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His Life Before Becoming A Minister. His Early Life. His inspiration to be a minister. His Early Life …. A late-starter because of malaria Went to Oldham Hall School (ACS Oldham Hall) Went to Raffles College Joined a sago-making factory (Soon Hin Sago Factory) and took it over
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His Life Before Becoming A Minister • His Early Life • His inspiration to be a minister
His Early Life …. • A late-starter because of malaria • Went to Oldham Hall School (ACS Oldham Hall) • Went to Raffles College • Joined a sago-making factory (Soon Hin Sago Factory) and took it over • Invented machine that made production of sago pearls less labour-intensive • Served on Board of Directors of the United Chinese Bank(United Overseas Bank now-UOB)
His inspiration to be a minister …. • In late 1950s, Lee Kuan Yew asked Lim Kim San to solve the housing problem. • Lim Kim San saw a man beneath a staircase shophouse, lying on a single plank, covering himself with a blanket. • The man was paying rent for that space. • The man was too poor to afford clothes, so he covered himself with the blanket.
His inspiration to be a minister …. • Lim Kim San also saw a 3-storey shop house with only 1 toilet and 2 bathrooms. 200 people were living there. • He thought it was inhumane, so he wanted to help these people and solve the problem.
His Life As A Minister “cleaned up” many ministries and “refreshed” them • tries • minis
Challenges faced as Chairman of HDB • Received a challenge, build 10,000 housing units a year. • He built an astonishing 26,168 units within two years – about the same number built by the Singapore Improvement Trust in its 32 years!
Salary as Chairman of HDB • Because Ong Eng Guan was making things difficult for him, he held the HDB Chairman post for 4 years as a volunteer. • Lim Kim San felt that it was not fair as he had his own business. • He also knew that if he was paid a salary, he could be fired or sacked!
Things done as HDB Chairman • Formed a strong team to build Singapore’s houses. • J.R. Stevens as Structural Engineer • Alan Choe as Town planner • Howe Yoon Chong as Chief Executive Officer • TehCheang Wan as Chief Architect • The team built 7000 housing units in 1961 • The team built 10,000 to 13,000 units each year from 1962 to 1969.
Character • Was a no-nonsense person. • Fired incompetent staff members such as PAP members and fellow colleagues Let me tell you something…… I Don’t accept NONSENSE!!!!
He was ______ Minister for 32 years • Finance • Defence Oversaw implementation of National Service (NS). • Communications • Environment submitted report on cleaning Singapore River, a 10 year project. • Education
Ministries Lim Kim San headed as chairman • (MAS) • Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) steered PSA to become world’s busiest port. In 1979, 11,000 staff handled 83 million tons of cargo, nearly 1 million containers. In 1994, 7300 staff handled 280 million tones of cargo, nearly 10 million containers. • Expanded Upper Pierce Reservoir to increase our water supply.
Awards • Darjah Utama Temasek in 1962 (Order of Temasek) • Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1965
Mr Lim Kim San …. • Has 6 children • Man of integrity and fairness, believed that charity began at home. • Generous • Donated almost ½ of his $$ to charity • Kind but Stern towards his children, but spoilt his grandchildren by showering them with love.
