Many of you all might recall the 2001 elections for a number of reasons but one of the most important feature of the elections was the fact that Goh Chok Tong in his last term in office took the sword to MPs who went too far. This is the something that has never been mentioned in the press before.
Flashback to 1997 and we had GCT confronting in the press the President of Redas, Heng Chiang Meng who was also a PAP MP for having a conflict of interest. Redas is arguably the most influential lobby group in Singapore with first the wife of the old man and now her niece being involved. This led to Heng resigning as the president of the lobby group.
Anyone astute enough would have noticed that Ng Teng Fong and his son Philip began a pincer movement of acquiring a stable of PAP MPs using the Far East Group vehicles such as Orchard Parade Holding Holdings and Yeo Hiap Seng. It led to many other PAP MPs gong all out to canvass for directorships. The floodgates had opened. Those interested can find out who got kicked out prior to 2001 elections and their association with property firms. The only survivors were old and his son for obvious reasons. By the way, old man did indicate that his brother had accumulated more than $100m in assets. A revelation that he inadvertently disclosed last year to justify high salaries for those in public service. And it is in black and white.
Only a year back in 1996 the lessons of Nassim Jade where old man and his son had to front up and answer questions regarding the entire family and their long standing colleagues in Lee & Lee being given favourable discounts at HPL soft launch courtesy of Ong Beng Seng of Slater Walker fame were not learnt. Ng Teng Fong was not about to lose out to OBS just because old man's younger brother sat on the latter's board.
In the 2001, GCT took out everyone associated with the property sector including those who got directorship with Dr Wan Soon Bee being one of the casualties having had the distinction of holding the most board seats.
Is it no surprise that Tan Cheng Bock resigned from the board of Jurong Hospital over the naming of Ng Teng Fong.
Welcome to the country that prides itself for being incorruptible, squeaky clean and white than white.
Flashback to 1997 and we had GCT confronting in the press the President of Redas, Heng Chiang Meng who was also a PAP MP for having a conflict of interest. Redas is arguably the most influential lobby group in Singapore with first the wife of the old man and now her niece being involved. This led to Heng resigning as the president of the lobby group.
Anyone astute enough would have noticed that Ng Teng Fong and his son Philip began a pincer movement of acquiring a stable of PAP MPs using the Far East Group vehicles such as Orchard Parade Holding Holdings and Yeo Hiap Seng. It led to many other PAP MPs gong all out to canvass for directorships. The floodgates had opened. Those interested can find out who got kicked out prior to 2001 elections and their association with property firms. The only survivors were old and his son for obvious reasons. By the way, old man did indicate that his brother had accumulated more than $100m in assets. A revelation that he inadvertently disclosed last year to justify high salaries for those in public service. And it is in black and white.
Only a year back in 1996 the lessons of Nassim Jade where old man and his son had to front up and answer questions regarding the entire family and their long standing colleagues in Lee & Lee being given favourable discounts at HPL soft launch courtesy of Ong Beng Seng of Slater Walker fame were not learnt. Ng Teng Fong was not about to lose out to OBS just because old man's younger brother sat on the latter's board.
In the 2001, GCT took out everyone associated with the property sector including those who got directorship with Dr Wan Soon Bee being one of the casualties having had the distinction of holding the most board seats.
Is it no surprise that Tan Cheng Bock resigned from the board of Jurong Hospital over the naming of Ng Teng Fong.
Welcome to the country that prides itself for being incorruptible, squeaky clean and white than white.
