QUEK, John Teo Heng
The Public Service,
Accession Number 003827
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 03:17:00
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 13 Nov 2013
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:00:48) He went to Singapore Polytechnic, but they stopped the course after some time.
(0:02:09) Saved 30% of salary every month.
(0:02:37) Applied to the Royal College of Science and Technology in Glasgow.
(0:02:51) Got admission in 1960 but was found to have contracted tuberculosis.
(0:03:07) He went for treatment and applied again in 1962.
(0:06:56) He respected all his lecturers.
(0:08:25) Joined college on recovery with no-pay study leave from the Public Works Department (PWD).
(0:09:39) Life as an undergraduate in Glasgow.
(0:15:36) Awarded Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1964 and rejoined PWD.
(0:19:47) Story about taking a tram during curfew in 1964.
(0:23:57) Promoted full Engineer in 1966 and then promoted to higher executive engineer.
(0:28:24) Encounter with Prime Minister (PM) Lee Kuan Yew in Istana.
(0:30:39) Described the general attitude of PM Lee Kuan Yew towards them.
(0:33:51) Second encounter with PM Lee on a military plane.
(0:39:34) PM Lee’s caustic sense of humour.
(0:39:37) PM Lee was personally very interested in the road project in Singapore.
(0:41:43) The government decided to create a network of highways.
(0:42:48) He elaborated on the first highway constructed by the PWD.
(0:46:16) Shared a story about putting a retaining wall around a Chinese grave to prevent it from being disturbed due to road widening.
(0:51:13) Exhumation of 14,000 graves in Kampong Bahru Road.
(0:57:53) Dealings with Members of Parliament (MPs).
Saved 30% of salary every month. Applied to Royal College of Science and Technology in Glasgow. Got place but contracted tuberculosis. Joined college on recovery with no-pay leave from Public Works Department (PWD). Life as an undergraduate in Glasgow. Awarded Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1964 and rejoined PWD. Story about curfew in 1964. Promoted full Engineer in 1966. Described his work in the Roads Branch. Encounter with Prime Minister (PM) Lee Kuan Yew in Istana. Lessons on tree planting from PM Lee Kuan Yew. Second encounter with PM Lee on a military plane. PM Lee’s caustic sense of humour. PM Lee’s personal interest in road development. Planning for a network of highways. Land acquisition to do this. Gave examples of road widening. The public relations component of his work. Exhumation of 14,000 graves in Kampong Bahru Road. Exhumation in Keramats. Dealings with Members of Parliament (MPs).
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 15 Nov 2013
Recording Date
- 00:21:56
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
(0:01:03) He had no regrets about his career.
(0:02:57) How he got the name “John”.
(0:04:52) Commented that the government did not adjust their pensions despite increasing living costs.
(0:07:55) Elaborated on the problems with planning in Singapore.
(0:09:18) Why he considered himself very lucky in his time.
(0:11:21) His thoughts on race relations today and potential future dangers for Singapore.
(0:16:51) He felt China could be a big factor in their future as a competitor.
(0:20:36) Elaborated on the factors that contributed to Singapore’s phenomenal development.
No regrets about career. Considered himself to be lucky in many ways. How he got the name “John”. His thoughts on whether anything could have been done better in the last 40 years. His thoughts on race relations today and potential future dangers for Singapore. Factors that contributed to Singapore’s phenomenal development.
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