CHUA Cher Yak 蔡子益
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003257
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 5
Total Reels
- Jason Lim (Dr)
Interviewer
- 04:45:56
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 5
Metadata
- 13 Jun 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:23) Family background. Father was a street hawker. Family lived in a cubicle above a shophouse at Kallang Road.
(0:03:03) Life in the cubicle.
(0:04:55) Use of the common kitchen, toilet and bathroom.
(0:06:57) Talked about the neighbours, the coffee shop and a samshu (Chinese alcoholic liquor distilled from rice or large millet) shop.
(0:11:11) Recalled gambling game for food and tikam-tikam, a lucky draw game.
(0:13:27) Criminal activities in the Jalan Satu area.
(0:14:57) Effect of a robbery on him.
(0:16:47) Description of the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) flat that his family moved into in 1959.
(0:17:13) Changes in his family’s livelihood for the better.
(0:20:21) Father sold vegetables at a wet market on Idris Road.
(0:21:57) Attempts to take unwanted wood from a sawmill.
(0:22:57) Helped his uncle in a school tuckshop for 30 cents.
(0:24:46) Ate rice with curry or soy sauce as his family was poor.
(0:26:21) Studied Primary 1 at Balestier Mixed School, Primary 2 to 4 at May South School and Primary 5 and 6 at Cedar Boys’ Primary School.
(0:27:46) Impressions of his teachers - Messrs Chua Ah Bah, Tan Tian Seng, A T Suppiah and Soon Boon Chin.
(0:33:36) Played soccer and badminton in school.
(0:35:24) Equipment and training for soccer and badminton.
(0:40:25) Studied at Raffles Institution (RI) from 1961 to 1966.
(0:41:04) Impressions of his teachers at RI, including Mr Moses Tay, Mrs Denison, Mr Eugene Wijeysingha, Mr George Sobrello, Mrs Tan and Mr Lee Kok Cheong.
(0:55:30) Impression of facilities at RI until Jesudason became Principal.
(0:56:59) Thought of moving to Gan Eng Seng School (GESS) but his father objected.
*Family background. Father was a street hawker. Family lived in a cubicle above a shophouse at Kallang Road. Life in the cubicle. Use of the common kitchen, toilet and bathroom. Neighbours, the coffee shop and a samsoo shop. Gambling for food. Criminal activities in the Jalan Satu area. Effect on a robbery on him. Description of the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) flat that his family moved into in 1959. Changes in his family’s livelihood for the better. Father sold vegetables at a wet market in Idris Road. Attempts to take unwanted wood from a sawmill. Helped his uncle in a school tuckshop for 30 cents. Ate rice with curry or soy sauce as his family was poor.
Studied Primary 1 at Balestier Mixed School, Primary 2 to 4 at May South School and Primary 5 and 6 at Cedar Boys’ Primary School. Impressions of his teachers - Messrs Chua Ah Bah, Tan Tian Seng, A T Suppiah and Soon Boon Chin. Played soccer and badminton in school. Equipment and training for soccer and badminton. Studied in Raffles Institution (RI) from 1961 to 1966. Impressions of his teachers at RI including Mr Moses Tay, Mrs Denison, Mr Eugene Wijeysingha, Mr George Sobrello, Mrs Tan and Mr Lee Kok Cheong. Impression of facilities at RI until Jesudason became Principal. Thought of moving to Gan Eng Seng School (GESS) but his father objected.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 5
Metadata
- 13 Jun 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:34
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:28) Played soccer and hockey at Raffles Institution (RI).
(0:05:10) Schoolmates who later became prominent individuals.
(0:06:51) Ambition at the end of his pre-university studies at RI.
(0:07:23) Family objected to him going to university.
(0:08:44) Taught night classes at Beatty Secondary School.
(0:12:52) Why he joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) upon graduation from the University of Singapore in 1970.
(0:15:41) Read history at university. Impression of his lecturers, especially William Willetts.
(0:19:44) Did not participate in student union activities.
(0:20:29) Played rugby for Singapore Blacks and the University.
(0:23:58) Life in Raffles Hall.
(0:26:47) Mother’s attitude towards him joining the SPF.
(0:27:27) Public perceptions of the SPF as a career.
(0:30:13) First impressions of the SPF.
(0:31:07) Impressions of his training at the Police Academy.
(0:36:14) Organisation of police stations.
(0:37:34) Responsibility as Routine Officer and Investigation Officer from 1970 to 1972.
(0:39:41) Crimes in Singapore in the 1970s.
(0:43:11) Collecting evidence and investigation of murder cases.
(0:47:15) Investigation techniques.
(0:50:48) Investigation as a team effort.
(0:52:38) Talked about the interrogations.
(0:53:56) Felt the need to know one’s weaknesses in order to get a proper investigation done. (0:55:36) Responsibilities as Officer-in-Charge of Troop K2D at the Police Reserve Unit from 1973 to 1974.
