LIM Siam Kim
The Public Service,
Accession Number 002587
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 12
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 05:43:06
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 12
Metadata
- 19 Dec 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:19) Family background and childhood memories at Lavender Street.
(0:03:28) Childhood games.
(0:05:43) Lavender Street in the 1940s and 1950s. Visiting cinemas.
(0:07:38) Open-air cinemas in schools.
(0:10:18) Prominent buildings in his neighbourhood.
(0:13:05) 'Wayang' performances at Kallang.
(0:14:16) Schools in the area then.
(0:15:50) Recollections of his parents. Availability of food.
(0:18:43) Recollections of his teachers at McNair and Rangoon Road Schools.
(0:21:46) Joined Wolf Cubs at McNair School.
(0:22:59) Scouts activities at Rangoon Road School.
(0:25:19) Joined Sea Cadets at Beatty Secondary School.
(0:28:51) Recollection of trip by dinghy along the east coast of Malaya.
Earliest memories. Life in tenement flat at Lavender Street. Childhood games. Lavender Street in 1940s and 1950s. Visiting cinemas. Prominent buildings in area where he lived. 'Wayang' performances at Kallang. Schools in area. Recollections of his parents. Availability of food. Recollections of his teachers at McNair and Rangoon Road Schools. Joined Wolf Cubs at McNair School and Scouts at Rangoon Road School. Joined Sea Cadets at Beatty Secondary School. Recollection of trip by dinghy along east coast of Malaya.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 12
Metadata
- 19 Dec 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:26) Recollection of trip by dinghy along the east coast of Malaya.
(0:03:57) Reason why he was sent to Beatty Secondary School.
(0:05:44) School prefects and co-curricular activities.
(0:07:11) Recollections of his teachers.
(0:10:42) His initial ambitions. Reason why he ended up leaving the school after O-Level.
(0:12:51) His reaction to his posting to Beatty Secondary School due to the policy change.
(0:14:20) Recollections of his classmates and schoolmates.
(0:17:09) Presence of gangsters and secret society members around Beatty Secondary School in the 1950s.
(0:20:00) Gangsterism in school.
(0:22:08) How he came to work as a salesman for Donald Moore.
(0:26:21) Impressions of Donald Moore.
(0:29:44) Applied to be a teacher.
Recollection of trip by dinghy along east coast of Malaya. Why he was sent to Beatty Secondary School. Recollections of his teachers. Reasons for leaving school in 1960. His reaction on his posting to Beatty Secondary School. Recollections of his schoolmates. Presence of gangsters and secret society members in area. Worked as salesman for Donald Moore in 1960. Impressions of Donald Moore. Joined Education Service as teacher in 1962.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 12
Metadata
- 19 Dec 2001
Recording Date
- 00:30:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:09) Recollection of his friends at the University of Singapore (NUS).
(0:02:34) Served National Service with the Singapore Police Force in 1967.
(0:04:35) Patrolling duties in various areas.
(0:07:07) Research Unit duties.
(0:08:21) His colleagues in the Research Unit.
(0:10:44) How he joined the Administrative Service after graduation. Bypassing offers from other agencies.
(0:15:46) His initial hopes after graduation. Reaction to the appointment into the Administrative Service.
(0:17:48) First impressions of work as an Administrative Assistant in the Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) in June 1969.
(0:20:05) Impressions of his mentors.
(0:22:29) Responsibilities in religious matters and social welfare.
(0:24:30) Recalled his first time working with a Minister.
(0:26:10) Posted to the Ministry of Education (MOE) as Assistant Secretary in December 1969.
(0:27:30) Handled staff matters at MOE.
Recollection of his friends in University of Singapore. Served National Service with Singapore Police Force. Events which led to him joining Administrative Service after graduation. His hopes after graduation. First impressions of work as Administrative Assistant in Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) in June 1969. Impressions of his mentors. Responsibilities in religious matters and social welfare. Posted to Ministry of Education (MOE) as Assistant Secretary in December 1969. Handled staff matters at MOE.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 12
Metadata
- 4 Jan 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:10) Recollection of a disciplinary case against a school principal.
(0:03:06) Case of a school principal who did not apply to cross salary bar.
(0:06:03) Action taken for back pay and salary adjustment.
(0:08:48) Addressing various issues with teachers and principals.
(0:11:45) Recounted a case involving a school teacher's molestation of female students, which led to the suicide of the principal.
(0:13:22) Staff Officers (SO) who handled the posting of teachers.
(0:15:40) Problems in keeping track of teachers in the early years of computerisation.
(0:19:36) SO struggled with incomplete manual teacher records.
(0:23:08) Promotion of arts upon his appointment as Principal Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Culture from 1973 to 1976.
(0:25:45) Events and exhibitions with affordable tickets.
(0:27:41) Concurrent role as the Director of National Theatre Trust from 1974 to 1981. Building the National Theatre.
Disciplinary case against school principal. Case of school principal who did not apply to cross salary bar. Case of principal who committed suicide. Staff Officers (SO) who handled posting of teachers. Problems in keeping track of teachers in early years of computerisation. Promotion of arts upon his appointment as Principal Assistant Secretary in Ministry of Culture from 1973 to 1976. Concurrent role as Director of National Theatre Trust from 1974 to 1981. Building the National Theatre.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 12
Metadata
- 4 Jan 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:11) Building the National Theatre. Design and usage of the National Theatre.
(0:03:00) Overseas performances held in the National Theatre.
