PRASAD, Ajith
The Public Service,
Accession Number 001895
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 5
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 04:08:31
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 5
Metadata
- 4 Nov 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:03
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
- 9 Nov 2015
Date of Release
Synopsis
(0:00:21) His personal and family background.
(0:01:02) Came from a large family. They later moved to Hougang. His father retired in 1972.
(0:02:22) His childhood life. The family experienced financial constraints.
(0:06:01) His primary education.
(0:08:05) He did well in primary school and qualified for Raffles Institution (RI). Interesting schoolmates who made it big later in life.
(0:12:24) He admitted his performance in RI was mediocre.
(0:13:18) His interests back then.
(0:15:42) He was assigned a pre-university placement at Victoria School.
(0:17:26) Passion for rocket science ignited his interest in mathematics. He achieved only mediocre results in the GCE 'A' Levels.
(0:23:03) Voracious reader, which helped him to acquire a good command of the English Language.
(0:25:01) His university years. How he financed himself through varsity.
(0:27:31) Graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics.
(0:31:05) Joined the public service on 19 June 1972 as an Administrative Officer.
(0:34:03) Started with a salary of $900 and was posted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
(0:35:40) His first meeting with the Permanent Secretary (MHA) Tay Siow Huah.
(0:36:40) Worked in Research and Statistics and also served as Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary.
(0:39:21) Explanation of his work analysing the General Election results in 1972.
(0:42:25) The reorganisation of prisons. His work as Secretary of the Prisons Reorganisation Committee and the famous words of Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee.
(0:48:37) Wrote the first draft of the Prisons Reorganisation Committee report, which was well received.
(0:51:58) Humorous anecdotes about the committee. His colleagues in MHA.
(0:55:53) Posting out of MHA to Ministry of Finance's (MOF) Budget Division in late 1973.
His background – date & place of birth, parents and siblings. His father’s occupation. Brought up in naval dockyard in north Singapore. Move to Hougang. Rent control. Father retired in 1972.Large family. Life as a child. Family’s tight financial situation. Primary education in Serangoon Garden North School, then Parry Avenue Boys’ School. Did well in primary school, qualified for Raffles Institution. His peers in Parry Avenue as well as Raffles Institution. Mediocre performance in Raffles Institution. His interests then. Pre-University in Victoria School. Great interest in rocket science, leading to interest in Mathematics. Mediocre performance in GCE ‘A’ Levels. Voracious reader, which helped him to acquire a good command of the English Language. Entry into the university. Pretty uneventful life there, but graduated with First Class Honours in Mathematics.
Entry into public service on 19 June 1972 as an Administrative Officer. Posted to Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA). His first meeting with Permanent Secretary(MHA) Tay Siow Huah. Worked in the Research and Statistics Unit and was also the Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary. His work analysing the General Election results in 1972.His work as Secretary, Prisons Reorganisation Committee and the famous words of Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee. Wrote the first draft of the Prisons Reorganisation Committee report, which was well received. Humorous anecdotes about the committee. His colleagues in MHA. Posting out of MHA to Ministry of Finance, Budget Division(MOF) in late 1973.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 5
Metadata
- 4 Nov 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
- 9 Nov 2015
Date of Release
Synopsis
(0:00:11) Structure of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) at that time.
(0:02:57) His first assignment was in the Budget Division. Interesting anecdotes about work there.
(0:06:46) Establishment of Temasek Holdings.
(0:08:56) Stories about Minister Hon Sui Sen during his tenure at MOF.
(0:13:06) Stories about Permanent Secretary (MOF) Tan Chok Kian.
(0:15:06) Why Programme and Performance Budgeting System (PBBS) was introduced, and what was it about.
(0:18:30) George Bogaars was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Budget Division in 1975. (0:24:32) Impression of George Bogaars.
(0:25:23) Introduction of highly entertaining budget meetings with the Ministries, chaired by Bogaars.
(0:27:37) Why Bogaars set up the MOF coffee club?
(0:33:31) Heart attack suffered by Bogaars and his retirement in 1981.
(0:34:36) Mohd Noordin, the Budget stalwart, was a Jack of All Trades. Experience learning from him.
(0:37:49) Explanation of the block vote allocation system.
(0:41:33) Herman Hochstadt replaced Bogaars in 1981.
(0:44:03) Change of management style with Hochstadt's arrival.
(0:44:25) Description of Hochstadt’s management style.
