comes to sports. father brought him to Chinese Recreation Tennis Association and the Singapore Sports When he was in PFS, he represented the Club to play the game. Council, he could also coordinate coaching school in tennis, hockey, cricket, athletics Poh Seng now resides in San Diego, clinics and tennis courses run by noted (javelin) and the occasional rugby matches. California. Retired, he is happily engaged foreign coaches to elevate the coaching He also played soccer and badminton. He not only in coaching his grandchildren and standard of Singapore coaches. represented Penang Combined Schools in taking them to tennis tournaments but is He was also tasked by the International tennis, hockey and cricket and University of also actively competing in tennis. He and Tennis Federation to run tennis clinics in Malaya and Penang in tennis and hockey. He his grandson won the USTA (United States Guam and Mongolia. He holds a United was appointed Head Prefect in 1964. Tennis Association) National Grandfather- States Professional Tennis Association Pro 1 He described his time at Penang Grandson doubles title in December 2014. certification and is an International Master Free School as one that was fun-filled as In 2016, he hopes to compete in Professional in the United States Professional there were so many games that he could the USTA National Super Senior Father- Tennis Registry. participate in. Although he admitted he Daughter doubles event. This event is Contributing to the popularity of did not study too much, he praised the for fathers who must attain the age of 70. tennis in Singapore is nothing new to Poh school for instilling in its students a sense of “My daughter and I are looking forward to Seng as he was instrumental in improving responsibility. compete in this event. What’s so great about the sport of tennis in Penang in the 1970s He said, “We learned how to organise tennis is that it is a sport that one can play to before emigrating to Singapore in 1980. and lead. We had teachers who not only a ripe old age.”

152 LIVE FREE Selvadurai Sooceleraj Hockey coach/Teacher Year left school: 1953

etter known as Sooce (pronounced BSoocy), Selvadurai Sooceleraj was a true- blue Old Free with his love for sports, thanks to PFS’s policy of a well-rounded education system that included equal emphasis on sports development. Sooce shone in hockey, cricket and rugby, representing not only the school and Penang nationally but also Malaya on the international stage. He came to Singapore soon after leaving PFS and was recruited as a chemistry teacher at Victoria School (VS) where he was also a physical education teacher and hockey coach. He taught hockey not just to VS students but he also trained national hockey players. He was credited with producing some of Singapore’s finest hockey players such as national hockey captains Lam Yin Koi and Kee Yaw Lin and well-known cricketers such as Hira Singh and M Neethianathan and Singapore’s acknowledged best national cricketer Stacey Muruthi. Indeed, cricket was especially dear to his heart and he himself indulged in the Sooce represented not game till he was 60 years old. A feared leg- only the school and spinner for the Ceylon Sports Club, he was Penang nationally but also Malaya on the the oldest player in Division One cricket. international stage. Source: The Straits Times There were memorable headlines to his © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for winning exploits on the cricket field such as reproduction chapter 9 Old Frees 153 “Sooceleraj hero in a 2-win run” in of St Hilda’s Church, Singapore, from 1952 The Straits Times (20 May 1963) and to 1955 and then served as the Vicar of “Sooce, 59, still has batsmen in a spin” Others Selangor (the first Asian to be appointed) in The Straits Times (27 July 1989). and Canon of the Diocese of Singapore. He was well known for his booming During his time in Selangor, he was voice, his love for sports and his fervent elected the first vice-president of the Old desire in instilling in his wards a similar Frees’ Association in Kuala Lumpur and passion. For him, training in sports was all Selangor, which was formed in 1959. about getting his students into the field to He was appointed home secretary of toughen up and develop the right frame of Joshua Chiu Ban It the Australian Board of Missions from 1959 mind to compete in tournaments. Anglican Bishop to 1962 after which he served as Secretary Sooce served as a sports teacher and Year left school: 1938 for Laymen Abroad in the World Council of hockey coach in VS for 30 years before Churches in Geneva. retiring in 1990. In 2011, he died in his oshua Chiu Ban It was a brilliant scholar at From 1964 to the beginning of 1966, he sleep at the age of 81, sorely missed by his JPFS. He was active in school representing was a lecturer in Ecumenics at St Augustine’s students, colleagues and the hockey and the badminton team of the Wu Lien-Teh Theological College Canterbury in the UK cricket fraternity. But his name lives on in a House of which he was a member and as until his elevation to the Episcopate. special sports award announced a year later. editor of the school magazine. In 1937, he Upon his return to Asia in 1966, he was In 2012, when The New Paper’s School was elected Head Boy or School Captain consecrated as the first Malayan-born Bishop Sports Stars were made public, a special and in 1938, he was awarded the Hutchings teacher-coach award was also given out Scholarship. He went on to study at King’s to recognise the people behind these College, University of London, graduating stars. Named the S Sooceleraj Award and with a Bachelor of Laws in 1941. presented by Soilbuild Group, the award He was ordained at Westcott House, was to acknowledge the hard work and a Church of England theological college dedication of teacher-coaches. Such coaches in Cambridge in 1943 after a period of study. have a heavy load — regular class teaching His first posting was as curate of the followed by sports coaching in the field and St Francis of Assisi Church in Bournville, the marking of papers and preparation for near Birmingham. the next day’s lessons at night. He returned to Penang to practise as It was an award Sooce would have been acting vicar for a while before becoming a proud of. full minister with the Church of England in 1950. He was assistant priest at St Andrew’s Cathedral before becoming parish priest In Chambers, 1941.

