PRESS STATEMENT
State Vehicular Funeral Procession AND FUNERAL SERVICE
FOR THE LATE DR GOH KENG SWEE ON 23 MAY 2010

1. The State Funeral Service is preceded by the State Vehicular Funeral Procession (SVFP). The SVFP is organised by HQ Singapore Artillery led by the Chairman LTC Alex Tan Tuan Loy, Commander Artillery Institute.

2. The State Funeral Service is organised by the Headquarters 9th Singapore Division / Infantry led by the Chairman ME7 HUNG CHIN PIEN, Chief Maintenance and Engineering Officer.

3. The SVFP will commence from Parliament House and arrive at the Singapore Conference Hall. As part of the SVFP, the casket will be carried on an Artillery Gun Carriage towed by a ceremonial Land Rover connected to a limber. The limber is a two-wheeled cart used to transport artillery ammunition in the past. The Gun Carriage consists of a 25-pound Gun mounted with a tempered glass case for the casket.

4. Traditionally, the Gun Carriage was used to carry the casket to burial grounds as part of British military tradition. It has since been accepted as a dignified way to transport the casket for state and military funerals. 32 Gunners from 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery in ceremonial unimogs (military trucks) will form the military escorts for the Gun Carriage and the bereaved family vehicles.

5. Upon arrival, the gun carriage will be flanked by the Line-of-Honour (LOH) at the entrance to the Singapore Conference Hall. The LOH is formed by the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command comprising 48 Military Police dressed in their No. 1 Ceremonial Uniform. The contingent is commanded by LTC KEVIN CHIN, Branch Head, G1 Army.

6. As the Gun Carriage passes through, the LOH will invert their weapons and bow their heads as a mark of respect. The 'Resting on Arms Reversed' symbolises the highest form of respect to the deceased.

7. The Coffin Bearer Party is commanded by LTC LIM TECK KIONG, Commanding Officer, 4th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment. The bearer party consists of eight officers, two each from the Army, Navy, Airforce and the Singapore Police Force representing all three Services of the Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team. A state flag is draped over the casket to accord the highest honour to the deceased, symbolising the nation’s recognition of his contribution to the country.

8. Following the procession are the Chief Mourner, MRS GOH KENG SWEE and family members. They are accompanied by the Chief Pall Bearer, DR YAACOB IBRAHIM, Minister for Environment and Water Resources. He is accompanied by RADM (NS) LUI TUCK YEW, Acting-Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts and six grassroots leaders from the People’s Association.

9. The coffin bearers will remove their head dress so that it will not fall off during the procession. The march is done at a slow pace to the tune – “Dead March from Saul” performed by the combined band from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Police Force.

10. On the casket are the accoutrements awarded to the late DR GOH KENG SWEE. He was accorded the following:

a. The Darjah Utama Temasek (Order of Temasek) (First Class) was awarded in 1985. The Order of Temasek (First Class) consisting of the Badge and the Star, is conferred by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Order of Temasek is the second highest National Honour accorded to a civilian, meant to recognise various forms of merit and service to the nation. Past recipients include the late MR S RAJARATNAM and DR WEE KIM WEE.
b. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an award designed to recognise integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The award was established in April 1957 by the trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) based in New York City with the concurrence of the Philippine government.
c. The Order of Sikatuna is the national order of diplomatic merit of the Republic of the Philippines. It is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines, upon diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines, or upon personnel of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), both in the Home Office and in the Foreign Service. Dr Goh Keng Swee was awarded the medal in 1972.
d. The Medal of Honour (NTUC) is conferred upon individuals who have rendered distinguished services to the Trade Union Movement. Dr Goh Keng Swee was awarded the medal in 1973.

11. Once in the concert hall, the casket is placed on a bier to facilitate the rest of the ceremony.

12. Dr Goh created many enduring organisations, and affected the lives of many Singaporeans. Apart from his family, many individuals and groups associated with Dr Goh are attending the Funeral Service. There are groups from the SAF, Home Team, schools, Statutory Boards like GIC, MAS, EDB and JTC, Government-Linked Companies like SembCorp and DBS, PAP, PA grassroots leaders, Kreta Ayer grassroots leaders and residents. A few of the many Singaporeans whom Dr Goh had had significant contact with at some point in his life are also present.
13. The Master of Ceremony for the Funeral Service is MR PETER HO, Head Civil Service.

14. There are five eulogies to be presented in the following order:

a. Prime Minister, MR LEE HSIEN LOONG

b. Minister Mentor, MR LEE KUAN YEW

c. Chairman Temasek Holdings, MR S DHANABALAN

d. Grandson, MR GOH KEN-YI

e. Grand Niece, MS MARIAN HUI

15. Two wreaths will be laid by MRS GOH KENG SWEE and Prime Minister, MR LEE HSIEN LOONG.

16. After which, the Coffin Bearers and the cap orderlies will undrape and fold the State flag. The State flag and the accoutrements will be presented by the President, MR S R NATHAN to MRS GOH KENG SWEE.

17. This is followed by a minute of silence which will be followed by the sounding of the “Last Post”. The bugler is ME1 GOH SOON PENG BENNY from the Singapore Armed Forces Band. Traditionally, the “Last Post” marks the end of the day's labours and the onset of the night's rest. In this context the “Last Post” has come to represent a final farewell to the fallen at the end of their earthly labours and at the onset of the eternal rest.

18. At the end of the “Last Post”, the casket will be marched out of the concert hall, marking the end of the State Funeral Service.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE FUNERAL SERVICE
OF THE LATE DR GOH KENG SWEE

22 MAY 2010