He will be ‘deeply missed’: PM Lee sends condolences to wife of late economist Lim Chong Yah
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Professor Lim Chong Yah and his wife, Madam See Nah Nah, in 1992. Prof Lim died on July 8, aged 91.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – As founding chairman of the National Wages Council (NWC), the late Professor Lim Chong Yah made a major contribution to Singapore’s economic take-off, and established principles that continue to benefit the country to this day, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday.
Prof Lim, an eminent economist who was conferred the Public Service Star in 1976, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1983 and the Distinguished Service Order in 2000, died on Saturday.
In a condolence letter to Prof Lim’s wife, Madam See Nah Nah, PM Lee said Prof Lim will be deeply missed.
“I hope you will find comfort in knowing that his memory and legacy will live on through his many lasting contributions to Singapore and their impact on generations of Singaporeans,” he said.
PM Lee wrote about how he was tutored by Prof Lim while studying economics for his A levels in 1970.
As a teacher, Prof Lim was patient and caring, PM Lee said. It was an attribute he said many generations of students could attest to.
“He (Prof Lim) would set me an essay topic each week, which I would research and write up before discussing it with him at the next tutorial.
“It was an active, intense and effective way to master the basics of the subject, which have remained with me and proven invaluable all my life,” PM Lee said.
He added that he and Prof Lim kept in touch, and had more reason to engage after he joined the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Prof Lim became the founding chairman of NWC in 1972, at a time when labour relations were fraught with tensions.
“The NWC’s annual negotiations and recommendations paved the way for smooth industrial relations and progressive wage adjustments.
“The process helped maintain industrial peace, ensured workers enjoyed a fair share of the fruits of growth, and strengthened the tripartite partnership between unions, employers and government,” PM Lee said.
Under Prof Lim’s stewardship, “the NWC grew into a crucial institution unique to Singapore and trusted by all parties, that continues to serve us well till this day”, he added.
PM Lee said the NWC negotiations in 1986 were particularly memorable to him as Singapore had just experienced a severe economic downturn the year before, and it was uncertain if the economy was on the path to recovery.
The Economic Committee which he chaired recommended cutting the Central Provident Fund contribution rate from 50 per cent to 35 per cent. It also suggested restraining wage costs to maintain Singapore’s competitiveness against other newly industrialising economies such as South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
PM Lee, who was then the Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, said: “These were drastic recommendations. It was crucial that both employers and unions understood the national imperative, and the strategy was not derailed by overgenerous and unrealistic wage settlements.
“(Prof Lim) helped ensure our overriding considerations were accurately translated into clear, workable and fair recommendation.
“Under Prof Lim’s guidance, this was done, and the economy revived faster than we had dared to expect.”
The late Professor Lim Chong Yah was an eminent economist who was conferred the Public Service Star in 1976, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1983 and the Distinguished Service Order in 2000.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Prof Lim helmed NWC for 29 years. Over the years, the council expanded its focus beyond wage settlements.
Flexible wages, which offered employers a better way to manage costs and provided workers with greater job security during challenging times, were introduced.
“(NWC) paid attention to lower-wage workers, crafting recommendations to make sure they received meaningful wage increases and were not left behind as wages generally went up,” PM Lee said.
The NWC was also involved in setting up the Skills Development Fund to encourage workers to upgrade their skills as Singapore transitioned from a labour-intensive economy to a skills-intensive one.
PM Lee said: “Decades later, our journey continues as we expand continuing education and lifelong learning to encompass the entire population.
“We continue to benefit from the principles and foundations that Prof Lim established.”
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former senior minister and coordinating minister for social policies, also paid tribute to Prof Lim in a Facebook post on Sunday, saying that the economist “has left his mark on generations of university students, with his pragmatic theories of economic development, and genial temperament”.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat noted Prof Lim’s significant contributions to the economy and academia. In his Facebook post, he said Prof Lim “built a strong foundation for tripartism and skill training, which are the key tenets of our economy and society”.
NWC chairman Peter Seah on Sunday said Prof Lim will be remembered for “leaving behind a strong tripartite institution, unique to Singapore, that continues to play a crucial role in growing our economy and improving the lives of Singaporeans”.
He also thanked Prof Lim for “his outstanding leadership and distinguished service to the NWC”.