154 LIVE FREE Bishop Chiu and his wife Wendy after his consecration ceremony as bishop in 1966. of the Diocese of Singapore and Malaya, a post he held until he retired in 1982. He was the sixth bishop. He was also Dean of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore from 1970 to 1982. Between 1968 and 1973 he was Vice- Chairman of the Council of Churches in East Asia and acting Chairman from 1970. On 20 February 1972, on the last day of her first state visit to Singapore, Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family attended a service at St Andrew’s Cathedral. It was presided over by Bishop Chiu. In 1982, Bishop Chiu retired and is now Bishop Chiu greeting Queen Elizabeth II at a church service in St Andrew’s Cathedral during her state visit to residing in Britain. Singapore in 1972. Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction chapter 9 Old Frees 155 EK Lim “As it turned out, optometry was good classroom with Khoo Teck Hock standing on Optometrist for me as it was a course that enabled me to another chair in the back while some girls Year left school: 1953 serve people. were walking past. Someone told us to get “London was very advanced in the field down just as the girls were passing by but etter known as of optometry. The course was quite exacting we could not as our history teacher was still BEK, Lim Eam as apart from the course in college, I had to there! No boy ever liked to have girls see Khoon was hoping to be attached to a spectacle-making company him standing on chairs. be an architect but after which I could sit for the diploma for “There were also teachers with other ended up in the eye- which I was made ‘freeman of the city peculiarities. We had Captain Mamat Nor, care industry instead of London’. With this, I could practise a very strict Malay teacher, who was always and carving out a optometry in London which I did for a year smartly dressed in a white suit and wore a reputation as ‘pioneer’ after I had qualified in 1959 before returning songkok. Then there was Lee Eng Leong, optometrist. to Penang in 1960.” who taught us biology, with his fondness for Recounting how this came about, he Recalling his schooldays, he said, half-eye glasses, which he peered over to said, “After leaving PFS, Tay Lee Soon (my “I was in PFS after Hutchings Primary School. look at us. We also had an assistant teacher classmate) and I did sketches to be sent to I spent most of my time in sports playing from Ireland, Penny Pettigrew, who always Regent Polytechnic in London. He ended up football, rugby, hockey and badminton. I wore low cut tops, making her a favourite studying architecture in Melbourne instead represented the school in football and rugby among the boys! when he was there to watch the Malayan although I was better known for the latter. “Apart from these, there were other hockey team playing in the Olympics. In fact, from 1956 to 1958 when I was in memorable occasions. In 1952, our class “I trooped off to London on my own London, I was the only Asian representing held a tea party to celebrate Queen but found out that my application did not my college in rugby. Elizabeth’s coronation, which was attended reach Regent Polytechnic. As luck would “I remember some of our teachers rather by headmaster Tod.” have it, I met an Old Free, Khoo Boon well. One of the classic punishments in PFS During his student days in London, Haw, who had been studying medicine in was getting students to stand on a chair. EK was in touch with other Old Frees. He Singapore the year before but had to drop For our history teacher, Lim Boon Hock, this explained, “Penang was a British colony out of the course. He decided to go to would be for things like forgetting history and for most of us, the UK was considered London to study optometry and persuaded dates. He would make you stand on a chair ‘our motherland’. When it came to studying me to join him at the Northampton College for the rest of the class. I did this three times. overseas, the UK and especially London of Advanced Technology (renamed “On one of these occasions, when would come to mind. City University). our Sixth Form classes had turned co- “I joined the Old Frees Association “It seemed like an attractive alternative educational and we had girls from St (OFA) there and our former headmaster Tod as it was only a three-year course versus six George’s enrolled in our school, I remember who was from Hove and had just retired years for architecture. standing on a chair in one part of the was our patron. The association was active,

