Commandant of Safti Military to lead singapore Sports Council

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BG Lim to head SSC
New chief believes that 'the most important people are the athletes'
By Chan U-Gene

THE interest of Singapore's athletes lay foremost in the mind of Singapore Sports Council's (SSC) new chief executive officer (CEO) Brigadier-General Lim Teck Yin.

The 48-year-old Commandant of Safti Military Institute, who will retire from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on March 31 to assume his new role the day after, was announced yesterday as the new man to head Singapore sports.

But the grandson of Singapore's wartime hero Lim Bo Seng said he would be flattering himself if he believes the post is the most important in Singapore sport.

'The most important people are the athletes,' he said. 'My job is to fundamentally ensure that all sportspeople, be it hobbyists, elites or spectators, get an opportunity to have a fulfilling life in sports.'

The former national water polo player's appointment ended a three-month long international search for former chief Oon Jin Teik's replacement.

When Oon, 47, announced his departure last October after six years in charge, BG Lim sought the approval of the SAF to apply for the job.

Said the father of four, who will reveal his plans for Singapore sport at a later date: 'It's not easy to find a second career that can be as exciting as the time I had with the army.'

But the transition between jobs will not be immediate for BG Lim, who is currently involved in an SAF major programme course.

He said: 'I'm getting into the job only on the first of April. I have not even stepped into the SSC's office or met anyone yet.'

BG Lim, described by officials in the water polo fraternity as being 'a very good people person' will have an introductory meet-up with the SSC's senior management team today.

When contacted, several presidents of the National Sports Associations were happy with BG Lim's appointment and looking forward to working with him.

Jeffrey Leow, president of Singapore Swimming Association (SSA), has worked with BG Lim during the officer's time as SSA vice-president (water polo) from 2006 to 2008.

Said Leow, who described the new CEO as a 'pragmatic' man: 'We worked very well together and he will be a good asset to the SSC.

'He is a former sportsman, and I think that is a fundamental requirement of someone who is going to become the CEO of SSC. He must have not just an administrative background, but also be involved in high-performance sports at some point of time.'

As a water polo player, BG Lim won six consecutive South-east Asia Games gold medals from 1985 to 1995. He also took part in two Asian Games, bringing home the bronze at Seoul 1986.

Sporting achievements aside, SingaporeSailing president Ben Tan feels that BG Lim's experience as a military leader will come in useful.

Said Tan: 'The military spurs a whole industry. It covers all aspects, not just weapons and wars. It is a very big organisation and I'm sure he will bring with him the relevant sets of skill.'

Singapore Athletic Association supremo Tang Weng Fei has not met BG Lim but believes his organisational experience from the SAF will be a big help.

He said: 'James Wong (SAA's honorary secretary) tells me he is very focused. Jin Teik has done a very good job and BG Lim can build on his predecessor's achievements.'

With the construction of the Sports Hub under way, BG Lim takes on the hot seat at a time when Singapore sport is increasing in prominence.

Under Oon, Singapore recorded best-ever away medal hauls at the 2005 and 2007 SEA Games, and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. The country also won its first Olympic medal in 48 years at Beijing 2008.

Singapore's water polo captain Luo Nan, who said BG Lim still joins in their training sessions, has no doubts he can fill Oon's big shoes.

Singapore Judo Federation's secretary general Tan Yi is keen to know about BG Lim's plans, saying: 'We have the confidence in his abilities as an army officer. Now he has to tell us his plans and show us how to take our sports forward.'

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[GoldenDragon]

If a minister like MBT and SMOS HPK cannot even run the FAS, can a BG run the SSC? If he succeeds, MBT and HPK should jump. Theirs only concentrate on soccer. This BG needs to cover all sports.

 

[zuoom]

he has extremely big shoes to wear. hope he does not trip n fall.

 

[Papsmearer]

If a minister like MBT and SMOS HPK cannot even run the FAS, can a BG run the SSC? If he succeeds, MBT and HPK should jump. Theirs only concentrate on soccer. This BG needs to cover all sports.

One of my relatives is one of this senior SAF officers. He explained to me that when u are a senior officer and retire, the govt. will not just let u retire without keeping an eye on you, due to the number of state secrets that u know. Because most of them are career officers, when they retire, they are still only in their late 40s or in their 50s, they do not want these people to work for a company that they cannot control. They therefore park these senior officers in the singapore sports council for a couple of years until they are out of the loop and after that, they are free to leave the SSC and do whatever they want. Whether they have some special sports knowledge or skills, or whether they are good fit for SSC is irrelevant. Therefore, u have the SSC carrying a bloated bureacracy of people who cannot contribute to the sports success of the nation. This is why this BG is there. Don't expect him to work any miracles with the singapore athletes, he is just there to mark time.

