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Kwa Soon Chuan

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Kwa.
Kwa Soon Chuan
Chairman of the Central Provident Fund Board
In office
22 February 1971 (1971-02-22) – 1 January 1973 (1973-01-01)
Preceded byLim Joo Hock
Succeeded byWilliam Cheng
Personal details
Born(1922-06-17)17 June 1922
Singapore, Straits Settlements
Died12 November 2010(2010-11-12) (aged 88)
Singapore
SpouseIvy Lim Seok Cheng (m. 1949)
Children2
Parents
Alma materRaffles College
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese柯順全
Simplified Chinese柯顺全
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinKē Shùnquán
IPA[kʰɤ̀.ʂwə̂n.tɕʰyǎn]

Kwa Soon Chuan (17 June 1922 – 12 November 2010) was a Singaporean civil servant, who served as chairman of the Central Provident Fund Board from 1971 to 1973. He was also the first Singaporean to be appointed to the Colonial Administration Service in 1950.

Early life and education

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On 17 June 1922, Kwa was born. He was the fourth son of Kwa Siew Tee, who was the former general manager of Oversea-Chinese Bank and Singapore Municipal Commissioner.[1][2][3] His mother, Wee Yew Neo, was a Teochew who came from Shantou, China.[4]

Kwa received his early education at the Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), and played cricket in the school team.[5][6] He obtained a Junior Cambridge in 1939,[7][8] and a Senior Cambridge in 1940.[9][10]

Later, Kwa enrolled in Raffles College. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, his education was disrupted. In 1948, Kwa graduated with a diploma in arts.[11][12][13]

Career

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In April 1950, Kwa was the first Singaporean to be directly appointed to the Colonial Administration Service.[3][14][15] Upon returning from an administrative officers' course in the United Kingdom, named the Devonshire course,[16][17] Kwa was appointed as acting deputy commissioner of lands.[18] In 1959, Kwa was promoted to commissioner of lands.[19][20]

In 1960, Kwa was transferred to serve as the deputy commissioner of valuation. In December 1960, Former Minister of National Development Ong Eng Guan questioned this appointment, and suggested that Kwa was given the appointment not by merit, but because he was the brother-in-law of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.[21][22] A Commission of Inquiry was set up to inquire the alleged nepotism.[23]

In January 1961, Phay Seng Whatt, a member of the Public Service Commission (PSC), testified that he was not influenced by any minister when he recommended Kwa for the transfer. Lim Eng Bee, chairman of PSC, added that Kwa had stronger credentials as compared to another candidate. Lim Kim San, deputy chairman of PSC, reaffirmed that there was no influence by any minister when considering Kwa for the position.[24][25]

During the sixth day of the inquiry, Kwa testified that he did not meet Lee in connection with his promotion, and that he only met Lee during Chinese New Year and his father's birthday party.[26][27] In February 1961, Justice Frederick Arthur Chua ruled that the alleged nepotism claim by Ong was "untrue, groundless and reckless".[28][29]

In 1965, Kwa was appointed as the registrar of vehicles,[30][31] and held the position till 8 January 1967. He was succeeded by H. F. G. Leembruggen.[32] Kwa was then appointed as the deputy permanent secretary to the Ministry of Social Affairs.[33] Kwa replaced Lim Joo Hock as permanent secretary to the Ministry of Labour on 1 February 1971,[34][35] and as chairman of the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF) on 22 February 1971.[36] Kwa was also appointed as the commissioner of labour.[37] In June 1971, Kwa led the Singapore delegation to the Benzene Convention.[38][39]

On 11 December 1972, Kwa was transferred to the Ministry of Culture as its permanent secretary.[40] Later, on 31 December, Kwa was also appointed as the chairman of the National Theatre Trust.[41] Kwa appealed to organisations, firms and members of the public to become regular sponsors of its shows, so that shows could be planned on a long-term basis.[42][43]

