TAN Wee Kiat (Dr) (Kiat W. Tan) 陈伟杰
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003047
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 5
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 04:48:38
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
- 28 Mar 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:41
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) Recollections of his parents and siblings. Grew up on Kim Seng Road.
(0:03:34) Recollections of the Great World Amusement Park.
(0:06:01) The family garden. His mother grew fragrant plants.
(0:06:26) Visit by peddlers. A source of excitement for the kids.
(0:07:16) Children relied on their imagination to form games.
(0:09:26) His mother’s believed in the importance of education.
(0:10:08) Mother worked hard and saved money to send children to tuition classes.
(0:11:21) Father was a member of the Goh Loo Club.
(0:13:44) Recollection of an air-raid shelter. Little recollection of life during the Japanese Occupation.
(0:15:14) Parents’ interest in plants.
(0:18:11) Parents’ involvement in the Malayan Orchid Society.
(0:20:22) Interest generated in orchids.
(0:23:31) Recollections of teachers at Gan Eng Seng School from 1950 to 1961.
(0:24:46) Role as a Prefect. Gangs in the school.
(0:26:12) Participation in the societies and sporting activities.
(0:28:14) Attended the World Youth Forum in New York, Maryland and New Jersey in 1960.
(0:33:53) Competition for scholarships.
(0:35:37) How he adjusted and adapted to life in the US. First experience with snow.
(0:39:17) Chose to study in Williams College. Fraternity activities at the college.
(0:45:39) Worked in a Quaker summer camp.
(0:47:05) Interest in botany. Obtained a National Science Foundation Scholarship.
(0:48:38) Meeting President John Kennedy.
(0:51:16) Impression of the impact of the assassination of John Kennedy on American society.
(0:52:05) No news of Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965.
(0:52:47) Nearly drafted to fight in the Vietnam War.
(0:53:51) How he later became an American citizen.
(0:56:12) Currently paying taxes in both the US and Singapore.
*Recollections of his parents and siblings. Grew up in Kim Seng Road. Recollections of Great World Amusement Park. Family garden. Visit by pedlars. Children’s imagination for games. His mother’s belief in the importance of education. Tuition classes. Father was a member of the Gnoh Loo Club. Recollection of an air-raid shelter. Little recollection of life during the Japanese Occupation. Parents’ interest in plants. Nurseries. Parents’ involvement in the Malayan Orchid Society. Interest generated in orchids. Recollections of teachers at Gan Eng Seng School from 1950 to 1961. Role as a Prefect. Gangs in the school. Participation in societies’ and sporting activities. Attended the World Youth Forum in New York, Maryland and New Jersey in 1960. Competition for scholarships. How he adjusted and adapted to life in the United States. First experience of snow. Chose to study in Williams College. Fraternity activities. Worked in a Quaker summer camp. Interest in botany. Obtained a National Science Foundation Scholarship. Meeting President John Kennedy. Impression of the impact of the assassination of John Kennedy on American society. No news of Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965. Nearly drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. How he later became an American citizen. Currently paying taxes in both the United States and Singapore.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 5
Metadata
- 28 Mar 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:24
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:08) Why he went to Michigan State University (MSU) on a Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship.
(0:04:41) Completed a thesis on orchids.
(0:05:39) Student life at MSU. Talked about the Spartans – the university’s top football team.
(0:07:26) Reason he chose to do a PhD in Biology at the University of Miami.
(0:08:33) Fieldwork in Central and South America.
(0:10:20) Recollections of his work as a biology teacher at Palm Beach Junior College in Florida from 1971 to 1973.
(0:13:12) Completed his PhD dissertation and began work at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens at Sarasota in Florida as a Research Assistant.
(0:14:28) Challenges as a Teaching Assistant at MSU and the University of Miami from 1965 to 1971.
(0:18:07) Learnt tropical ecology and botany in the Amazon and Borneo.
(0:19:13) Establishment of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 1973. Growth of the Gardens.
(0:21:45) Challenges he faced while setting up the Orchid Identification Centre (OIC) in the Gardens. His work in the OIC.
(0:26:32) Getting volunteers for the Gardens and working with them.
(0:28:37) Set up the Museum of Botany and the Arts in the Gardens in 1980. Internship programme in the Gardens.
(0:29:48) Thoughts of returning to Singapore.
(0:30:54) Circumstances that led to his return to Singapore and appointment as an Assistant Commissioner in the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) in 1982.
(0:36:09) Creation of the National Parks Board (NParks) in 1990.
(0:40:21) Felt the need to heal schisms between the PRD and NParks in 1995.
(0:42:31) First grant for NParks marked for $50 million.
(0:44:00) Lee Kuan Yew’s vision for a ‘garden city’.
(0:45:24) Initial challenge of having to change the mindset of officers at PRD. Criticism of PRD over the use of land.
(0:47:57) Impression of the importance of ‘face’ in the Civil Service.
(0:48:24) First thing he did as Assistant Commissioner.
(0:52:38) Impression of cronyism in the Civil Service.
