TEO Kah Leong
The Public Service,
Accession Number 001431
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 6
Total Reels
- Daniel Chew (Dr)
Interviewer
- 02:54:35
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
All rights to the recordings and transcripts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use. If you have any queries, please contact nas@nlb.gov.sg
Reel/Disc 1 of 6
Metadata
- 26 Nov 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) Parents born in Singapore. Attended Geylang English School and Raffles Institution (RI).
(0:01:18) Education was cut short by the Japanese Occupation in 1942. Resumed studies in 1947. Graduated from Raffles College with an arts diploma.
(0:02:11) Entered teaching profession. Offered scholarship for an honours degree at the University of Malaya.
(0:03:03) Family background. Grew up in Geylang. Spoke Malay and English.
(0:08:11) Scored top grades throughout school.
(0:09:15) Childhood and leisure activities.
(0:10:24) Subjects and teachers at RI and Raffles College. Rivalry with Lee Kuan Yew for top spot at RI.
(0:15:44) Impressions of Lee Kuan Yew as a fine orator and ambitious.
(0:17:59) Ambition to become a teacher. Life and teachers at Raffles College.
(0:21:41) College mates with Lee Kuan Yew, Tun Razak, Ungku Aziz, Raja Mohar, Tun Hamdan, Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee.
(0:26:46) Taught at Telok Kurau Secondary School.
(0:28:08) Interruption of education due to war. Life during the Japanese Occupation.
Grew up in Geylang and Katong. Attended Geylang English Primary School; was top boy. Went to Raffles Institution (RI). Competed with Lee Kuan Yew for top position. Ambition to be teacher. Enrolled at Raffles College. College mates were Lee Kuan Yew, Tun Razak, Ungku Aziz, Raja Mohar and Tun Hamdan.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 2 of 6
Metadata
- 26 Nov 1993
Recording Date
- 00:31:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) Impact of the Japanese Occupation. Lived under the British Military Administration (BMA) after the British return.
(0:03:27) Life under the BMA. Better than under the Japanese.
(0:05:16) Offered scholarship for an honours degree at the University of Malaya (Singapore). Majored in English.
(0:07:48) Applied to join the Administrative Service of civil service.
(0:12:34) Welcomed into service by expatriate officers. Good job prospects for promotion.
(0:15:48) First appointment as the Assistant Secretary in the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. Responsible for interviewing detainees and making recommendations for release.
(0:19:51) Structure of the colonial civil service.
(0:21:35) When the Rendel Constitution was implemented, ministries were set up with locals in higher decision-making positions.
(0:22:18) Generally good relations with colonial officers despite discrimination in benefits.
(0:24:01) Appeared before Malayanisation Commission. Pushed for appointment of locals in senior posts.
(0:27:54) Key ministries retained by colonial officers. Local officers were given the opportunity to learn in the transition from the colonial system to independence.
Impact of Japanese Occupation. Offered a scholarship to do honours degree at University of Malaya (Singapore). Applied to join Administrative Service of civil service. First appointment as Assistant Secretary in Secretariat for Chinese Affairs. Structure of colonial civil service. Appeared before Malayanisation Commission. Under Rendel Constitution, ministries set up with locals in charge. Key ministries retained by colonial officers.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 3 of 6
Metadata
- 26 Nov 1993
Recording Date
- 00:30:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Rendel Constitution accepted by local and colonial officers. Influence of the colonial civil service values.
(0:02:57) Impressions of local government.
(0:04:32) As the Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing, performed preparatory work for the Permanent Secretary.
(0:08:47) Decisions made after discussion between civil servants and ministers.
(0:10:23) Appointed Second Clerk to Council of Ministers. Responsible for meeting minutes.
(0:15:34) Political unrest during his time as a Second Clerk.
(0:17:31) Chinese students’ political activity source of stress for the government. Police Commissioner often present at Council meetings.
(0:19:37) Posted to the Finance Ministry.
(0:21:52) Civil servants uninvolved in politics.
(0:24:01) Pride when the People’s Action Party (PAP) voted in, but hostility towards civil service posed anxiety for job prospects. ‘Hidden communists’ among the party harboured animosity towards the English-educated.
(0:26:05) Civil service pay-cut an unfair move. Many resigned. Disappointed civil servants did not protest or take a united stand.