On 1 January 1973, Kwa was succeeded by William Cheng as chairman of CPF.[44][45] In June 1977, after 26 years of service, Kwa retired from the civil service.[46][47]

Personal life

[edit]

Kwa had four sisters and four brothers.[48][a] One of his sisters, Kwa Geok Choo, was a Singaporean lawyer and the wife of Lee Kuan Yew.[53] His brother, Kwa Soon Bee, served as a permanent secretary for the Ministry of Health.[54]

In 1949, Kwa married Ivy Lim Seok Cheng, the second daughter of Lim Chong Pang.[55][56][57] They have a son and a daughter.[58][59] His daughter, Kwa Kim Li, is a lawyer and the managing partner of Lee & Lee.[60][61]

On 12 November 2010, Kwa died.[59]

Notes

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  1. ^ His brothers, namely, Kwa Soon Hock,[49][50] Kwa Soon Lock,[51][52] Kwa Soon Siew, and Kwa Soon Bee. His sisters, namely, Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, and Kwa Geok Eng.[48]

References

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  1. ^ "Overseas Bank: Mr. Kwa Siew Tee Appointed General Manager". Malaya Tribune. 17 July 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ "COMMISSIONER RESIGNS". Singapore Free Press. 1 February 1949. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b "TWO S'PORE MEN FOR C.A.S. JOBS". The Straits Times. 26 April 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  4. ^ 谢, 燕燕 (6 September 2018). "记者与受访者相互扶持共成长：走遍古墓拼凑被遗忘过去" [Journalists and interviewees support each other and grow together: Travelling through ancient tombs to piece together the forgotten past]. Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese). Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Rocklights Beat A.C.S." Morning Tribune. 26 May 1938. p. 24. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Saints Beat The A.C.S." The Malaya Tribune. 18 March 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  7. ^ "SINGAPORE CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION RESULTS". The Straits Times. 8 March 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  8. ^ "RESULTS OF CAMBRIDGE EXAMS". The Malaya Tribune. 9 March 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  9. ^ "MALAYAN SCHOOLS' CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION RESULTS". The Straits Times. 1 April 1940. p. 16. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  10. ^ "MORE CAMBRIDGE PASSES CABLED FROM LONDON". Singapore Free Press. 26 May 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Raffles College Exam. Results". The Malaya Tribune. 24 June 1947. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  12. ^ "RAFFLES EXAM RESULTS". The Straits Times. 26 June 1948. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Nephews of Dato Onn Get Diplomas". The Straits Times. 18 October 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  14. ^ "50 Asians fill U.K. officers' jobs". The Straits Times. 14 May 1950. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  15. ^ Pang, Cheng Lian; Wee, Sunny (21 August 1972). "Govt. to promote its top men". New Nation. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Govt. To Name More Local Men For Higher Services". Singapore Tiger Standard. 20 October 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Devonshire Course For Govt. Men". The Straits Times. 10 August 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Jobs need girls will get them". The Straits Times. 9 January 1957. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Fullerton Square: Another no to the pay-cut men". The Straits Times. 23 June 1959. p. 14. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  20. ^ "PADANG RALLY OFF". Singapore Free Press. 18 July 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  21. ^ "LEE DARES ONG AGAIN". The Straits Times. 13 December 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  22. ^ "ONG: BIG DEBATE IS ON". The Straits Times. 24 December 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  23. ^ "Date for Ong probe team". The Straits Times. 1 January 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  24. ^ "PSC chief: I wasn't influenced by any Minister of Govt". The Straits Times. 26 January 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  25. ^ "'Menteri2 tidak menchuba mempengarohi P.S.C.'" ['Ministers are not trying to influence PSC']. Berita Harian (in Malay). 26 January 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Kwa: I see my brother-in-law Lee only twice a year— at my father's birthday party and at Chinese New Year". The Straits Times. 28 January 1961. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Saya menolak kenaikan pangkat ipar saya, P.M. Lee menjelaskan" [I rejected my brother-in-law's promotion, PM Lee explains]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 28 January 1961. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  28. ^ "ONG NOT TO BE BELIEVED". The Straits Times. 