Goh Keng Swee#Death

File:LSE main entrance.jpg, where Goh Keng Swee spent six years studying at (1948–51, 1954–56), photographed in January 2005.|alt=A narrow road with tall buildings of grey stone on both sides. The building on the left has a large entrance archway.]]

Goh was born in Malacca on 6 October 1918{{citation|author=Jenny Tien Mui Mun|title=Dr Goh Keng Swee|url=http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_662_2005-01-11.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623062124/http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_662_2005-01-11.html|archive-date=23 June 2008|publisher=Singapore Infopedia, National Library, Singapore|date=8 October 2002|access-date=15 May 2010}}. into a middle class Peranakan family, the fifth of six children.{{citation|author=Nur Dianah Suhaimi|title=His work was his passion: The late Goh Keng Swee showed brilliance even when he was a child|newspaper=The Sunday Times|location=Singapore|date=16 May 2010|page=10}}. His father Goh Leng Inn, was a manager of a rubber plantation, while his mother Tan Swee Eng,{{citation|title=From civil servant to PAP stalwart|newspaper=The Straits Times (Saturday)|date=15 May 2010|page=D2}}. was from the family that produced the Malaysian politicians Tan Cheng Lock and his son, Tan Siew Sin, who would later become Goh's lifelong political opponent.{{citation|author=Lee Kuan Yew|author-link=Lee Kuan Yew|title=The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew|location=Singapore|publisher=Times Publishing|year=1998|pages=[https://archive.org/details/singaporestoryme00leek/page/600 600–602]|isbn=978-981-204-983-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/singaporestoryme00leek/page/600}}.{{citation|author=Tan Siok Sun|title=Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait|location=Singapore|publisher=Editions Didier Millet|year=2007|pages=114–115|isbn=978-981-4155-82-3}}.

Goh was given the Christian name Robert, which he disliked and refused to respond to. When he was two years old, his family moved from Malacca to Singapore where his maternal grandparents owned several properties. The Gohs later relocated to the Pasir Panjang rubber estate when his father found work there, and became manager in 1933. In common with many Peranakan families, the Gohs spoke both English and Malay at home; church services were held at home on Sundays in Malay.{{citation|author=Tan Siok Sun|title=A shy, quiet boy who loved books [Excerpt from Goh Keng Swee, a Portrait]|url=http://wineanddine.asiaone.com/Wine%252CDine%2B%2526%2BUnwind/Unwind/Books/Story/A1Story20070709-17598.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202220826/http://wineanddine.asiaone.com/Wine%252CDine%2B%2526%2BUnwind/Unwind/Books/Story/A1Story20070709-17598.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2012|publisher=AsiaOne|date=7 July 2007|access-date=15 May 2010}}. Goh's father Leng Inn and the latter's brothers-in-law Chew Cheng Yong and Goh Hood Keng taught in the Anglo-Chinese School for various periods, and were also involved in the Middle Road Baba Church while Hood Keng was pastor there. Goh attended the church as well.{{citation|title=The lesser known side of Dr Goh Keng Swee |url=http://www.methodistmessage.com/jul2010/drgohkengswee.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005153627/http://www.methodistmessage.com/jul2010/drgohkengswee.html |archive-date=5 October 2018 |magazine=Methodist Message |date=July 2010 |volume=112 |issue=7 |page=12 |url-status=dead }}.

Goh attended the Anglo-Chinese School between 1927 and 1936 where he was second in his class in the Senior Cambridge examinations, Goh graduated from Raffles College (now the National University of Singapore) in 1939 with a Class II Diploma in Arts with a special distinction in economics.

After graduation, Goh joined the colonial Civil Service as a tax collector with the War Tax Department but, according to his superiors, was not very good at his job and was almost fired. Shortly after the start of Second World War, he joined the Singapore Volunteer Corps, a local militia, but returned to his previous work after the fall of Singapore.

Goh married Alice Woon, a secretary who was a colleague, in 1942 and they have one son, Goh Kian Chee, two years later. In 1945, he relocated his young family to Malacca, but returned to Singapore the following year after the Japanese occupation ended. That year, he joined the Department of Social Welfare, and was active in the post-war administration. He became a supervisor of the Department's Research Section six months later.