Values of colonial civil service. As Assistant Secretary, does spade work for Permanent Secretary. Informal discussions between civil servants and ministers before decisions are taken. Appointment as 2nd Clerk to Council of Ministers. Took minutes of meetings. Civil service pay-cut. How civil servants reacted. Many resignations. Disappointed civil servants did not protest or take united stand.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 4 of 6
Metadata
- 3 Dec 1993
Recording Date
- 00:30:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) Civil service demoralised by latent hostility from the Chinese-educated.
(0:01:34) Prior friendship with Ong Eng Guan. The rivalry between Ong and Lee Kuan Yew.
(0:04:45) Impressions of local ministers.
(0:08:57) The Chew Swee Kee corruption scandal caused the downfall of the Labour Front Government.
(0:10:47) Chinese-educated among the People’s Action Party (PAP) were hostile towards civil service for poor treatment during the colonial days.
(0:12:04) Plans to hire Chinese-educated graduates into civil service to replace English-educated, yet could not do without them. Salaries prior to pay-cut restored.
(0:14:01) Civil servants lacked a united response to pay cuts.
(0:15:40) Lectures at the Political Studies Centre aimed at building up political awareness.
(0:20:00) As the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of National Development, disagreement with Ong Eng Guan for passing over him and directly interfering with junior officers.
(0:23:51) Political in-fighting made work difficult.
(0:26:30) Distrust between politicians and civil service.
Rivalry between Ong Eng Guan and Lee Kuan Yew. Chew Swee Kee corruption scandal caused downfall of Labour Front Government. Although Chinese educated graduates were employed, could not do without English-educated ones. Lectures at Political Studies Centre aimed at building up political awareness. Ong Eng Guan's interference with civil servants.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 5 of 6
Metadata
- 3 Dec 1993
Recording Date
- 00:30:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:07) Elaboration on in-fighting between Ong Eng Guan and Lee Kuan Yew. Ong fell out of favour due to personal history.
(0:05:15) Worked as the Permanent Secretary under One Eng Guan when he was the Minister for National Development.
(0:06:52) Ong in favour of giving job opportunities to the Chinese-educated. Laid foundation for the housing programme.
(0:11:22) Little team spirit among civil service when the People’s Action Party (PAP) government got voted in. Junior officers resigned.
(0:13:14) Views on the prestige of the Permanent Secretary role.
(0:16:52) Moved to the Ministry of Home Affairs, later the Ministry of Social Affairs. Working under Ong Pang Boon.
(0:18:34) Concurrent post as the Registrar of Societies.
(0:19:12) Work at the Finance and Home Affairs Ministries easier as free from political conflict.
(0:21:12) Creation of new ministries following the merger with Malaysia.
(0:24:49) Functions of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Work relations with Minister Othman Wok.
(0:28:22) Civil service stabilised gradually. Confidence and cohesion returned.
Elaboration on in-fighting between Ong Eng Guan and Lee Kuan Yew. As Minister for National Development, Ong Eng Guan made decisions himself. Ong in favour of giving job opportunities to Chinese-educated. He also did spade work for housing programme. When People's Action Party (PAP) Government was voted in, little civil service team spirit. Interviewee moved to Ministry of Home Affairs, later Ministry of Social Affairs. Working relationship with the Minister, Othman Wok.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
Reel/Disc 6 of 6
Metadata
- 3 Dec 1993
Recording Date
- 00:20:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:05) With the independence in 1965, civil servants rallied behind politicians. Rapport due to determination to succeed.
(0:03:13) Priorities shifted away from internal affairs to macro affairs such as security and defence and economic development.
(0:05:13) Transformation of the civil service. Improvement in the atmosphere.
(0:07:38) Pre-mature retirement in 1967. Reason he left civil service to work in the bank and stockbroking firm.
(0:12:15) Differences between the public and private sector.
(0:15:38) Looking back on his experience in the civil service.
(0:19:23) View on the People’s Action Party (PAP) government serving Singapore well.
With independence in 1965, civil servants rallied behind politicians. Rapport due to determination to succeed. Transformation of civil service. Why he left the civil service to work in bank and stockbroking firm. View on People's Action Party (PAP) Government serving Singapore well.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
