Kwek Siew Jin

Last updated

Kwek Siew Jin

BBM PPA(E) PPA(P) PP PBM
Born (1950-06-30) 30 June 1950 (age 74) [1]
Colony of Singapore
AllegianceFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
Service / branchNaval Ensign of Singapore.svg  Republic of Singapore Navy
Years of service1969–1996
Rank Rear-Admiral
Commands Chief of Navy
Chief of Staff (Naval Staff)
Fleet Commander
Head, Naval Operations Department
Head, Navy Personnel Departmen
Deputy Head, Naval Logistics (Material)
Commanding Officer, RSS Jupiter
AwardsSee awards and decorations
Alma mater University of Singapore (BE)
Raffles Institution
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese 郭守仁
Simplified Chinese 郭守仁
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Guō Shǒurén
IPA [kwó.ʂòʊ.ɻə̌n]

Kwek Siew Jin BBM PPA(E) PPA(P) PP PBM is a Singaporean former civil servant and former rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy from 1992 to 1996. [2] [3]

Contents

After leaving the navy in June 1996, Kwek was appointed as managing director of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit till December 2001. [3] Kwek was moved to Singapore Power to serve as its president and chief executive officer, but shortly resigned in December 2003. [4]

Education

Kwek attended Serangoon Garden North School for his primary education and Raffles Institution for his secondary and pre-university education. [5] He graduated with a Cambridge School Certificate in 1967. [6] [7] In 1971, he was awarded a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) local scholarship to study electrical engineering at the University of Singapore, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in 1975. [3] [5] [8]

Military career

In February 1969, Kwek enlisted in the SAF, and served as a naval officer in the Republic of Singapore Navy. During his career in the navy, Kwek has held the appointments of Commanding Officer, RSS Jupiter; Deputy Head, Naval Logistics (Material); Head, Navy Personnel Department; Head, Naval Operations Department; Fleet Commander; Chief of Staff (Naval Staff). [8]

Kwek succeeded Teo Chee Hean as the Chief of Navy on 8 December 1992. [2]

In 1993, Kwek was promoted from the rank of colonel to commodore, before being renamed as rear-admiral later in 1994. [1] [9] Kwek was also appointed as board director of Singapore Shipbuilding and Engineering (precursor of ST Marine). [10] During his term as chief, Kwek initiated a training programme with Singapore Polytechnic, allowing existing navy engineers and technical officers to be quickly trained locally as marine engineers; and operationalised RSS Bedok, Singapore's first fleet of mine countermeasure vessels. [11] [12]

On 1 July 1995, Kwek was the first naval officer to be promoted to rear-admiral (two star), equivalent to a major-general. [13] Kwek stepped down on 30 June 1996, with Richard Lim Cherng Yih as his successor. [3]

Post-military career

After leaving the navy, Kwek joined Singapore Mass Rapid Transit as its managing director. [3] During his tenure, he announced major changes to the Mass Rapid Transit, such as a S$ 100 million plan to reduce waiting times (from 135 seconds to 90 seconds) for trains during peak hours by 2002, a S$ 400k plan to reduce the platform gaps at stations (from 100 mm to 75 mm) to reduce risk of injuries, and a S$ 310 million plan to upgrade its systems. [14] [15] [16] Kwek also organised impactful activities, including raising S$ 152k for the National Kidney Foundation through a 2.6 km charity walk in the train tunnels from Orchard to City Hall in 1997. [17]

During the 1997 derailment incident at Toa Payoh resulting in a train service disruption, Kwek acknowledged that human error caused the incident, and that mistakes were made by SMRT in managing the disruption. The disruption between Bishan and Newton lasted for about 8 hours, and Kwek apologised to the public for the "major disruption". [18] [19] As a result, in November 1997, Kwek announced that a more detailed contingency plan will be drafted out, explicitly detailing the actions that should be taken during a disruption or an emergency. [20]

On 13 April 1999, another derailment incident occurred – this time between Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio. Disruptions lasted for almost 7 hours, and Kwek apologised three times, promising such mistakes will not happen again. [21] [22] [23]

On 1 January 2002, Kwek was moved to Singapore Power (SP) and was appointed as its president and chief executive officer. [24] On 26 December 2003, Kwek expressed his desire to "pursue other career options" and resigned from SP. [4]

On 1 August 2006, Kwek was appointed as president of the National Council of Social Service, after serving as its vice-president since 2004. [25] [26] Kwek was succeeded by Hsieh Fu Hua on 1 August 2012. [27]

Personal life

Kwek is married with two children. [8]

Awards and decorations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)</span> Principal metro system serving Singapore