Goh attained a scholarship which enabled him to further his studies at the London School of Economics. During his time in London, Goh met fellow students seeking independence for British Malaya, including Abdul Razak, Maurice Baker, Lee Kuan Yew and Toh Chin Chye. A student discussion group, the Malayan Forum, was formed in 1948 with Goh as the founding chairman. Goh graduated in 1951 with a first class honours in economics, and won the William Farr Prize for achieving the highest marks in statistics. Upon his return to the Department of Social Welfare, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Research. In 1952, together with fellow civil servant Kenneth Michael Byrne, he formed the Council of Joint Action to lobby against salary and promotion policies that favoured Europeans over Asians. Byrne later became Minister for Labour and Minister for Law.

In 1954, Goh was able to return to the London School of Economics for doctoral studies with the help of a scholarship conferred by the University of London. He completed his PhD in economics in 1956,His thesis was entitled {{citation|title=Techniques of National Income Estimation in Under-developed Territories, with Special Reference to Asia,malacca,singapore and Africa [Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London, London School of Economics, 1956]|location=London|publisher=University of London Library, Photographic Section|year=1978|oclc=63630985}}. and returned to the Department of Social Welfare, where he served as Assistant Director and subsequently as Director. In 1958, he was appointed Director of the Social and Economic Research Division in the Chief Minister's Office. He resigned from the civil service in August that year to work full-time for the People's Action Party (PAP).

Goh was a key member of the PAP's Central Executive Committee (CEC), and serving as Vice-Chairman.

Goh contested in Kreta Ayer during the 1959 general election and won. He was subsequently elected into the Legislative Assembly on 30 May 1959,{{citation|title=Parliament pays respects|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=18 May 2010}}. and appointed Minister for Finance under Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's first Cabinet.

As Minister for Finance, Goh assumed the stewardship of Singapore's economy. As a budget deficit of S$14 million was forecast that year, he introduced stringent fiscal discipline which including cutting civil service salaries. As a result of these measures, he was able to announce at the end of the year when delivering the budget that the government had achieved a surplus of $1 million.

Goh initiated the setting up of the Economic Development Board (EDB) which was established in August 1961 to attract foreign multinational corporations to invest in Singapore.{{citation|title=A visionary who didn't believe in dreams: A look into the life of the man responsible for HDB flats, National Service, JTC ... even the Zoo|newspaper=Weekend Today|date=15–16 May 2010|pages=12–13}}. The next year, he started the development of the Jurong industrial estate on the western end of the island which was then a swamp, offering incentives to local and foreign businesses to locate there. According to former Permanent Secretary Sim Kee Boon, Goh admitted that the Jurong project was "an act of faith and he himself jokingly said that this could prove to be Goh's folly". Nonetheless, Goh also felt strongly that "the only way to avoid making mistakes is not to do anything. And that... will be the ultimate mistake." As recalled by Lim Siong Guan, Group President of GIC and former Head of the Singapore Civil Service: see {{citation|author=Chua Mui Hoong|title=Passing of a S'pore titan: Former DPM Goh Keng Swee was economic architect of Singapore and mentor to many|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|pages=A1–A2}}.

File:Jurong Industrial Estate and Jurong Island, panorama, Nov 06.jpg Industrial Estate with Jurong Island in the background, photographed in November 2006|alt=An industrial landscape with buildings and numerous cranes.]]

In the 1960s, there were great pressures from communist agitators working through Chinese-medium schools and trade unions. Divisions existed within the PAP as well, with a pro-communist faction working to wrest control of the party from the moderate wing, of which Goh and Lee Kuan Yew were key members. A key source of division was the issue of merger with Malaya to form a new state of Malaysia. Goh and his fellow moderates believed this was a necessary condition for Singapore's economic development because Malaya was a key economic hinterland; merger would also provide an alternate vision against communism for Singapore's Chinese majority. In July 1961, 16 members of the pro-communist faction broke away from the PAP to form the Barisan Sosialis, and captured control of the main trade unions.

In 1961, the Singapore Government secured approval from Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman for a merger, motivated in part by the Tunku's desire to stabilise the security situation in Singapore and to counter the perceived communist threat by the Malayan Communist Party. In 1963, Singapore joined Malaya, along with Sabah and Sarawak, to form the Federation of Malaysia.{{cite web |title=Singapore – Road to Independence |url=http://countrystudies.us/singapore/10.htm |access-date=27 June 2006 |publisher=U.S. Library of Congress}}

However, the merger soon proved problematic for Singapore's leaders. Fundamental disagreements emerged over political and economic principles, particularly the issue of Malay dominance. Communal tensions escalated into violence in 1964, incited by both Malay and Chinese activists in Singapore. According to Lee, Goh played a key role in safeguarding Singapore's interests, especially in economic disputes with the Malaysian Minister of Finance and his own cousin Tan Siew Sin, whom he believed acted in hostility toward Singapore.

