LEE Kum Tatt (Dr)
The Public Service,
Accession Number 000821
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 10
Total Reels
- Daniel Chew (Dr)
Interviewer
- 04:49:09
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 10
Metadata
- 5 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:29:25
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:24) Family background.
(0:02:10) He spent his childhood living with his maternal grandparents in Penang till 1940.
(0:02:54) Studied at Penang Free School.
(0:04:06) No interest in science when he was young.
(0:11:29) He finished his junior Cambridge before the war.
(0:15:00) War years spent in Medan, Indonesia, with his parents.
(0:17:45) Recollection of attending practical classes and special teaching classes.
(0:21:43) Obtained Raffles College scholarship, which is the reason he came to Singapore. (0:21:51) Came to Singapore in October 1948.
(0:22:29) Recollected his first impressions of Raffles College.
(0:23:44) The educational set-up and college life in Raffles College.
(0:27:06) His impression of his classmates.
Family background. Childhood in Penang. Studied at Penang Free School. When young, no interest in science. War years spent in Medan, Indonesia. Obtained Raffles College scholarship. Came here in October 1948. First impressions of Raffles College. College life.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 10
Metadata
- 5 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:29:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:02:20) Acquired honours degree from the University of Malaya (Singapore).
(0:07:36) Joined the Department of Chemistry in October 1954, during the period of Malayanisation.
(0:09:47) How he went away on the United Nations Scholarship in Canada.
(0:17:08) He described the nature of his work in the Department of Chemistry.
(0:19:41) Upon return from Canada in 1958, he worked in the food, drugs and forensic laboratories of Singapore General Hospital.
(0:20:13) Appointed to the Board of Governors of the Singapore Polytechnic, which enraged the Director of Chemistry.
(0:22:39) His loss of the cost of living allowance led to his decision to teach at the Polytechnic.
(0:24:38) Went over as a biochemist to the Ministry of Health and joined the Department of Pathology.
Acquired honours degree from University of Malaya (Singapore). Joined Department of Chemistry in October 1954. Went away on United Nations Scholarship in Canada. Upon return, worked in food, drugs and forensic laboratories of Singapore General Hospital. Appointed to Polytechnic Board. His loss of cost of living allowance. Went over as biochemist to Ministry of Health.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 10
Metadata
- 5 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:29:07
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:09) His view on the differences in the work of biochemist and chemist.
(0:02:27) How he and Dr Tan Aik Koon learned from each other.
(0:05:49) How he helped to build up a team of biochemists and technicians.
(0:07:37) Introduced charging of fees for testing of blood and urine.
(0:15:31) He formed the Science Council and was its first chairman in 1967.
(0:18:10) Formation of Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR).
(0:22:26) The effort he has made to lead the Science Council to success despite a lack of monetary support.
(0:27:55) His philosophy is belief in what he does to be right and then does it with all his might.
Differences in work of biochemist and chemist. How he helped to build up team of biochemists and technicians. Introduced charging of fees for testing of blood and urine. Appointed Chairman of Science Council in 1967. Formation of Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR).
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Reel/Disc 4 of 10
Metadata
- 13 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:29:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:30) Building up of Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR).
(0:08:45) How SISIR became a reputable institute with more budget and staff.
(0:13:41) SISIR's growth due to stability, entrepreneurship with initiative and change. The importance of a good foundation.
(0:17:32) He retired at 60, partly due to health reasons.
(0:17:55) Politicians left SISIR alone.
(0:18:46) Problems faced by SISIR and how he overcame those problems.
(0:24:38) How his holding of several positions in SISIR, Science Council and Singapore Polytechnic helped in formulating policies or making recommendations.
Building up of Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR). How budget and staff have increased. SISIR's growth due to stability, entrepreneurship and change. Politicians left SISIR alone. His holding of several positions in SISIR, Science Council and Singapore Polytechnic helped.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 10
Metadata
- 19 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:29:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:57) Indicators for the Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR)'s accountability as its services could not be easily quantified.
(0:07:21) How ideas were translated into acceptable plans through incremental needs, the realisation of needs and brain services.
(0:07:34) How Science Park planning and implementation came about.
(0:13:54) RISIS products result in incremental improvement.
(0:18:37) The process they were taking to create a national symbol for Singapore.
(0:23:56) How Singapore Science Centre was established from scratch and its aims.
Indicators for Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (SISIR)'s accountability for its services not easily quantified. How ideas were translated into acceptable plans through incremental needs, realisation of needs and brain services. How Science Park planning and implementation came about. RISIS products result of incremental work, and not planned for. How Science Centre was established; its aims.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 10
Metadata
- 19 Aug 1993
Recording Date
- 00:24:06
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:06:06) Was Chairman of the Bukit Gombak Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) and was involved with community work.
(0:07:23) Working relationship with "Old Guard" and "Second Generation" leaders.
(0:12:19) He wanted to write a book on Chemistry and Human Behaviour. The intersection of science and psychology shows a profound curiosity about the intricacies of human nature.
(0:18:16) The importance of utilising the sixth sense to face uncertainty bravely and using intuition as a guiding force.
(0:21:57) Characteristics of pioneers who start from scratch, compared to mere followers.
Was Chairman of Bukit Gombak Citizens' Consultative Committee(CCC). Working relationship with "Old Guard" and "Second Generation" leaders. Characteristics of pioneers.
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