(0:50:40) Reform of the budget system. The passing of Minister Hon Sui Sen in 1983.
(0:51:37) His recollection of his career progression. First promotion in 1979, second in 1981 and elevation to Superscale ‘G’ in 1986.
(0:55:51) Hochstadt’s retirement in 1986. Ngiam Tong Dow took over as Permanent Secretary.
(0:55:59) Total change in style, leading to the genesis of the block vote allocation system.
Structure of MOF at that time. His first assignment in Budget Division. Interesting anecdotes about work there.
Establishment of Temasek Holdings. Stories about Minister(MOF) Hon Sui Sen and Permanent Secretary(MOF) Tan Chok Kian. Why Programme and Performance Budgeting System(PBBS) was introduced and what it was. 1975 – posting of GE Bogaars to Budget Division as its Permanent Secretary. Hands-on approach of Bogaars. Very personable, humble and likeable person with a great sense of humour. A few stories on this. Introduction of budget meetings with Ministries, chaired by Bogaars. Highly entertaining meetings. Introduction of the coffee club in MOF by Bogaars. Learnt a lot from him. Heart attack suffered by Bogaars and his retirement in 1981. Described the Budget stalwart Mohd Noordin, who was the Jack of All Trades. Experience of learning from him.
GE Bogaars replaced by Herman Hochstadt in 1981.Change of management style. Hochstadt’s speed and penchant for minute details as well as clear written instructions from him. Reform of the budget system. Passing of Minister Hon Sui Sen in 1983.
His first promotion in 1979, second in 1981 and elevation to Superscale ‘G’ in 1986. Hochstadt’s retirement in 1986. Assumption of Ngiam Tong Dow as Permanent Secretary. Total change in style. Genesis of block vote allocation system.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 5
Metadata
- 4 Nov 2010
Recording Date
- 00:40:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
- 9 Nov 2015
Date of Release
Synopsis
(0:00:13) Why block vote allocation system was introduced by Ngiam Tong Dow.
(0:02:52) Appointed Director (Budget) in 1985 and Deputy Secretary (Budget) in 1987.
(0:03:40) Ngiam Tong Dow's command of English & his simple, concise writing style.
(0:08:13) As Deputy Secretary, he had more dealings with Ministry of Finance (MOF) Ministers Tony Tan and Richard Hu.
(0:10:05) Talked about his own management style. How he dealt with Tony Tan and Richard Hu.
(0:14:08) Anecdote about a very well-known icon of MOF, Michael Wong, who was the Office Superintendent.
(0:16:08) Anecdote about the Typing Pool Supervisor.
(0:23:02) He did not believe in the practice of reprimanding staff.
(0:24:17) His one-year stint at the Imperial College, London, where he got a Masters's Degree. (0:25:26) Return to MOF when he came back to Singapore.
(0:26:51) Spent 16 years in the Budget Division, during which he had 3 promotions.
(0:27:27) In 1989, he was posted to MOF's Revenue Division, first as Director and then promoted to Deputy Secretary.
(0:31:20) Subsequently was promoted to Superscale ‘F’ in Revenue Division. His work during the 2 years he was there.
(0:36:59) Had his final posting to the Ministry of National Development (MND).
(0:38:24) Talked about Permanent Secretary (Revenue) Lee Ek Tieng. First thoughts about the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Why block vote allocation system was introduced by Ngiam Tong Dow. Fixing allocation to each Ministry by Percentage of Gross Domestic Product(GDP). Appointed Director(Budget) in 1985 and Deputy Secretary(Budget) in 1987. Ngiam Tong Dow’s command of English & his simple, concise writing style. As Deputy Secretary, he had more dealings with Ministers(MOF) Tony Tan and Richard Hu. His own management style. Stories about a very well-known icon of MOF Michael Wong who was the Office Superintendent. Stories about the Typing Pool Supervisor. His one-year stint in the Imperial College, London where he got a Masters Degree. Return to MOF when he came back to Singapore.
Spent 16 years in the Budget Division, during which he had 3 promotions. Asked for posting in 1989. Posted to MOF(Revenue Division) in 1989, first as Director, then Deputy Secretary. Promoted to Superscale ‘F’ in Revenue Division. His work during the 2 years he was there. Talked about Permanent Secretary(Revenue) Lee Ek Tieng. First thoughts about the Goods and Services Tax(GST) Asked for posting in 1990 and was posted to the Ministry of National Development(MND)
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Reel/Disc 4 of 5
Metadata
- 8 Nov 2010
Recording Date
- 00:58:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
- 9 Nov 2015
Date of Release
Synopsis
(0:00:14) His posting to the Ministry of National Development (MND) in 1990 and the circumstances that led to it.
