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Re-Visioning

In: The Making Of Captains Of Lives Prison Reform in Singapore: 1999 to 2007

Author

Listed:
  • Chua Chin Kiat

    (Centre For Enabled Living, Singapore)

Abstract

The rejection of our proposed vision statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs came in the form of an email. To most officers in the agencies and departments, the Ministry was a somewhat amorphous entity. However, as I had worked in the Ministry for two years from October 1990 to September 1992, I could usually make a good guess as to who was behind a certain decision from the Ministry. In this case, the rejection did not surprise me but its tone did. Just to introduce the cast at the Ministry, at the top was the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng. This is the man who introduced the legislation criminalising repeated drug offenders. Reputed to be tough as nails, he was known for coming down hard on crime and being tenacious in the pursuit of policies to safeguard the security of Singapore. He was assisted by Professor Ho Peng Kee, the Minister of State (de facto deputy minister). Professor Ho is a true humanitarian, a good foil to the Minister. The politicians were supported by civil servants who were both the politicians’ think-tank and executives. The Head of the civil servants in the Ministry was Mr Peter Chan, the Permanent Secretary. He was a man with great intellect and given to introspection. All correspondence from the Ministry was issued on behalf of the Permanent Secretary but most key decisions were made or at least concurred with by the Minister.

Suggested Citation

  • Chua Chin Kiat, 2012. "Re-Visioning," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: The Making Of Captains Of Lives Prison Reform in Singapore: 1999 to 2007, chapter 5, pages 27-31, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:wschap:9789814383837_0005
    as

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