 

[saratogas]

Good! So that he can force discipline back into local sport... Military style.

 

[mollusk]

Good! So that he can force discipline back into local sport... Military style.

he will bring back the famous log pt...

 

[scroobal]

I always enjoyed statements like this. They search the world and they found a chap from the military. What were they searching for around the world?

"The former national water polo player's appointment ended a three-month long international search for former chief Oon Jin Teik's replacement."

 

[Narong Wongwan]

I always enjoyed statements like this. They search the world and they found a chap from the military. What were they searching for around the world?

"The former national water polo player's appointment ended a three-month long international search for former chief Oon Jin Teik's replacement."

To give you the impression the candidate selected, though a singaporean is of world class standard.

 

[Equalisation]

wrong choice obviously ..... the people in military are trained to be inflexible ...:(

 

[Papsmearer]

I always enjoyed statements like this. They search the world and they found a chap from the military. What were they searching for around the world?

"The former national water polo player's appointment ended a three-month long international search for former chief Oon Jin Teik's replacement."

Their world only consists of singapore and more specifically, the SAFTI camp. LOL. They also think the world is flat and if they sail far enough, they will fall off the earth.

 

[scroobal]

Yes, but it makes a mockery of us all. This kind of things have been occurring lately.

To give you the impression the candidate selected, though a singaporean is of world class standard.

 

[scroobal]

Yes, it does a paint the picture of this country.

Their world only consists of singapore and more specifically, the SAFTI camp. LOL. They also think the world is flat and if they sail far enough, they will fall off the earth.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

All BGs have to do well or be seen to be doing well after they leave SAF if not they will make the 3 public BGs look bad if they dun.

 

[Papsmearer]

All BGs have to do well or be seen to be doing well after they leave SAF if not they will make the 3 public BGs look bad if they dun.

Correct lah, otherwise the only real job theyare qualified for is hawker assistant and that would make the PAP BGs look bad.

 

[congo9]

One of my relatives is one of this senior SAF officers. He explained to me that when u are a senior officer and retire, the govt. will not just let u retire without keeping an eye on you, due to the number of state secrets that u know. Because most of them are career officers, when they retire, they are still only in their late 40s or in their 50s, they do not want these people to work for a company that they cannot control. They therefore park these senior officers in the singapore sports council for a couple of years until they are out of the loop and after that, they are free to leave the SSC and do whatever they want. Whether they have some special sports knowledge or skills, or whether they are good fit for SSC is irrelevant. Therefore, u have the SSC carrying a bloated bureacracy of people who cannot contribute to the sports success of the nation. This is why this BG is there. Don't expect him to work any miracles with the singapore athletes, he is just there to mark time.

How i wish i got such a cushy job after 48 yr old !!!!!

 

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[streetsmart73]

If a minister like MBT and SMOS HPK cannot even run the FAS, can a BG run the SSC? If he succeeds, MBT and HPK should jump. Theirs only concentrate on soccer. This BG needs to cover all sports.

hi there

1. honest, if this sheep is that good as mentioned or alleged.
2. it should have given the portfolio a long time ago.
3. why now then?
4. well, just another sheep with million-dollar salary or what!

 

[Khun Ying Pojaman]

He is the grandson of Lim Bo Seng ?

And he now works for former Japanese interpreter ?

Wonder what Lim Bo Seng would think of his grandson.

 

[Papsmearer]

Look at what this 2 faced BeeGee said before. Dare to talk about his grandfather's willingness to do the right thing. For fucks sake. If he want to follow his grandfather's example and do the right thing, he should decline this SSC appointment. He should admit that he is not at all qualified for this position, and their so called world wide search was a sham and conducted by his buddy Richard Seow. If he want to do the right thing, he should take zero pay if he takes this appointment. Why? He is already collecting full SAF BG pension and benefits, and he does not need to draw two paycheque (one from the SAF and one from the SSC). He should work for zero pay and his salary should be plough back into developing native born singaporean athletes. This is the right thing to do. Only know how to talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk. If his grandfather was alive, he would have bitch slapped this BeeGee.

BG Lim Teck Yin, grandson of Lim Bo Seng, said this of his grandfather “As a young boy, it was always a thrill to know that my grandfather was a war hero. I got to read about him in the school history book in Primary Four. I see the same sense of awe in my children as they go through the same realisation that Lim Bo Seng was their great grandfather. What stood out for me was his willingness to do the right thing in spite of the great sacrifices he was required to make. He acted on his convictions and that made a difference.”

 

[hairylee]

If a minister like MBT and SMOS HPK cannot even run the FAS, can a BG run the SSC? If he succeeds, MBT and HPK should jump. Theirs only concentrate on soccer. This BG needs to cover all sports.

They are all just puppets put in place to follow directives. It is another job for him to retire and collect pensions.