ST headline news on April 2nd featured my resignation from the Jurong General Hospital board. Let me explain.
Many Singaporeans were under the impression that the hospital will be paid for by the Ng family. This is not the case. The government will spend almost 1 billion on this hospital. The Ng family donated $125 million. While the $125million donation is a large sum it is small compared to the $1 billion the government is spending on the 700 bed hospital scheduled to open in 2014.
With this donation of $125 million the government is prepared to have the hospital renamed from Jurong General Hospital to Ng Teng Fong hospital To me this was wrong as it looked as if any rich man could have a public institution named after him if he donates the right amount.
I cannot reconcile with this and resigned from the board.
Public Institution Buildings are prestigious. We must be mindful of its importance and value. If the public building is to be named after a person then Singaporeans must be able to associate that person named with having a history of lifelong philanthropy like Tan Tock Seng (who actually built the original hospital) or a person with history of remarkable and major services to country like Dr Goh Keng Swee,former DPM.
This name change will send a wrong message to Singaporeans.
Dear Dr Tan,
Reading your issue on Singaporean first and the position you take in the case of the name of Jurong General Hospital,I have nothing but sheer respect for you. I really hope that the ruling PAP will be able to get more candidates like yourself. Sadly the numbers of such quality presented by the Party are getting fewer and fewer in the past decade. Sad to say,I think the Party leadership is really spoiling the image of the PAP. Hopefully that the top leadership may change for the betterment of SINGAPORE as a nation.
Amin.
Thanks.
Dr Tan,you should have stayed on in SINGAPORE politics,because we lack men of principle and integrity in our political scene now.
Regards,
AK
I served 26 years as MP for Ayer Rajah.After i retired i served in some non profit organisations.
I will serve Singapore as long as I can.Thanks
I fully support the stand taken by Dr. Tan Cheng Bock. This is an excellent example of the crucial issue now facing Singaporeans –the type of society we are nurturing. Do we allow money to be the criteria for success or honour?? it reminded me of what Professor Tommy Koh said:“I have always heeded my mentor,S Rajaratnam’s warning that Singaporeans should not become a nation of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. I think we are in such danger.”–Prof Tommy Koh,circa 2009.
When my brother asked me if I can still remember you,because we were once your Ayer Rajah’s residents. My answer is a definite “yes”,(becos’we don’t really know who is our MPs or what they do now). To find a minister that is so close to the heart of our family,whereby we respected and basically got nothing bad (as a family) for us to discuss especially during election,is so difficult nowsadays.
Your resignation is something that re-affirm us that our respect and vote for you in the past is correct. I totally respect you.
Thanks for your faith in me.
Your stand on this issue has earn my top respect. Coming from someone who has been with the ruling party for the past decades,this is real true opinion with regards to issues that will benefit Singapore in the long run. How I miss old guards like you speaking from the heart for the people in our parliament.
Dear Dr Tan,
I happen to read your website and I’m totally agree with the point you actually bring out. I’m actually the resident of Ayer Rajah. We really miss the present of you and the years you been with us. Since you step down. We feel we are the forgotten one. As you know Ayer Rajah is growing old and we need more support from the goverment. I really hope that the ruling party will have more candidates like you that really give the human touch to people like us.
Melvin
Your new MP is Foo Mee Har. Just got elected yesterday 7th may.I hope she can look into your estate which i left 5 years ago.
resigning in protest:thank you for your conviction. perhaps Singapore deserves this if the new iconic landmark is a casino?
in the hospital alphabet soup,TTSH is the only ‘true’name
You did the right thing Doc. It could have been worse…the hospital could have been named after Bo Bo Tan.
Dr Tan,
I happen to have visted your website and have the upmost respoect for you. It is a pity you are no longer a MP,we need more MPs who are not afraid to speak against your own party and be a yes man. I pray for the day that you will be able to champion the rights for Singaporeans be it as an MP or even our next president. You would definately be my first choice.
Dr Tan,
I just realized that you are my senior in Radin Mas Primary School too. I am PROUD to be in a school which you have attended!
[...] “With this donation of $125 million the government is prepared to have the hospital renamed from Jurong General Hospital to Ng Teng Fong hospital To me this was wrong as it looked as if any rich man could have a public institution named after him if he donates the right amount,” Dr Tan wrote on his website. [...]
[...] “With this donation of $125 million the government is prepared to have the hospital renamed from Jurong General Hospital to Ng Teng Fong hospital. To me this was wrong as it looked as if any rich man could have a public institution named after him if he donates the right amount,” Dr Tan wrote on his website. [...]
Dr Tan
This is a serious issue.Resigning is not enough.Find a way to highlight the mistake and right a wrong.Rally support to reverse the decision.125 m for many people to call his name daily eternally is a good bargain.A prudent A &P expenditure for future rich family.
Just based on this alone,standing up for your principals n the morality behind it,i have decided i will vote for you. We need men of principals,morals,strength n conscience