*Played soccer and hockey at Raffles Institution (RI). Schoolmates who later became prominent individuals. Ambition at the end of his pre-university studies at RI. Family objected to him going to university. Taught night classes at Beatty Secondary School. Why he joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) upon graduation from University of Singapore in 1970. Read history at university. Impression of his lecturers especially William Willots. Did not participate in student union activities. Played rugby for Singapore Blacks and the University. Life in Raffles Hall.
Mother’s attitude towards him joining the SPF. Public perceptions of the SPF as a career. First impressions of the SPF. Impressions of his training at Police Academy. Organisation of police stations. Responsibility as Routine Officer and Investigation Officer from 1970 to 1972. Crimes in Singapore in the 1970s. Collecting evidence and investigation of murder cases. Investigation techniques. Investigation as a team effort. Interrogations. Felt the need to know one’s weaknesses in order to get a proper investigation done. Responsibilities as Officer-in-Charge of Troop K2D at the Police Reserve Unit from 1973 to 1974.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 5
Metadata
- 13 Jun 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:11) Anecdote concerning how the Police Reserve Unit was mobilised after a panther escaped from the Singapore Zoological Gardens.
(0:02:33) Impressions of his work in the Police Reserve Unit from 1973 to 1974.
(0:04:13) Impression of his work as Staff Officer (Planning) at Police Headquarters from 1974 to 1976.
(0:07:07) Drafting General Orders.
(0:09:44) Building new police stations to replace dilapidated ones.
(0:11:46) Proposal for 12 police divisions.
(0:15:13) Recollections of the Diploma in TPATP (Traffic Police Administration Training Programme) at Northwestern University, Illinois, from 1976 to 1977.
(0:17:59) Impressions of the Americans.
(0:21:35) Life in the United States.
(0:23:51) Impressions of the TPATP.
(0:24:45) He was not close to his coursemates.
(0:27:11) Appointment as Officer Commanding (OC) of Traffic Police in 1977.
(0:27:59) Responsibilities as OC Traffic Police.
(0:30:13) Importance of road and pedestrian safety.
(0:32:09) ‘Engineering, education and enforcement’ by the Traffic Police.
(0:34:47) Responsibilities as OC of ‘B’ Division (1978-1979) and ‘G’ Division (1979-1980).
(0:37:46) Measuring how crimes were dealt with and the public perception of security.
(0:41:14) Importance of motivating his men on the ground.
(0:45:44) Talked about ‘Vertical policing’.
(0:48:14) Differences in the criminal activities at ‘B’ and ‘G’ Divisions.
(0:50:34) Brief mention of the case of a ‘millionaire beggar’.
(0:51:16) Rescue efforts during a flood at Potong Pasir in 1978.
(0:57:21) Promotion to Director of Training in 1980.
*Anecdote concerning how the Police Reserve Unit was mobilised after a panther escaped from the Singapore Zoological Gardens. Impressions of his work in the Police Reserve Unit from 1973 to 1974. Impression of his work as Staff Officer (Planning) at Police Headquarters from 1974 to 1976. Drafting General Orders. Building new police stations to replace dilapidated ones. Proposal for 12 police divisions. Recollections of the Diploma in TPATP (Traffic Police Administration Training Programme) at Northwestern University, Illinois, from 1976 to 1977. Impressions of the Americans. Life in the United States. Impressions of the TPATP. He was not close to his coursemates.
Appointment as Officer Commanding (OC) of Traffic Police in 1977. Responsibilities as OC Traffic Police. Importance of road and pedestrian safety. ‘Engineering, education and enforcement’ by the Traffic Police. Responsibilities as OC of ‘B’ Division (1978-1979) and ‘G’ Division (1979-1980). Measuring how crimes were dealt and the public perception of security. Importance of motivating his men on the ground. ‘Vertical policing’. Differences in the criminal activities at ‘B’ and ‘G’ Divisions. Brief mention of the case of a ‘millionaire beggar’. Rescue efforts during a flood at Potong Pasir in 1978. Promotion to Director of Training in 1980.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 5
Metadata
- 26 Jun 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:20
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:16) Promoted to the Director of Training in 1980.
(0:02:53) Talked about neighbourhood policing.
(0:06:00) Impressions of the Japanese koban system.
(0:09:35) Beginnings and impressions of the Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) system.
(0:13:41) Introduction of new training methods and a minimal instruction standard.
(0:18:21) The ‘Question Bank’ initiative he started.
(0:20:26) Responsibilities as Director of Manpower and Administration from 1985 to 1987.
(0:22:11) Mapping out a career path for junior officers.
(0:23:36) Implementation of the Shell appraisal system for senior officers.
(0:26:24) Problems with the Shell appraisal system.
(0:29:02) Reaction to his appointment as Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 1987.
(0:30:16) Case of the kidnapping of a goldsmith.