156 LIVE FREE Singapore as I was constantly in touch with other Old Frees. We would always end up with a dinner; I would call Chor Pee and Lee Soon to join in. For me those links were, and still are, very important. I continue to keep in touch with Arul.” On his reputation as pioneer optometrist, EK said, “It all started when I had just arrived in Singapore in 1971 when soft contact lenses had just been introduced. Like everyone else, I had been working with hard contact lenses in Penang during the 10 years of my business there. “When soft lenses were first approved for use here, nobody knew how to fit them. I decided to learn how to do it by going to London. I went to the manufacturer to see how the lenses were made. Convinced of their usefulness, I started ordering them to 1958 UKOFA Reunion at Malayan Hall, London. fit my customers. I had to do measurements organising get-togethers from time to time. London, I like to organise functions. I was for each patient’s eyes and had to order the When Malaya became independent in a prefect and that helped develop my lenses specifically. 1957 for instance, we had a celebration in organisational skills. Chor Pee and I enjoyed “It did not take long for the trend Malaya Hall. organising picnics and dance functions of wearing soft lenses to take off when “Among the members of OFA London when we were in school. PFS encouraged us people realised how comfortable they were were Lim Chor Pee, who was studying law to be sociable. compared to the hard lenses which were and had his own private law practice in “That came in useful whenever I rigid and difficult to wear. Singapore and Chandran Arul, who is still attended functions in optometry and when “Because I was the first to introduce practising as a lawyer in Singapore. Chor Pee people came from overseas to Singapore for the lens, I was called a pioneer in the field, was the OFA secretary in 1955 and 1956. He optometric meetings, I would take them out. making a name for my company which was handed it over to me so I became secretary I liked doing that. EK Lim Pte Ltd. Other optometrists soon in 1957. I asked Arul to take over when I had “The same applied to Old Frees. I followed suit. to leave London after finishing my course. was always encouraging Old Frees to get “Now of course, ready-made soft lenses “Because of PFS and later OFA in in touch with me whenever they visited are used in the market.”

chapter 9 Old Frees 157 Alex KH Ooi responsibility to self and others. ‘thankless’ but Alex sees it from a different Obstetrician and gynaecologist “I was a Sea Scout and school prefect perspective. He explains, “I find them Year left school: 1969 and played games, mainly rugby, volleyball challenging. It is difficult to change human and waterpolo. I remember the grueling and nature but it is work that needs to be done e wears many character building experience of canoeing and which I feel I have the disposition for. I Hhats but unlike round Penang Island in our self-made canoe, just face the duties, taking obstacles in my the proverbial ‘Jack of carrying our own supplies for sustenance!” stride. Keeping up with my own professional all trades and master His sense of social responsibility began work, which I find gratifying, keeps me sane! of none’, Alex has early, starting with his days as a medical “Many people may believe otherwise been on top of all the student in the University of Singapore. but, for me, it is often not difficult to handle roles he has taken on He said, “The university provided many people in committees as I believe the during his career and extra-academic service avenues. I had the greater majority of volunteers serving in accomplished them well. honour of being class representative for all these committees are people with an innate When asked why he felt compelled five years of medical school. I was President nature for observing good governance, to take on social responsibilities despite a of the Medical Students’ Society and the doing due diligence and expecting only busy medical practice to attend to, he says, first Asian President of the International self- satisfaction.” “I have always had an inclination towards Federation of International Student The motivation for serving stemmed service to others or to causes where I am Associations. I was also Vice-President of the from the desire to help resolve conflicts, able to contribute. This trait, I feel, is a University of Singapore Students’ Union and which were a bane in some of these clubs natural extension of the desire to be a Chairman of the Asian Students’ Association. and to help make progress on the clubs’ doctor. It carries with it a sense of caring, “I have also been involved in fund- original objectives. professionalism and empathy.” raising and activities for charity, sometimes He looks back with satisfaction that It is, without doubt, the result of years of as Chairman. I have been President of The the club accounts at Warren, for instance, nurturing in PFS where students have always Old Frees’ Association, Singapore for some were nursed back to health while its golf been encouraged to serve the community years and was instrumental in bringing the course was re-configured and its social and think of others and its spirit of discipline. Dr Wu Lien-Teh legacy to light and setting facilities enhanced. At The Tanglin Club, the Recalling his time there, Alex said, “In up the Wu Lien-Teh Society in Penang. ability to help resolve the conflicts then and my time at the school, we were made to “Other organisations where I have developing and executing the Master Plan play as many games as possible and take served as president include the Rotary Club to enhance the clubhouse and building a on at least one extra-curricular activity and (and twice as district-secretary), Warren Golf sports complex gave him a sense of pride. yet be focused on studies as required. This, Club (1984-87), The Tanglin Club (2000-2003) “They were challenging yet rewarding coupled with encouragement (sometimes and, presently, Singapore Island Country times especially as I could leave office on a pure designation!) to lead, was to be the Club from September 2015. happy note.” catalyst to the moulding of character and These roles are often categorised as

