The real person behind singapore success!
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Albert Winsemius
By Ong, Christopher written on 2009-02-11
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 -
Singapore success belongs to a lot of people. Not just one or a handful.
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Is this what is being taught in schools? Then there must be something wrong in our education system. Our forefathers, Rajaratnam, David Marshall and many others would have rolled in their graves, as well as those still living, including you and me who are daily contributing to its success, by not giving up and doing our best, meeting our social and financial contributions for our society made up of our family, relatives, and friends.
Success is never ending and must never end or we rest on our laurels. To do so will be the beginning of the end in our globalised world.
Edit: Tks Chewy, meant to place David Marshall.
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Originally posted by xtreyier:
Is this what is being taught in schools? Then there must be something wrong in our education system. Our forefathers, Goh Keng Swee, Rajaratnam and many others would have rolled in their graves, as well as those still living, including you and me who are daily contributing to its success, by not giving up and doing our best, meeting our social and financial contributions for our society made up of our family, relatives, and friends.
Success is never ending and must never end or we rest on our laurels. To do so will be the beginning of the end in our globalised world.
Goh Keng Swee is still around.
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Originally posted by Chew Bakar:
Goh Keng Swee is still around.
Yes, Mr Goh Keng Swee is still around. Saw him a couple of times. His health is no good. He is on wheelchair now. -
THE REAL PERSON BEHIND SPORE SUCCESS WAS A TEAM EFFORT BY ALL SINGAPOREANS.
IT IS NOT THE JOB OF A SINGLE MAN.NEVER IS N NEVER WAS!
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The secret of sg city success:-
- 1st generation ministers who created the vision and performed the hard task of making the vision a reality.
- True singaporeans who believe in the vision and suffered and worked to make it possible for the benefit of their future generation.
It is easy to tag the success to one person as the rest of the gentlemen have retired and this person is still hanging around.
As for the next lap, I am unable to see the vision as the present batch cannot handle simple issues like prison break, ping pong war and rojak poison.
What I saw was disappointed locals quitting sg due to the never ending greed being practised even in recession.
What will happen is the land being 1st world class hotel state for 3rd class citizens from other countries.
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Don't be an idiot, the success of Singapore is the contribution of everyone, from the old people clearing food waste at the hawker centre to the economists. Despots want you to believe that a country's success comes from the effort of one or the few.
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Originally posted by TERMINATOR2000:
THE REAL PERSON BEHIND SPORE SUCCESS WAS A TEAM EFFORT BY ALL SINGAPOREANS.
IT IS NOT THE JOB OF A SINGLE MAN.NEVER IS N NEVER WAS!
Yes, at that time when we are not born, there was no economist or even toto and even a recognised University, a ang mo come in from nowhere and sure we embrace him, cos that time ang mo big ma.Most of these ang mos are outcasted by their own country, they cannot even find a job in their literated country, so they come to the far east to earn a living by doing some conning, some unlucky become beggar, some lucky become national icon. Heng heng this Mr. Albert got it right because at that time, most of our forefather or the govt are all gong gong mountain tortoise. If now you call an economist from Dutch to come here, i think we more worry about swine flu than his advices. Now, we also got economist, in this forum, u can see alots.
Just like Japan after the world, a guy by the name of Edward Deming, who was a drop out and not even recognise in Europe came in and helped japan on productivity,..now there every year there is an award under his name for best japan productive company,individual and groups. But now japan slowly move out of it shell and start to think out of the box
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
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Don't be an idiot, the success of Singapore is the contribution of everyone, from the old people clearing food waste at the hawker centre to the economists. Despots want you to believe that a country's success comes from the effort of one or the few.
ya, there is alot of people involve, like handsome uncle Lim what Chin song, Never Nair or never deny, my ah kong, Uncle Chia and all those siao and seow etc etc...
Alamak, Uncle's medicines running out liao