After two difficult years within the Federation, Lee asked Goh to negotiate with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and Minister for External Affairs Ismail Abdul Rahman in July 1965. The aim was to explore the possibility of a looser arrangement for Singapore within Malaysia. However, following the discussions, all parties concluded that a clean break would be in the best interests of both sides. Tunku Abdul Rahman ultimately agreed to this course of action, paving the way for Singapore's separation from Malaysia.{{citation|author=Lee Kuan Yew|author-link=Lee Kuan Yew|title=He made the greatest difference: Eulogy by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|page=A6}}.

File:Operation Tiger Balm 09 Singapore infantry soldiers.jpg awaiting the arrival of the deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard, United States Army Pacific, for a joint military exercise in July 2009. Mandatory conscription was initiated by Goh when he was Minister for Interior and Defence.|alt=A row of young soldiers wearing green camouflage uniforms and dark green berets and holding rifles, standing at attention.]]

Upon the independence of Singapore in 1965, Goh relinquished his portfolio of Minister for Finance and became Minister for Interior and Defence in 1967, assuming responsibilities for strengthening Singapore's military and domestic security capabilities. A key policy was the creation of National Service, a mandatory conscription system for able-bodied young males.{{cite web |title=National Service becomes compulsory - Singapore History |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/debf50d7-d81a-4b31-9c0d-65dd932aab8c#:~:text=The%20National%20Service%20(Amendment)%20Bill,be%20called%20up%20for%20NS. |website=eresources.nlb.gov.sg |access-date=1 January 2023}}

Goh served as Minister for Finance again between 1967 and 1970, during which he declined to allow the central bank to issue currency, favouring instead a currency board system in the form of the Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore - as this would signal to citizens, academics and the financial world that governments cannot "spend their way to prosperity".

On 11 August 1970, he was reappointed Minister for Defence.

On 1 March 1973, Goh was appointed Deputy Prime Minister concurrently with his other Cabinet portfolio.

On 12 February 1979, Goh moved on from the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Education, where his Goh Report{{citation|author=Goh Keng Swee|author2=Education Study Team|title=Report on the Ministry of Education 1978|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed by Singapore National Printers|year=1979|oclc=416421063}}. greatly influenced the development of Singapore's education system. He was described as both a key political and strategic leader responsible for the transformation of the system over 30 years from "fair" to "great", according to a November 2010 McKinsey report.{{citation|author=Michael Barber|author2=Chinezi Chijioke|author3=Mona Mourshed|title=Education: How the World's Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better|location=London|publisher=McKinsey & Company|year=2010|pages=101–118}}. He set up the Curriculum Development Institute, and introduced key policies such as religious education—subsequently discontinued and, in 1980, the channelling of students into different programmes of study according to their learning abilities, known as "streaming".{{cite web |last1=MOKHTAR |first1=FARIS |title=Timeline: How secondary school streaming evolved over the decades |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/timeline-how-secondary-school-streaming-evolved-over-decades |website=TODAY |access-date=1 January 2023 |language=en}} Goh served two terms as Minister for Education, his first term ended in 1980, and his second following the 1980 general election from 1981 until his retirement in 1985.

From 1 June 1980, he was redesignated First Deputy Prime Minister upon S. Rajaratnam being made Second Deputy Prime Minister, and served as Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore until he stepped down from Parliament on 3 December 1984, at the age of 66.

In a tribute to mark the occasion, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew wrote: "A whole generation of Singaporeans take their present standard of living for granted because you had laid the foundations of the economy of modern Singapore."{{citation|author=Chua Mui Hoong|title=Passing of a S'pore titan: Former DPM Goh Keng Swee was economic architect of Singapore and mentor to many|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|pages=A1–A2}}.