(0:54:09) Need for changes in the mindset of civil servants.
(0:55:04) Importance of intelligence and pragmatism in the Civil Service today.
(0:56:09) Impressions of the Ministry of National Development (MND) since the 1980s.
*Why he went to Michigan State University (MSU) on a Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship. Completed a thesis on orchids. Student life at MSU. Why he chose to do a PhD in Biology at the University of Miami. Fieldwork in Central and South America. Recollections of his work as a biology teacher at Palm Beach Junior College in Florida from 1971 to 1973. Completed his PhD dissertation and began work at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens at Sarasota in Florida as a Research Assistant. Challenges as a Teaching Assistant at MSU and the University of Miami from 1965 to 1971. Learnt tropical ecology and botany in the Amazon and Borneo. Establishment of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in 1973. Growth of the Gardens. Challenges he faced while setting up the Orchid Identification Centre (OIC) in the Gardens. His work in the OIC. Getting volunteers for the Gardens and working with them. Set up the Museum of Botany and the Arts in the Gardens in 1980. Internship programme in the Gardens. Thoughts of returning to Singapore.
Circumstances that led to his return to Singapore and appointment as an Assistant Commissioner in the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) in 1982. Creation of the National Parks Board (NParks) in 1990. Felt the need to heal schisms between the PRD and NParks in 1995. First grant for NParks marked for $50 million. Lee Kuan Yew’s vision for a ‘garden city’. Initial challenge of having to change the mindset of officers at PRD. Criticism of PRD over the use of land. Impression of the importance of ‘face’ in the Civil Service. First thing he did as Assistant Commissioner. Impression of cronyism in the Civil Service. Need for changes in the mindset of civil servants. Importance of intelligence and pragmatism in the Civil Service today. Impressions of the Ministry of National Development (MND) since the 1980s.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 5
Metadata
- 14 Apr 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:38
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) His work as Executive Director of the National Parks Board (NParks) from 1990 to 1996 and the challenges faced.
(0:02:14) Upgrading of Fort Canning Historical Park.
(0:07:36) Marketing of decrepit buildings. Buildings for Singapore Theatre Works and Singapore Dance Theatre.
(0:10:54) Attempts to remove the Telecom Tower at Fort Canning and open the reservoir to the public.
(0:15:05) Belief that buildings in the Fort Canning area should not be taller than the hill.
(0:17:35) Restored use of the slope at Canning Rise.
(0:18:51) Plans to rejuvenate the Botanic Gardens.
(0:20:15) Anecdote concerning the Herbarium Collection at the Botanic Gardens.
(0:25:39) Merger of NParks with the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) with Botanic Gardens as the flagship.
(0:26:40) Changes to the Botanic Gardens.
(0:30:52) Impression that Botanic Gardens should not be like ‘Central Park’ in the US.
(0:32:31) Merger of the two parts of the Botanic Gardens cut by Cluny Road.
(0:34:23) Plotting gardens at the land at the National Institute of Education (NIE) at Bukit Timah Road.
(0:36:04) Human resource issues with the merger of the NParks and PRD.
(0:37:38) Belief that parks and green spaces should not be merged for their own sake.
(0:42:11) Appointment as Commission of PRD in 1995. His role as CEO of NParks from 1996 to 2006 was to make Singapore a ‘Garden City’.
(0:47:41) Tree conservation areas and attempt to preserve greenery. Cost of killing heritage trees.
(0:52:35) Conservation of Chek Jawa and Sungei Buloh.
(0:53:54) Plans for a bigger Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
(0:55:58) Role of NParks. Constructing ‘park connectors’.
*Recollections of his work as Executive Director of the National Parks Board (NParks) from 1990 to 1996. Challenges faced. Upgrading of Fort Canning Historical Park. Marketing of decrepit buildings. Buildings for TW and SDT. Attempts to remove the Telecom Tower at Fort Canning and open the reservoir to the public. Belief that buildings in the Fort Canning area should not be taller than the hill. Restored use of the slope at Canning Rise. Plans to rejuvenate the Botanic Gardens. Anecdote concerning the Herbarium Collection at the Botanic Gardens. Merger of NParks with the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) with Botanic Gardens as the flagship. Changes to the Botanic Gardens. Impression that Botanic Gardens should not be like ‘Central Park’ in the United States. Merger of the two parts of the Botanic Gardens cut by Cluny Road. Plotting gardens at the land at the National Institute of Education (NIE) at Bukit Timah Road. Human resource issues with the merger of the NParks and PRD. Belief that parks and green spaces should not be merged for their own sakes. Appointment as Commission of PRD in 1995. Role as Chief Executive Officer of NParks from 1996 to 2006 was to make Singapore a ‘Garden City’. Tree conservation areas and attempt to preserve greenery. Cost of killing heritage trees. Conservation of Chek Jawa and Sungei Buloh. Plans for a bigger Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Role of NParks. Constructing ‘park connectors’.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 5
Metadata
- 14 Apr 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:06) Constructing ‘park connectors’.
(0:02:19) Emergence of the political role of the National Parks Board (NParks).