26 February 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  29. ^ "ONG 'SA-ORANG YG TIDAK BOLEH DI-PERCHA YAI',—S-JAYA CHUA" [ONG 'A PERSON WHO CANNOT BE TRUSTED', SAYS JUSTICE CHUA]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 26 February 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  30. ^ "Lee told: Financiers backing 'pirates'". The Straits Times. 30 June 1965. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  31. ^ "Rebuttal of taxi drivers' charge by Simon". The Straits Times. 4 September 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Leembruggen is new Registrar of Vehicles". The Straits Times. 29 January 1967. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Toto: $280,000 stake money". The Straits Times. 10 June 1968. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  34. ^ "New Permanent Secretary". Singapore Herald. 2 February 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Ministry posting". Singapore Herald. 9 February 1971. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Untitled". Singapore Herald. 22 February 1971. p. 4. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  37. ^ "Perlantekan" [Appointment]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 14 August 1972. p. 11. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  38. ^ "MINISTRY MAN TO LEAD TEAM FOR ILO TALKS". The Straits Times. 28 May 1971. p. 9. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  39. ^ "Wakil S'pura ka-Geneva" [Representative of Singapore to Geneva]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 28 May 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  40. ^ "Top govt. men in job swops". New Nation. 2 December 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Theatre Trust chairman". The Straits Times. 31 December 1972. p. 15. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  42. ^ "THEATRE TRUST SEEKS REGULAR SPONSORS". The Straits Times. 24 March 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  43. ^ "Harapan agar yayasan2 taja konsert" [Hope that foundations will sponsor concerts]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 March 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  44. ^ "CPF chief". New Nation. 6 January 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  45. ^ "CPF chairman". The Straits Times. 9 January 1973. p. 6. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  46. ^ "SOON CHUAN TO RETIRE AFTER 26 YEARS". The Straits Times. 5 January 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  47. ^ "Soon Chuan akan bersara setelah berkhidmat 26 tahun" [Soon Chuan to retire after 26 years of service]. Berita Harian (in Malay). 5 January 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  48. ^ a b "Obituary". The Straits Times. 15 May 1980. p. 25. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  49. ^ "DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES". The Straits Times. 28 July 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  50. ^ "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT". The Straits Times. 1 August 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  51. ^ "ENGAGEMENTS". The Straits Times. 19 September 1940. p. 4. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  52. ^ "Higher Posts For Graduates Urged". The Straits Times. 1 November 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  53. ^ "Top post in Culture Ministry open". The Business Times. 5 January 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  54. ^ Lee, Pearl (9 June 2022). "Pioneer-generation civil servant Kwa Soon Bee dies aged 86". The Straits Times. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  55. ^ "Classified Ads". The Straits Times. 4 October 1949. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  56. ^ "ENGAGEMENT". Singapore Free Press. 4 October 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  57. ^ "STA chairman's mother dies". Eastern Sun. 9 August 1968. p. 5. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  58. ^ "Mr and Mrs Kwa Soon Chuan with their son, a newly-commissioned officer, at reception for Commissioning Parade of the third Standard Military Course of Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) and third Midshipman Course of Midshipman School at Queenstown Sports Complex. This first combined army-navy commissioning parade of cadet officers was reviewed by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew". www.nas.gov.sg. 15 October 1976. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  59. ^ a b "Obituary". The Straits Times. 13 November 2010. p. 16. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  60. ^ Koh, Wan Ting (10 May 2023). "Lee Kuan Yew's lawyer ordered to pay S$13,000 in penalties over misconduct in relation to wills". CNA. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  61. ^ Kerr, Puay Hian (11 May 2023). "Lawyer Kwa Kim Li to pay S$13,000 penalty over complaints from Lee Hsien Yang & Lee Wei Ling". Mothership. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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