(0:06:59) Anecdote concerning a pop music performance and police investigation of a noise disturbance.
(0:08:59) Recounted an ice rink stage incident during an ice show.
(0:12:33) Impressions of the campaign against "yellow culture" in the late 1960s.
(0:14:45) The Ministry of Culture focused on promoting classical and high culture. Restrictions on performances like striptease.
(0:19:31) Transition to Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) as Principal Assistant Secretary in 1976. Initial issues during his first week of work.
(0:20:56) New responsibilities at MSA.
(0:24:46) Anecdote of a "professional beggar" at People's Park.
(0:26:36) Welfare policies aimed to discourage dependence.
(0:29:09) Use of "means test" for public assistance.
Building National Theatre. Performances in National Theatre. Arrival of Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe. Anecdote concerning pop music performance and ice show. Impressions of campaign against "yellow culture", and what would be promoted by Ministry of Culture. First week of work in his new appointment as Principal Assistant Secretary in Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA) in 1976. New responsibilities at MSA. Anecdote of "professional beggar" at People's Park. Official policies on begging and welfare. Use of "means test" for public assistance.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 12
Metadata
- 27 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:12) Conflict between the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
(0:01:47) Building of the Indoor Stadium by SSC.
(0:02:56) SSC and FAS meetings. Ministry’s role as mediator between rival groups.
(0:05:18) Issues focused on at the Ministry of Social Affairs (MSA).
(0:06:21) Issues covered in FAS meetings.
(0:10:10) Experiences as the Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from 1981 to 1990.
(0:13:49) Responsibilities at MHA. Maintained high ethical standards throughout his stint.
(0:16:37) Recalled an impactful case where a man committed suicide when his wife could not obtain permanent residence.
(0:20:21) Involvement in the arrest of suspects in "Marxist conspiracy" in 1987.
(0:22:31) Preparation and exercises by the Executive Group for hijacking events.
(0:24:22) Use of the Executive Group mechanism for handling the Hotel New World collapse in 1986.
(0:26:12) How MHA dealt with prostitution in Singapore.
Recollection of events in Singapore Sports Council (SSC) when he was Deputy Chairman. Long meetings at Football Association of Singapore (FAS). Impressions of his new posting as Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from 1981 to 1990. Responsibilities at MHA. Case of man who committed suicide when his wife could not obtain permanent residence. Involvement in arrest of suspects in "Marxist conspiracy" in 1987. Role of Executive Group. How MHA dealt with prostitution in Singapore.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 12
Metadata
- 27 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:24) His involvement in the removal of Thai prostitutes from Clifford Pier.
(0:01:45) Impressions of the Clifford Pier and the Red Lantern Nightclub.
(0:04:57) Supervision of the police department as Deputy Secretary. Reason why he had to be on standby all day.
(0:07:42) Recollection of the demonstration by a Taiwanese religious group.
(0:09:19) Recalled the bombing of Faber House.
(0:10:36) Action taken against "mini turf clubs" (illegal betting centres).
(0:12:34) His role as the Director of the Singapore Pools in eliminating illegal gambling.
(0:15:28) Other directorships held. Conflict of interest between his two positions.
(0:16:43) Role as the Deputy Secretary of the Criminal Law Advisory Committee (Review Committee).
(0:20:13) Glue sniffing culture and the legislation introduced by MHA.
(0:23:38) Positive impact of the legislation. Inspired other countries to consider similar legislation.
(0:25:30) Occasion when a letter with a glaring mistake was faxed and how he corrected it.
Removal of Thai prostitutes from Clifford Pier. Why he had to be on standby all day. Recollection of demonstration by Taiwanese religious group and bombing of Faber House. Action taken against "mini turf clubs" (illegal betting centres). Conflict of interest as Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and as a Director of Singapore Pools. Role as member of Criminal Law Advisory Committee (Review Committee) from 1984 to 1989. How glue sniffing was tackled by MHA. Occasion when letter with glaring mistake was faxed in 1987.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 12
Metadata
- 27 Feb 2002
Recording Date
- 00:30:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:21) How he corrected a glaring mistake in a critical letter before it was sent to Kuala Lumpur.
(0:02:20) Lesson learnt from the incident.
(0:04:34) Transferred to the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) as Deputy Secretary in 1990.
(0:06:24) Beginnings of the Ministry of Information and the Arts (MITA) in 1991.
(0:10:25) Formation of Statutory Boards from 1991 onwards.
(0:11:37) Involvement in the formation of the National Heritage Board (NHB) in 1993.
(0:13:26) Work of first Censorship Review Committee. Introduction of the film classification system.
(0:17:10) Restriction of foreign media circulation to prevent biased reporting.
(0:22:12) Formation and expansion of NHB since 1993.
(0:24:16) Evolution of NHB’s role. Priorities at the formation of NHB.
(0:26:32) How he was appointed Press Secretary to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Secretary (Special Duties) in MITA in March 1997.
(0:28:43) Managed responsibilities from three offices simultaneously.
Occasion when letter with glaring mistake was faxed in 1987. Transferred to Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) as Deputy Secretary in 1990. Beginnings of Ministry of Information and the Arts (MITA) in 1991. Formation of National Heritage Board (NHB) in 1993. Work of first Censorship Review Committee. Restriction of circulation of foreign magazines and newspapers. Expansion of NHB since 1993. Priorities at formation of NHB. Appointed Press Secretary to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Secretary (Special Duties) in MITA in March 1997.
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