MOORTHI, R S T
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003035
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 02:27:38
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:53:05
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:20) Family background in Malaya, how his siblings decided to come to Singapore.
(0:02:30) Described life in the 1940s.
(0:08:09) Described British surrender in 1942.
(0:10:21) Learnt Japanese language in school during the Japanese Occupation.
(0:12:54) Return of British in 1945 and joy of locals. Little exposure to atrocities during the Japanese Occupation.
(0:16:37) He further elaborated about the spartan life he lived.
(0:23:27) Did not get through the Senior Cambridge examination.
(0:26:56) Joined the Colonial Secretary's Office in 1951 as a temporary clerk.
(0:29:09) Talked about movement of entire files between offices then.
(0:31:18) British bosses were generally okay. Talked about the primitive office layout.
(0:33:54) Movement of files practice replaced with minutes.
(0:36:51) Start of fight for self-government.
(0:37:24) Recruited into Executive Service after the examination and posted to the scholarship section.
(0:40:34) Left-wing agitation.
(0:42:52) Malayanisation scheme.
(0:43:48) Labour unrest due to exam questions.
(0:47:36) Victory of People's Action Party (PAP) in 1959.
(0:47:50) Colonial Secretary's Office scrapped.
(0:48:10) The Ministry of Finance (MOF) took over affairs of the civil service.
(0:49:26) Interesting episodes in MOF.
Family background in Malaya, how his siblings decided to come to Singapore. Very spartan life in 1940s - no electricity, no entertainment. Described British surrender in 1942 and sight of white men doing menial work. Learnt Japanese language in school during occupation. Return of British in 1945 and joy of locals. Little exposure to atrocities during occupation. Did not get through Senior Cambridge examination. Joined Colonial Secretary's Office in 1951 as temporary clerk. Movement of whole files between offices then. This practice replaced with minutes. British bosses generally okay, primitive office layout. Recruited into Executive Service after examination. Put in scholarship section. Start of fight for self-government. Left-wing agitation. Victory of People's Action Party (PAP) in 1959. Malayanisation scheme. Labour unrest. Colonial Secretary's Office scrapped. Ministry of Finance (MOF) took over affairs of the civil service. Interesting episodes in MOF.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:54:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:13) Dealings with civil service unions.
(0:04:15) Sent to Import-Export section. Not happy there.
(0:09:07) Transferred to Broadcasting in 1962. He was married by then.
(0:09:56) He talked about his marriage.
(0:11:12) He was put in charge of finance in broadcasting. Talked about the introduction of TV.
(0:14:06) Recruited a lot of expatriates.
(0:15:11) Lots of paperwork in finance.
(0:17:51) Bosses in broadcasting.
(0:26:25) Transferred to Personnel Section. Learnt about its duties from scratch.
(0:27:26) Racial riots in 1964. Separation from Malaysia in 1965.
(0:29:52) Had a very high opinion of Prime Minister Lee and the job done by the People's Action Party (PAP).
(0:32:20) Promoted to Higher Executive Officer in 1971.
(0:34:04) Described bosses Lee Yew Kim and Ng Leok Yew.
(0:39:22) He spoke at length about difficulties dealing with professional staff in Broadcasting.
(0:51:57) His thoughts on the remarkable transformation of Singapore over 30 years.
Dealings with civil service unions. Personal problems. Sent to Import-Export. Not happy there. Transferred to Broadcasting in 1962. Finance Section. Married by then. Expatriates there. Introduction of TV. Lots of paper work. Bosses in broadcasting. Transferred to Personnel Section. Learnt work from scratch. Racial riots in 1964. Separation from Malaysia in 1965. Had very high opinion of Prime Minister Lee and job done by People's Action Party (PAP). Promoted to Higher Executive Officer in 1971. Described bosses Lee Yew Kim and Ng Leok Yew. Difficulties dealing with professional staff in Broadcasting. His thoughts on remarkable transformation of Singapore over 30 years.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2006
Recording Date
- 00:39:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:13) Lee Kuan Yew’s advice to civil servants.
(0:01:27) Conversion of the station to a statutory board. Lots of work.
(0:02:49) Wanted to return to government service but asked to stay on.
(0:03:33) Very messy expansion into the statutory board without any proper approval.
(0:09:07) Everyone got fed up with the statutory board conversion saga.
(0:13:06) Promoted to Senior Executive Officer in 1980.
(0:15:43) Exhausted by 1984 and decided to retire at age 51. Retirement approved.
(0:19:11) Then assisted a relative in Little India who opened a shop. Business did not last.
(0:21:55) Took holiday in 1986.
(0:23:25) Totally free since 1986, helping with housework and deriving great joy from grandchildren.
(0:27:02) Very contented person with limited wants in life.
(0:27:19) Described today's youngsters as demanding but facing great stress.
(0:32:27) Felt People's Action Party (PAP) government has done wonders for the country.
(0:38:50) He cited the use of English as a contributory factor to the progress of Singapore.
Conversion of station to a statutory board. Lots of work. Wanted to return to government service but asked to stay on. Very messy expansion into statutory board without any proper approval. Promoted to Senior Executive Officer in 1980. Exhausted by 1984 and decided to retire at age 51. Retirement approved. Then assisted relative in Little India business shop. Did not last. Took holiday in 1986. Totally free since 1986, helping in housework and deriving great joy from grandchildren. Very contented person with limited wants in life. Described today's youngsters as demanding but facing great stress. Felt People's Action Party (PAP) government has done wonders for country and cited use of English as a contributory factor.
We will get back to your request within 5 working days