The Mass Rapid Transit system, locally known by the initialism MRT, is a rapid transit system in Singapore and the island country's principal mode of railway transportation. After two decades of planning the system commenced operations in November 1987 with an initial 6 km (3.7 mi) stretch consisting of five stations. The network has since grown to span the length and breadth of the country's main island – with the exception of the forested core and the rural northwestern region – in accordance with Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the backbone of the country's public transportation system, averaging a daily ridership of 3.45 million in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North–South MRT line</span> Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore

The North–South Line (NSL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Singapore, operated by SMRT Corporation. Coloured red on the Singapore rail map, the line is 45 kilometres (28 mi) long and serves 27 stations, 11 of which, between the Braddell and Marina South Pier stations, are underground. It runs from Jurong East station, located in Western Singapore, to Marina South Pier station in the Central Area, via Woodlands station in northern Singapore. The line operates for almost 20 hours a day, with headways of 1 to 2 minutes during peak hours and 5 to 6 minutes during off-peak hours. All the trains on the North–South Line run with a six-car formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East–West MRT line</span> Rapid transit line in Singapore

The East–West Line (EWL) is a high-capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line operated by SMRT in Singapore, running from Pasir Ris station in the east to Tuas Link station in the west, with an additional branch between Changi Airport and Tanah Merah stations. It is the second Mass Rapid Transit line to be built in Singapore. Coloured green on the rail map, the line serves 35 stations, 8 of which are underground. At 57.2 kilometres (35.5 mi), the line is the longest on the MRT network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Panjang LRT line</span> Light rail transit line in Singapore

The Bukit Panjang LRT is an 8-kilometre (5.0 mi) automated guideway transit line in Bukit Panjang, Singapore. The BPLRT is currently the only Light Rail Transit (LRT) line operated by SMRT Trains. As the name suggests, it serves 13 stations in the neighbourhood of Bukit Panjang and parts of Choa Chu Kang in the north-west area of the country. The line was the first LRT line constructed in Singapore, having been opened on 6 November 1999 by then-Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jurong East MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Jurong East MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North–South (NSL) and East–West (EWL) lines in Jurong East, Singapore. Situated along Jurong Gateway Road, the station is located within the vicinity of Jem, Westgate, IMM, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong East Bus Interchange and Jurong Town Hall Bus Interchange. The station is operated by SMRT Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishan MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Bishan MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the North–South (NSL) and Circle (CCL) lines in Bishan, Singapore. The station is located along Bishan Road within the town centre; it is integrated with Junction 8 shopping centre and is close to Bishan Bus Interchange. Nearby schools include Raffles Institution, Catholic High School, and Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changi Airport MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Changi Airport MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station in Changi, Singapore. The station is the terminus of the Changi Airport branch of the East–West Line (EWL); it is operated by SMRT Trains and is built in an east–west orientation. The station directly connects to Terminals 2 and 3 of Changi Airport and serves other airport amenities including the retail complex of Jewel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tampines MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Tampines MRT station is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) interchange station on the East West (EWL) and Downtown (DTL) lines in Tampines, Singapore. Located in the heart of the Tampines town centre next to Tampines Avenue 4, Tampines Central 4 and Tampines Central 5, it is in close proximity to the Tampines and Tampines Concourse bus interchanges. The station also serves the surrounding retail developments of Tampines Mall, Tampines One and Century Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dover MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Dover MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line (EWL) in Singapore. Located along Commonwealth Avenue West, the station is directly linked to Singapore Polytechnic and serves various residential developments in the area. The station is operated by SMRT Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kranji MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Kranji MRT station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North–South Line (NSL). Situated in Sungei Kadut, Singapore, along Woodlands Road, it serves the Singapore Turf Club and the Woodlands Wafer Fabrication Park. The station is operated by SMRT Trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siemens C651</span> Class of electric multiple units in Singapore

The Siemens C651 was the second generation electric multiple unit rolling stock that operated on the North–South and East–West lines of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, manufactured by Siemens Mobility (SIE) and SGP Verkehrstechnik in Vienna, Austria under Contract 651. A total of 114 cars consisting of 19 trainsets were purchased in 1992 and were in service from 1995 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kawasaki Heavy Industries C151</span> Class of electric multiple units in Singapore

The Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) C151 is the first generation electric multiple unit (EMU) rolling stock in operation on the North–South and East–West lines of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, manufactured by a consortium led by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) under Contract 151. They were first introduced in 1987 and are the oldest trains in operation on the network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safety on the Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)</span> Safety concerns on Singaporean trains

The safety of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system in Singapore was questioned by the public after several accidents on the system during the 1980s and 1990s. Most problems have been addressed, and many safety measures are visible to users of the system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SMRT Trains</span> Singapore train operator

SMRT Trains Limited is a rail operator in Singapore and a wholly owned subsidiary of SMRT Corporation. After the privatisation of the MRT operations in 1995, it was originally named Singapore MRT Limited. On 31 December 2001, it was renamed SMRT Trains Limited, so as to avoid confusion with the then upcoming North East MRT line which would be under SBS Transit. SMRT Trains currently manages most of the MRT services in Singapore except the North East Line and Downtown Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desmond Kuek</span> Former Chief of Defence Force of Singapore

