TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!!!!!

ahleebabasingaporethief · Aug 20, 2011

TJS distinguished in his studies and won a Government Overseas Merit Scholarship to study at Oxford University. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

TJS’s academic excellence is enhanced by his work experience both in the Civil Service and in the corporate world. He served in the Civil Service for 11 years, including 6 years in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (1979-1985), where he rose to be Deputy Director for Economic and Manpower Planning. He was concurrently secretary to Albert Winsemius, the government’s economic adviser; also widely known as the Dutchman that crafted Singapore's economic success.

Confuseous · Aug 20, 2011

Re: TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!

TT - so what is so big deal about this? Here are lim peh experience and credentials...

(www.sdp.org)

Dr Tony Tan is running on his record as an experienced hand when it comes to the financial world. He told the electorate that he would be the best candidate to handle an economic storm should one arise in the future.

"With my background in these areas," he touted, "and with the knowledge which I have of the financial market, and the global economy, I believe that I will be able to make the contribution to and help the government and the ministers...to understand the situation better because I worked in these fields for the last 20 years."

He continued: "I have intimate knowledge of all these areas. And it's really because, if you like, I see the dark clouds over the horizon coming on...I feel that I was very comfortable in SPH and GIC."

Let's check to see how reality fits in with his rhetoric. The Singapore Democrats reported here that in December 2007 the GIC, of which Dr Tan was then deputy chairman and executive director, invested S$14.2 billion in Swiss bank UBS. Dr Tan lauded then: "In the case of UBS, they have a worldwide global wealth management business which is something not replicable by any bank."

Two years later, UBS admitted to helping defraud the US Government and was fined US$780 million. It also greed to provide the identities of its suspected American customers and to cease its practice of serving customers with "undeclared accounts".

Since then, the Swiss bank has written down more than US$50 billion and posted a loss of US$17 billion in 2008.

Either Dr Tan knew about the developments and problems that UBS was facing and chose to proceed by putting money into it anyway, or he had no clue that trouble was brewing in and around the bank.

Whichever it is, the incident does not back up Dr Tan's boast that he is the experienced guardian with the ability to, in his words, see "the dark clouds over the horizon coming on."

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The GIC admitted in 2008 that it had lost $70 billion in investments, much of it in investments in Western banks.

To be sure, the storm that was brewing within these financial institutions that subsequently wreaked so much havoc across the world did not come without warning.

Prior to the 2008 meltdown, billionaire financier Mr Warren Buffet had repeatedly warned that the financial games that bankers were playing were a "fool's game" and called the players "madmen". Other analysts like Dr Frank Partnoy and Dr Nouriel Roubini had also warned of the dangers of the international financial system. (See SDP's report here)

Despite all these signals, Dr Tan and his colleagues at the GIC went ahead with the investments in these banks which, as stated, resulted in huge losses for Singaporeans and our CPF savings.

If Dr Tan missed the financial hurricane in 2008, despite all the thunder and lightning preceding it, how does he convince us now that he has the "background" and "knowledge" of the financial market to safely take us through the next storm?

This question must be on the minds of every voter when they walk into the polling booth next Saturday. Unfortunately, because the state media remains coy in giving this matter prominence, Dr Tan will be able to avoid answering the hard questions and a majority of the voters will continue to be kept in the dark.

ahleebabasingaporethief · Aug 20, 2011

Re: TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!

Dig some more info on TJS after seeing his rebuttal of TT on the ISA. Very seasoned and polished. Did not know he was from OXFORD. Neither did I know he was secretary to Dr. Albert Winsemius. For the young, this is the man that gave Singapore it's economic blueprint for 2 1/2 decades.

[h=2]Albert Winsemius[/h] By Ong, Christopher written on 11-Feb-2009
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Dutch economist Albert Winsemius (Dr) (b.1910, Netherlands d. 1996, The Hague, Netherlands) was an economic advisor to the Singapore government for almost 25 years. During that time, he contributed greatly to Singapore's economic development. He was given several monikers by the local newspapers, such as "Singapore's Dutch Uncle", the "Republic's economic guru", the "Dutchman behind Singapore Inc", and the "Father of Jurong".