(0:33:48) Recommendation that borrowers should be prosecuted with moneylenders.
(0:34:14) Monitored activities of ‘Ah Long’s (loanshark) son’ at CID and later at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
(0:36:08) Case of ‘Ah Huat’ who was killed by police at Clementi.
(0:39:27) Shootout at Hock Hai Building.
(0:40:56) Firearm robberies.
(0:41:30) Bombings in Singapore in the 1980s.
(0:44:40) Reasons for his unhappiness with his next appointment as Deputy Director of the Prisons Department from 1992 to 1994.
(0:46:44) Impressions of working life in the Prisons Department.
(0:47:12) People’s impressions that he was demoted because of his title of ‘Deputy Director’.
(0:48:46) How he got by at the Prisons Department.
(0:52:11) Put up a concept paper for Changi Prison Complex in 1994.
(0:57:16) Reaction to his new appointment as Director of CPIB in 1994.
*Promotion to Director of Training in 1980. Neighbourhood policing. Impressions of the Japanese koban system. Beginnings and impressions of the Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) system. Introduction of new training methods and a minimal instruction standard. The ‘Question Bank’. Responsibilities as Director of Manpower and Administration from 1985 to 1987. Mapping out a career path for junior officers. Implementation of the Shell appraisal system for senior officers. Problems with the Shell appraisal system. Reaction to his appointment of Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in 1987. Case of a goldsmith who was kidnapped and then killed. Arrest of the kidnapper.
Recommendation that borrowers should be prosecuted with moneylenders. Monitored activities of ‘Ah Long San’ at CID and later at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Case of ‘Ah Huat’ who was killed by police at Clementi. Shootout at Hock Hai Building. Firearm robberies. Bombings in Singapore in the 1980s. Reasons for his unhappiness with his next appointment as Deputy Director of the Prisons Department from 1992 to 1994. Impressions of working life in the Prisons Department. Wrong impressions that he was demoted because of his title ‘Deputy Director’. How he got by at Prisons Department. Put up a concept paper for Changi Prison Complex in 1994. Reaction to his new appointment as Director of CPIB in 1994.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 5
Metadata
- 26 Jun 2008
Recording Date
- 00:52:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:16) Reaction to his new appointment as Director of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in 1994.
(0:02:14) Interviewed by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and President Ong Teng Cheong before he was appointed Director of CPIB.
(0:03:24) Impressions of how CPIB staff reacted to his appointment.
(0:07:27) His plans for CPIB.
(0:13:12) Impression that CPIB needed to raise its profile.
(0:14:21) Creation of a Heritage Centre at CPIB.
(0:15:59) Impressions of CPIB when he joined in 1994.
(0:18:47) How he won the staff of CPIB over.
(0:22:34) Provision of training for new CPIB officers.
(0:25:06) Prominent cases dealt with at CPIB. Recalled a case concerning the deputy CEO of Singapore Power who was jailed for 14 years.
(0:26:19) Investigation of bribery in football.
(0:30:01) Performance indicators of the work of CPIB.
(0:31:23) Type of mindset needed during investigations.
(0:36:23) Announcement of his retirement date.
(0:37:25) Worked as Senior Director of the Home Team Academy from July to December 2005.
(0:41:02) Recollections of cross-jurisdictional investigation of corruption-related offences.
(0:41:45) Case of a request by the World Bank to investigate a Vietnamese official for corruption.
(0:43:27) Frequency of cross-jurisdictional investigations.
(0:45:15) Work as a freelance consultant with Governance and Anti-Corruption, part-time lecturer in the Civil Service College (CSC) and Executive Education Associate with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
(0:46:26) Consultancy projects undertaken in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Vietnam.
(0:50:29) Rejected requests from Nigeria and Pakistan.
(0:51:47) Future plans.
*Reaction to his new appointment as Director of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in 1994. Interviewed by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and President Ong Teng Cheong before he was appointed Director of CPIB. Impressions of how CPIB staff reacted to his appointment. His plans for CPIB. Impression that CPIB needed to raise its profile. Creation of a Heritage Centre at CPIB. Impressions of CPIB when he joined in 1994. How he won the staff of CPIB over. Provision of training for new CPIB officers. Prominent cases dealt with at CPIB. Performance indicators of the work of CPIB. Case concerning Choy Hon Tin who was jailed 14 years for corruption in 1995. Investigation of bribery in football.
Type of mindset needed during investigations. Plans for retirement by 2005. Worked as Senior Director of the Home Team Academy from July to December 2005. Recollections of cross-jurisdictional investigation of corruption-related offences. Case of a request by the World Bank to investigate a Vietnamese official for corruption. Frequency of cross-jurisdictional investigations. Current work as a freelance consultant with Governance and Anti-Corruption, part-time lecturer in the Civil Service College (CSC) and Executive Education Association with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Consultancy projects undertaken in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Vietnam. Rejected requests from Nigeria and Pakistan. Future plans.
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