Desmond Kuek Bak Chye is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2007 and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lai Chung Han</span> Singaporean former admiral

Lai Chung Han is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2014 and 2017. He has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Education since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Beng</span> Singaporean naval officer

Aaron Beng Yao Cheng is a Singaporean vice-admiral and Chief of Defence Force. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Defence Force, he served as Chief of Navy between 2020 and 2023. He is the first naval officer to serve as Chief of Defence Force, and the first to hold the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Richard Lim Cherng Yih is a Singaporean civil servant and former rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy from 1996 to 1999.

Han Eng Juan is a Singaporean former civil servant and former major-general who served as Chief of Army from 1995 to 1998.

References

  1. 1 2 Nathan, Dominic (30 June 1993). "New stars in SAF's ranks: A new Commodore, 3 BGs". The Straits Times . p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 Nathan, Dominic (8 December 1992). "Navy chief Teo Chee Hean resigns". The Straits Times . p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Navy chief to quit post to join SMRT as managing director". The Straits Times . 9 March 1996. p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  4. 1 2 Khalid, Azhar (27 December 2003). "Singapore Power's president resigns from post after a year". The Straits Times . p. 33. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 "BIOGRAPHY: Rear-Admiral Kwek Siew Jin". The Straits Times . 21 June 1998. p. 33. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  6. ↑ "CERTIFICATES FOR 8,957 CANDIDATES WHO HAVE PASSED". The Straits Times . 3 March 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "Big RI reunion planned for August". The Straits Times . 26 April 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "New naval chief 'a true blue Navy man'". The Straits Times . 8 December 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Top navy officers to be called admirals". The Straits Times . 6 May 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "SSE appoints 3 new directors". The Straits Times . 24 April 1993. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Poly course allows navy men to be re-trained as marine engineers here". The Straits Times . 11 November 1993. p. 23. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  12. ↑ Pereira, Mathew (29 January 1994). "Navy's first mine-hunter in operation next year". The Straits Times . p. 29. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "First two-star admiral". The New Paper . 30 June 1995. p. 4. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Kaur, Karamjit (17 July 1997). "A $100m plan for faster MRT trains by 2002". The Straits Times . p. 3. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Narrower gaps between platforms and trains". The Straits Times . 10 February 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  16. ↑ Tan, Christopher (11 June 1999). "SMRT to spend $310m to enhance services". The Business Times . p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  17. ↑ Foo, Lillian (20 September 1997). "MRT staff raise $152,000 for NKF in tunnel walk". The Straits Times . p. 8. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Human error caused train derailment". The Straits Times . 11 October 1997. p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Human error to blame". The New Paper . 11 October 1997. p. 4. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  20. ↑ Kaur, Karamjit (8 November 1997). "SMRT working on new plan to meet emergencies". The Straits Times . p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  21. ↑ Tan, Jason (14 April 1999). "SORRY SORRY SORRY". The New Paper . p. 8. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  22. ↑ Kaur, Karamjit (14 April 1999). "MRT train derails; thousands affected". The Straits Times . p. 1. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  23. ↑ "Khidmat ke selatan tersekat 7 jam". Berita Harian (in Malay). 14 April 1999. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "Singapore Power, SMRT to switch chiefs". Today . 6 November 2001. p. 2. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  25. ↑ "Charity group gets new head". The Business Times . 11 July 2006. p. 9. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  26. ↑ "NCSS GETS NEW PRESIDENT FROM AUG". Today . 11 July 2006. p. 8. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  27. ↑ "EX-SGX CEO HSIEH TO SERVE AS SOCIAL SERVICE COUNCIL BOARD PRESIDENT FROM AUGUST". Today . 22 May 2012. p. 20. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  28. ↑ "PMO | Recipients". Prime Minister's Office (Singapore) . 22 November 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "Here's the list of this year's National Day Award winners". The Straits Times . 9 August 2010. p. 4. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  30. ↑ "Those honoured this year". The Straits Times . 9 August 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  31. ↑ "National Day Honours List". The Straits Times . 9 August 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "More National Day awards". The Straits Times . 10 August 1981. p. 10. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  33. ↑ "PMO | Recipients". Prime Minister's Office (Singapore) . 22 November 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  34. ↑ Sua, Tracy (11 August 2006). "Guiding troubled kids back to the right path". The Straits Times . p. 12. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  35. ↑ Jacob, Paul (8 April 1995). "Indonesia honours S'pore navy chief Rear-Admiral Kwek". The Straits Times . p. 11. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by
Rear-Admiral Teo Chee Hean
Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy
8 December 1992 – 30 June 1996		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.