Early Life
Born in 1910 to a father in the cheese wholesale business, the young Winsemius soon became involved in the cheese industry, working as a cheese maker after school each day. However, the teenager soon realised, in his own words that, "working with your hands usually doesn't pay too well", and moved on to being a cheese salesman. Later, Winsemius decided he needed a university education, and at the age of 26, applied to Leyden University to do law as he thought that it was the easiest subject. However, he discovered he had to pass an examination in Latin, and skipped it, and thus failed to meet the entry criteria. He then applied for Delft University but was rejected because he was found lacking in his secondary school mathematics. Finally, he applied to Rotterdam University. At the time, in order to make ends meet, Winsemius had a job in The Hague, Netherlands, and so he told the dean of Rotterdam University that he would not be able to attend lectures. Despite having his own reservations, the dean allowed Winsemius to enrol in the school. The rest is history as Winsemius went on to become a leading economist.

One of his first jobs upon graduation just before the advent of World War II, was to be the price controller for the Netherlands. His main role was to freeze prices during food shortages. He remained in the job until 1943. After the war, he worked at the Ministry of Finance as the country's director-general of industrial development. There, his role was to repair the economy, which had been damaged by the war. From time to time, he also carried out assignments on behalf of the World Bank. Thus, he began to build his growing reputation as an expert in the field of Developmental Economics.

Contributions to the Republic
In 1960, a year after Singapore gained its independence, Winsemius was asked by the United Nations to visit Singapore as part of the United Nations Development Programme team. They were tasked with conducting a survey to assess the Republic's potential for industrialisation. Winsemius arrived on 5 October 1960, and made his first report to the Singapore government the following year, advising them that Singapore's success was dependent on the elimination of Communism. He also suggested that the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles remain. In a tribute penned by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew after Winsemius's death, he wrote "... investors wanted to see what the new socialist government in Singapore was going to do to the statue of Raffles. Letting it (the statue) remain would be a symbol of public acceptance of the legacy of the British and could have a positive effect".

Thereafter, Winsemius became the Chief economic advisor to the Singapore government in 1961-1984. He worked closely with Singapore's first generation leaders including Lee, Dr Goh Keng Swee, and Mr Hon Sui Sen. He would visit twice yearly during his term as an economic advisor, about 3 weeks each time, and would also get regular reports from the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade and Industry. Winsemius was called upon again in 1965 when the economy suffered from the aftermath of Singapore's separation from Malaya, as well as from Malaya's confrontation with Indonesia from 1963 to 1965. During that time, he recommended Singapore to re-open barter trade with Indonesia, and to share a common market with Malaysia. However, the latter proved to be implausible. He also advised that Singapore should look to get more investment from abroad, and improved its ties with the West so that it would have access to their markets.

His advice on industrialisation saw the emergence of high-technological industries such as the production of electrical components by the end of the 1960s. Another significant landmark in Singapores industrialisation history was the construction of the industrial town of Jurong. In 1970, Winsemius then envisioned the next lap for a newly industrialized Singapore; that the Republic would be a fully developed industrialized nation within 6-8 years and should hence start preparations for making inroads into exporting brain services. Thus, he advised the government to invest money in a new university or technical institute, instead of using governmental funds to build more factories.

Winsemius played the role of advisor for nearly 25 years until December 1983. He was credited for Singapore's establishment as an air and sea transport hub, and the development of Singapore's public housing and the financial sector. For his contributions, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal in 1967, and in 1976, was bestowed the National Trades Union Congress' highest award, the May Day Gold Medal of Honour. In 1970, the then-University of Singapore also awarded him with an honorary degree. In 1997, he was posthumously honoured with the establishment of an Albert Winsemius Professorship at Nanyang Technological University.

Winsemius died of pneumonia on 4 December 1996. He passed away in the Hague, the Netherlands. He was 86 years old then. He is survived by his wife, 2 daughters, a son and 8 grandchildren.

Family
Wife: Aly Winsemius-Schreiber
He had two daughters and a son. One of his daughters, Ankie Averink, worked for the United Nations. She was once called upon to decipher his handwriting for the survey report that he did on Singapore in 1961.

Author
Christopher Ong

ahleebabasingaporethief · Aug 20, 2011

Re: TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!