(0:03:41) Nurturing a horticultural industry and the need to change mindsets.
(0:06:38) Impressions of Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice.
(0:08:28) Research on plant species in Singapore.
(0:09:28) Increasing public awareness of plants and the role of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).
(0:10:40) Justification of the salary of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NParks.
(0:12:10) Offered a job at the Mandai Orchid Garden but he was persuaded to stay at NParks.
(0:14:22) Impression of the Civil Service, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and mental blocks.
(0:16:48) Impressions of his work as CEO of NParks from 1996 to 2006.
(0:18:24) Difficult to measure the value of green space.
(0:22:21) Retention of his US citizenship.
(0:23:02) Expatriate officers at NParks.
(0:24:45) Retired from NParks in 2006. Basic salaries of NPark workers.
(0:27:30) Current work as Adviser to NParks and Project Director of the Gardens by the Bay.
(0:30:10) Problems with planning Gardens by the Bay.
(0:36:45) Linking Gardens by the Bay with the Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Historical Park.
(0:38:18) Plant species at Gardens by the Bay.
(0:41:03) His work on orchids.
(0:44:05) Efforts to protect international biodiversity.
(0:46:06) Criteria on judging orchids.
(0:48:38) Talked about how one can become an International Orchid Judge and the judging of orchids.
(0:51:53) Role as a Trustee of the Loke Cheng Kim Foundation since 1983. Scholarships from the Foundation.
(0:56:11) Frequency of meetings.
(0:57:42) Development of the Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd.
*Constructing ‘park connectors’. Emergence of the political role of the National Parks Board (NParks). Nurturing a horticultural industry and the need to change mindsets. Impressions of Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice. Research on plant species in Singapore. Increasing public awareness of plants and the role of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Justification of the salary of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NParks. Offered a job at the Mandai Orchid Garden but he was persuaded to stay at NParks. Impression of the Civil Service, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and mental blocks. Impressions of his work as CEO of NParks from 1996 to 2006. Difficult to measure the value of green space. Retention of his United States citizenship. Expatriate officers at NParks. Retired from NParks in 2006. Basic salaries of NPark workers. Current work as Advisor to NParks and Project Director of the Gardens by the Bay. Problems with planning Gardens by the Bay. Linking Gardens by the Bay with the Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Historical Park. Plant species at Gardens by the Bay. His work on orchids. Efforts to protect international biodiversity. Criteria on judging orchids. How one became an International Orchid Judge and judging orchids. Role as a Trustee of the Loke Cheng Kim Foundation since 1983. Scholarships from the Foundation. Frequency of meetings. Development of the Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 5
Metadata
- 29 Apr 2008
Recording Date
- 00:54:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:09) The two aims of the Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd.
(0:03:51) Competing in projects and challenges faced by Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd.
(0:05:21) Travelling overseas and his toughest assignments.
(0:07:39) Formation of the Singapore Environment Council.
(0:09:58) Convincing people of the need to conserve the environment and biodiversity.
(0:10:41) Role as a member of the Singapore Environment Council.
(0:11:24) Engagement with schools and the media towards conserving the environment.
(0:14:11) Response from newspapers, especially the Chinese press.
(0:16:32) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the Civil Service are not useful in helping to protect the environment.
(0:18:03) Conservation of Chek Jawa and Sungei Buloh Nature Reserves.
(0:22:59) How far Singapore has come with environmental protection since the 1980s.
(0:26:45) Dealing with strident green groups and the importance of compromise.
(0:27:39) Increasing awareness for environmental protection and impact on his work.
(0:34:01) Role as Board Member in the National Parks Board (1983-2006) and the National Environmental Agency (2002-2005). Environmental protection messages.
(0:37:25) ‘Brown’ issues. Curtailing litter.
(0:41:44) Campaign to stop people from picking flowers and fruits from public land.
(0:43:34) How he sees his role as a civil servant and as an environmental conservationist at the same time.
(0:44:55) Dealing with the Civil Service over the environment and parks.
(0:49:31) His future plans. Design and future of Gardens by the Bay.
*The two aims of the Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd. Competing in projects and challenges faced by Singapore Garden City Pte Ltd. Travelling overseas and his toughest assignments. Formation of the Singapore Environment Council. Convincing people of the need to conserve the environment and biodiversity. Role as a member of the Singapore Environment Council. Engagement with schools and the media towards conserving the environment. Response from newspapers. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the Civil Service are not useful in helping to protect the environment. Conservation of Chek Jawa and Sungei Buloh Nature Reserves. How far Singapore has come with environmental protection since the 1980s. Dealing with strident green groups and the importance of compromise. Increasing awareness for environmental protection and impact on his work. Role as Board Member in the National Parks Board (1983-2006) and the National Environmental Agency (2002-2005). Environmental protection messages. ‘Brown’ issues. Curtailing litter. Campaign to stop people from picking flowers and fruits from public land. How he sees his role as a civil servant and as an environmental conservationist at the same time. Dealing with the Civil Service over the environment and parks. His future plans. Design of Gardens by the Bay.
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