158 LIVE FREE Lim Chor Pee Kheng Kooi, an Old Free and a Queen’s Lawyer and playwright Scholar in 1927, who scored a double-first in Year left school: 1954 law at the same college. After graduating in 1958, Chor Pee was lthough he carved called to the English Bar in 1959 as a member Aout a name for of The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. himself as a successful He then joined the Singapore Legal litigator in several Service serving as a Crown Counsel and high-profile court Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Attorney- cases, Lim Chor Pee General’s Chambers and District Judge as was also well-known as well as the first Legal Adviser to the Tax a luminous playwright. Department. In 1962, he was called to the He was credited with sowing the seeds of Malayan Bar in Singapore. local English-language theatre in Singapore It was while he was working in the Legal and nurturing it to what it is today. When his Service that he started to write Mimi Fan highly acclaimed first play Mimi Fan, written in his spare time in the evenings. It was the in 1962, took to the stage, it was hailed 1960s and Singapore was in the throes of as having set a milestone in home-grown early nationhood. It had just been granted And so with a group of like-minded drama production. self-governing status by the British in 1959 individuals, he founded the Experimental Yet when Chor Pee left Penang Free and in 1962 it was on its way to gaining Theatre Club (ETC) in 1961 to create School in 1954 to go to Britain to read law in independence by joining Malaya, Sarawak ‘Malayan theatre’ and encourage local St John’s College, Cambridge, becoming a and Sabah to form the new Federation of playwrights by staging their works. ETC playwright was probably not his first priority Malaysia a year later. staged Mimi Fan in 1962 to packed houses despite a widely recognised passion for the All this gave rise to stirrings of a during its three-day run at the then Cultural theatre during his school days. national identity and a clamour for a Centre on Canning Rise. It was a story He joined PFS in 1949 after Wellesley Singapore voice to be heard on stage amid about an English-educated Singaporean Primary School and Francis Light School. what was then a Western-skewed presence returning home from Britain in the liberal A member of Hargreaves House, he took mounted by expatriate theatre groups. swinging ‘60s and his encounter with a free- part in many activities including joining the As Chor Pee put it in an article he spirited good-time girl Mimi Fan. The core Scouts. In December 1952, he attended the wrote in the journal Tumasek in 1964, “The of the play centred on the theme of truth Pan-Pacific Scouting Jamboree in Australia amateur theatre anywhere in the world is the and identity. as one of the school’s representatives. place where the future professional theatre Coincidentally, one of the actors in the In going to Cambridge, Chor Pee was begins. And there can be no proper theatre critically acclaimed play was another Old following in the footsteps of his father, Lim unless there are playwrights.” Free, Lim Teong Quee, better known as chapter 9 Old Frees 159 TQ Lim, retired judicial commissioner and father of Singapore actor Lim Yu-Beng. Reflecting on its sensational success and on why he wrote the play for an English- speaking new generation, Chor Pee was quoted as saying: “It went down nicely because the audience could feel and see for themselves that is…you can identify yourself with one of them on stage because it’s the way we normally would have spoken or would have reacted in a similar situation, rather than some foreign play which is of foreign values that is not totally known to us….” Lim Chor Pee’s play, Mimi Fan, was first staged in 1962 featuring (from left) Annie Wee, Ronald Bloom and Lim Chor Pee was the first to dream the Teong Quee better known as TQ Lim, an Old Free. Singapore play and give it its initial shape. Right: Cover of Mimi Fan, recently re-published by Epigram Books. Photo: Epigram Books But he was not just a playwright. He was sort of attitude should have gone with the of Singapore’s English-language theatre also a theatre company director and a plumed hat.” for years, Chor Pee gave up drama to theatre theoretician. He is widely credited It was his determination to distinguish concentrate on his legal career in 1964. for having kick-started the local theatre local theatre and end the domination of He had just started his own law scene in Singapore and galvanising locals expatriate-produced plays that moved him practice