As secretary to Dr. Albert Winsemius, he must have been given a personal PHd training.

Was this why the MIWs neverpromoted him? Were the MIWs running scared that TJS was smarter than the average MIW inner circle.

I now believe so after watching TJS speak.

Albert Winsemius (1910-1996), a Dutch economist, was Singapore's long-time economic advisor from 1961 to 1984. He led the United Nations Survey Mission to Singapore,[SUP][1][/SUP] and was to play a major role in the formulation of Singapore's national economic development strategy.
In 1960, Dr Winsemius led the United Nations team to examine Singapore’s potential in industrialization. At that time, Singapore had just attained self-government and was facing high unemployment and growing population. He presented a 10-year development plan to transform Singapore from an entrepot trade port into a centre of manufacturing and industrialization.
His first emphasis was on creating jobs and attracting foreign investment. Labour intensive industries, such as the production of shirts and pajamas, were expanded. He also encouraged the large-scale public housing programme, believing that it would bolster the country's image, thus attractive to investors. One of his earliest pieces of advice was not to remove the statue of Stamford Raffles as it was a symbol of public acceptance of the British heritage and could alleviate concerns that investors have toward a new socialist government. With his help, Singapore attracted big oil companies like Shell and Esso to establish refineries here.
During his term as Chief Economic Advisor from 1961 to 1984, Dr Winsemius worked closely with Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee and later with Goh Chok Tong. He visited the country two or three times a year to review economic performance indicators and to discuss macro-economic strategy with government planners. In the 1970s, Singapore was upgrading its industrial capacity to use higher technological methods, including electronics. He personally went to persuade large Dutch electronics companies like Philips to set up production plants in Singapore. He also proposed that Singapore could be developed as a financial centre, as well as an international centre for air traffic and sea transport. Over the next twenty years, these predictions proved to be accurate.
Dr Winsemius retired as Singapore's economic advisor in December 1983, at the age of 74. He was then quoted saying, "I leave with a saddened heart. It (Singapore) has become part of my life, more or less. It can do without me. It could do without me years ago. But it became part of my life. So I will shed a few tears, imaginary tears." Singapore was a country he regarded almost as home.
For his contributions to Singapore's economic development, he was conferred several honours. In 1967, President Yusof bin Ishak awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal. In 1970, he was conferred an honorary degree by the National University of Singapore. In 1976, he received the National Trades Union Congress' May Day Gold Medal of Honour.
Dr Winsemius died in the Netherlands on December 4, 1996. In a letter of condolences to his family, Lee Kuan Yew wrote: "It was Singapore's good fortune that he (Dr Albert Winsemius) took a deep and personal interest in Singapore's development. Singapore and I personally are indebted to him for the time, energy and development he gave to Singapore. I am proud to have known him and to have been his friend."
When asked about his life as an economist, Dr Winsemius once said, "There is quite a lot of satisfaction, perhaps not like that of, say, an architect who can look at something and say, 'I made it'. But there is that satisfaction in knowing that you have contributed to the well being of people you don't know..."
In 1997, Nanyang Technological University established the Albert Winsemius Professorship as a lasting tribute to Dr Albert Winsemius for his significant contributions to the economic development of Singapore.
[h=2][edit] References[/h]

^ Leipziger, Danny (1997). Lessons from East Asia. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 240. ISBN 0-472-08722-3.

Fact Sheet on the Albert Winsemius Professorship

Khun Ying Pojaman · Aug 20, 2011

Re: TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!

In terms of relevant qualifications, I think it's between TT and TJS. TCB is a medical doctor and has no experience in the financial sector. The chief responsibility of the EP is to manage our reserves, and be able to understand economics and financial policies. TKL lacks pedigree and academic credentials. TT previous stint with GIC puts him in a position of conflict of interest.

Whether or not TJS is speaking up for ordinary Singaporeans, credentials alone TJS is the most qualified.

goldenmonkey · Aug 20, 2011

Re: TAN JEE SAY Is From Oxford University And Secretary To DR ALBERT WINSEMIUS...WOW!

If you know Mr TJS personally, I would like to know why did he join SDP in the last GE?

tonychat · Aug 20, 2011