(0:02:00) Anecdote about Permanent Secretary JY Pillay's time at MND.
(0:07:14) His duties there as Director (Housing).
(0:08:34) Issues of public housing policy and the Housing and Development Board’s(HDB) upgrading programme.
(0:14:22) Unlike MOF, he did not really enjoy the work in MND.
(0:15:39) Relationship between administrators and professionals in MND.
(0:18:47) Talked about JY Pillay – a personable, polished, gentlemanly and highly intelligent person who had a penchant for precision.
(0:22:13) Talked about Minister (MND) S. Dhanabalan. What he learnt from Messrs. Dhanabalan and Pillay.
(0:30:32) He preferred finance work. Expressed interest in joining the National University of Singapore (NUS) when the Deputy Bursar position opened up.
(0:32:10) He was seconded to NUS as Deputy Bursar in 1993.
(0:34:55) His work at NUS and how he fitted into the role. Degree of autonomy at NUS.
(0:38:35) Opted to retire in 1995 at age 45.
(0:40:56) Talked about Professor Lim Pin and how he became one of the first NUS Vice-Chancellors.
(0:42:04) Tony Tan proposed the allocation of capitation funding for NUS.
(0:44:00) The struggle to establish the University Cultural Centre due to the government being so "stingy".
(0:45:25) He was appointed Bursar in 1999.
(0:50:28) Later assumed the position of Director (Resource Planning) at NUS.
(0:54:33) How funds were allocated to different faculties in NUS.
(0:57:29) The Ministry of Education (MOE), as the overseeing authority, offered unwavering support.
Posting to MND in 1990 and the circumstances that led to it. Anecdote about Permanent Secretary (MND) JY Pillay..His duties there as Director(Housing).Issues of public housing policy and the Housing and Development Board’s(HDB) upgrading programme. Unlike MOF, he did not really enjoy the work in MND. Relationship between administrators and professionals in MND.
Spoke at length about JY Pillay – a personable, polished, gentlemanly and highly intelligent person, who had a penchant for precision. Talked about Minister(MND) S. Dhanabalan. What he learnt from Messrs. Dhanabalan and Pillay.
Always preferred finance type of work. Expressed interest to join the National University of Singapore(NUS) as there was a vacancy there in the office of Deputy Bursar. Seconded to NUS as Dy. Bursar in 1993.His work there and how he fitted into the role. Degree of autonomy in NUS. Opted to retire in 1995 at age 45. About Vice-Chancellor NUS Lim Pin. Issue of capitation funding for NUS. Battle to set up University Cultural Centre. Appointed Bursar in 1999 and how he moved over to post of Director(Resource Planning) NUS. How funds were allocated to different faculties in NUS. Very supportive parent Ministry which was Education.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 5
Metadata
- 8 Nov 2010
Recording Date
- 00:33:45
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
- 9 Nov 2015
Date of Release
Synopsis
(0:00:12) Talked about his plan to retire from work in 2012.
(0:00:45) Talked about his wife, whom he married in 1979 and his 3 children.
(0:02:29) He spoke at length about his children.
(0:05:43) He touched on the changing landscape in Singapore.
(0:06:34) Factors he felt contributed to the nation’s phenomenal progress in the last 40 years.
(0:12:04) His views on self-help groups.
(0:17:43) His views on communal harmony.
(0:21:50) What he thought were the main challenges facing the country in the next 10 years.
(0:25:42) His thoughts on the future political landscape in Singapore.
(0:27:50) His thoughts about life after retirement, whether he would have done things differently if he had another life.
(0:30:05) His comments on the oft-repeated complaint that Singapore’s civil service was too elitist.
Talked about his plan to retire from work in 2012. About his wife, whom he married in 1979 and his 3 children. Touched on the changing landscape in Singapore and the factors which he felt contributed to Singapore’s phenomenal progress in the last 40 years.
His views on self-help groups ,communal relations and the future political landscape in Singapore. What he thought were the main challenges facing the country in the next 10 years. His thoughts about life after retirement, whether he would have done things differently if he had another life and the oft-repeated complaint that Singapore’s civil service was too elitist.
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