then named Chor Pee & Hin to follow suit. to write Mimi Fan. He wanted to produce a Hiong, after leaving the Legal Service. Chor Pee took on the role of ETC’s realistic play with characters making punch After some years the firm dissolved and he artistic director from 1962 to 1967. He lines that a local English-speaking audience founded Chor Pee & Company. This firm wanted to set ETC apart from other theatre could appreciate rather than spouting became the first of a handful of foreign law companies especially expatriate-run ones ‘Queen’s English’, which he felt was not a firms that were given licences to operate such as The Stage Club. He was also true representation of Singaporeans. in Vietnam, at a time when few local firms against patronising colonial influence in Chor Pee followed up on his success had ventured out into the region. In the local drama, which was prevalent in the by writing another play A White Rose at late 1990s he formed Chor Pee & Partners. days following Singapore’s independence. Midnight in 1964 about a romance between Several notable Singapore lawyers and In one instance when a theatre critic of an English-educated university graduate former lawyers either chambered or worked The Straits Times M. E. Constant wrote and a Chinese-educated former nightclub at these firms. In Malaysia, Chor Pee also condescendingly: “Let the local theatre singer, which was also staged by ETC. practised under Albar Zulkifly & Yap and clubs be not too proud to learn from the Despite skilfully juggling between later Chor Pee Anwarul & Company with expat clubs,” Chor Pee retorted: “This being a practising lawyer and a stalwart offices in Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

160 LIVE FREE As a lawyer with a fine reputation, competition, politics, negotiation, nastiness, doers, scientists, artists, money-spinners and he had a flair for handling extremely everything! I was a prefect and the Prefects’ yes, rogues among us, but there’s one thing difficult cases and was held in high regard Board did crazy things like going out on in common: We all love the school. by his clients. Chor Pee’s endurance as motorcycles to bust smoking students – “I hated the idea of becoming a lawyer, a lawyer can be seen in four decades of when I think back, we were downright crazy. so I do something even better: teaching and cases reported in the law reports. His talent But we were happy. spawning them. So I’m incredibly fortunate and skill as an advocate has been etched “Our form teacher, Ms Choong Lai to have a great job, mentoring young in the memories of many Singapore and Yong, remains in the school. She holds would-be lawyers and moulding them into Malaysian lawyers. the distinction of being the last remaining responsible and ethical individuals. And it Remembered for his kind and teacher of that generation who’s still has to do with the Penang Free School, the likeable disposition, he was also known teaching. We were fond of Molly Ooi (our institution whose teachers and environment to be a hardworking member of the first teacher in Form 1), Johnny Ooi (whose gave me the very same drive and inspiration. legal community. Throughout 2006, even prime mission was to ensure the school’s “As a Professor of Law at the National while battling lung cancer very bravely, dominance in hockey), Lim Lay Eong University of Singapore, I specialise in the he continued with his legal practice with (later Mrs Ooi!) and Low Boon Ewe (who law relating to aviation and airlines, advising admirable dedication until his final days. drummed into us that we were the crème de airlines like AirAsia on the regulation of He died in December 2006, aged 70. la crème). What I remember was the entire the airline industry. I also research into class landing in detention (DC) one day and Indonesian environmental issues, particularly being lectured by the principal, GK Iyer. the haze problem that has afflicted us in Alan Tan Khee Jin Someone had written something crass on recent years, as well as criminal law. I teach Law professor the blackboard about a teacher and never these areas of the law to my students at Year left school: 1986 owned up to it, so everyone was punished … the National University of Singapore (NUS), we still don’t know who did it. where I’ve been teaching for 22 years now in was from the “We knew the school was special, what has been my first and only job.” “IClass of 1986 with her incredible history, and she gave (Form 5), and over half us the platform, the confidence, to excel in my class have ended whatever we did. I’d like to think my friends up in Singapore. Says and I live the school motto – Fortis Atque a lot, doesn’t it? … My Fidelis – Strong and Faithful. I still wear the fondest memories are school tie when I do TV interviews. It gives us of my teachers and a kick to tell Singaporeans that we’re older classmates. Those were the formative years, than their country! and everything in my life I have learned “It would be too romantic to paint all from those years – leadership, hard work, Old Frees as gentlemen. There are thinkers,

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