Actually no. In those it was old man who did not tolerate any such nonsense. There are indeed benefits of being a autocratic tyrant. There was special unit in the old PWD at Kallang that handled all the things this man used to complain about. They would also clean up, patch up things etc when he plans to visit a place.
He would have removed the anyone that allowed this. He is 2 examples and he can be. While being driven along Bras Bash Road, he notice the SJI field which was undergoing complete repair was not doing well. It was under the cost of the School. He told PWD to re-do it. The second is a trivial matter but it shows his character.. he noticed a barks of a particular tree cracking someone in Singapore and he called the then NEA to explain why it cracked.
They lived in fear of him. If he saw hospital beds like this, I can assure you that heads will be rolling.
The son inherited the monopoly of power but it hopeless.
If his attention to details for things, that will, or had brought benefits to others & generations to come, it is a blessing!, but, he had became, that domineering, superstitious , picky Old "Peranakan lady"....who, with a slight, will go to the ends of the earth, to bring you down.
the "apples, that fell from his "tree"...though were good enough, are far from, what was expected of them....in other words, they "fell far from the tree"...