In 1981, Goh expressed the view that the central bank need not hold large amounts of cash in reserve to defend the currency, proposing that the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) be established to invest excess reserves. At the time, it was unprecedented for a non-commodity-based economy to have such a sovereign wealth fund.{{citation|author=Janadas Devan|title=Remembering Goh Keng Swee, 1918–2010|newspaper=The Straits Times (Saturday)|date=15 May 2010|page=D2}}. The foreign merchant bank, Rothschild, advised on the GIC.{{cite book|last1=Hamilton-Hart|first1=Natasha|title=Asian states, Asian bankers : central banking in Southeast Asia|url=https://archive.org/details/asianstatesasian00hami_616|url-access=limited|date=2003|publisher=Singapore University Press|location=Singapore|isbn=978-0801439872|page=[https://archive.org/details/asianstatesasian00hami_616/page/n115 89]}}

In 1971, Goh put together the Electronic Warfare Study Group, a team of newly-graduated engineers who had excelled in their university studies that was headed by Tay Eng Soon, then a university lecturer. The group worked on Project Magpie, a secret project to develop Singapore's defence technology capabilities. In 1977, the group was renamed the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). Originally part of the Ministry of Defence, the organisation became a non-profit corporation called DSO National Laboratories in 1997.{{citation|author=Melanie Chew|author2=Bernard Tan|chapter=A Tribute to Dr Goh Keng Swee|chapter-url=http://www.dso.org.sg/home/publications/comm/2-Tribute.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928025934/http://www.dso.org.sg/home/publications/comm/2-Tribute.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2007|title=Creating the Technology Edge: DSO National Laboratories, Singapore 1972–2002|location=Singapore|publisher=Epigram for DSO National Laboratories|year=2002|pages=4–9|isbn=978-981-04-7199-6}}.

File:Ara ararauna -Jurong Bird Park -sign-8a.jpg was one of Goh's many projects|alt=Blue-and-yellow Macaws perching on branches in front of a sign stating "Jurong Bird Par", with orchids and palm trees in the background.]]

Goh was also responsible for projects that sought to improve Singaporeans' cultural and leisure life, such as the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.{{citation|author-first1=Imelda |author-last1=Saad |title=S'pore's master builder |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000118/Spores-master-builder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518151254/http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000118/Spores-master-builder |archive-date=18 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=2 |url-status=dead }}.

He backed the construction of the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre in his constituency as a venue for Chinese opera performances.{{citation|author=Leong Weng Kam|title=A thinker and a doer: Dr Goh was a 'great intellectual', recall PAP Old Guard members|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|page=A6}}. In 1968, Goh encouraged the establishment of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Goh was also instrumental in introducing rugby in the Singapore Armed Forces and later in schools. In recognition of his role in promoting the sport, the Schools "C" Division Cup is named after him.{{citation|title='One of the most brilliant architects' of the country, says SM Goh |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000098/One-of-the-most-brilliant-architects-of-the-country,-says-SM-Goh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518150211/http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000098/One-of-the-most-brilliant-architects-of-the-country,-says-SM-Goh |archive-date=18 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=3 |url-status=dead|author-first1=Imelda|author-last1=Saad}}.

Impressed by an oceanarium in the Bahamas, he contacted the Sentosa Development Corporation and persuaded them to build an oceanarium in Singapore. Underwater World opened in 1991.

File:Goh Keng Swee, 1942.png

In 1986, Goh divorced his first wife Alice. In 1991, he remarried his former Ministry of Education colleague Phua Swee Liang.

Goh suffered his first stroke in 1999, and a subsequent one in 2000 which affected the vision in his right eye.{{citation|author=Nur Dianah Suhaimi|title=Love against the odds [interview with Dr. Phua Swee Liang]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 May 2010|pages=A40–A41}}. According to Goh's daughter-in-law Tan Siok Sun, the medical condition caused him to be withdrawn and became introverted. In July 2007, Tan published a biography titled Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait. Goh's second wife issued a statement claiming that Goh had not been consulted on the book and had indicated to her that he did not want any book to be written about him. "Therefore, the publication of this book is contrary to his wishes, and is a show of disregard and utmost disrespect to him." In an interview with The Straits Times, Tan said she did not start the dispute between Mrs. Goh and herself, nor did she wish to prolong it.{{citation|author=Lydia Lim|title=No regrets despite objections, except one|url=http://wineanddine.asiaone.com/Wine%252CDine%2B%2526%2BUnwind/Unwind/Books/Story/A1Story20070709-17579.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121202220801/http://wineanddine.asiaone.com/Wine%252CDine%2B%2526%2BUnwind/Unwind/Books/Story/A1Story20070709-17579.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2012|newspaper=The Straits Times (reproduced on the AsiaOne website)|date=7 July 2007}}.

After retirement from politics, Goh continued to be active in public life, serving as Deputy Chairman of GIC between 1981 and 1994, Economic Adviser to the State Council of the People's Republic of China on Coastal Development and Adviser on Tourism in 1985, Deputy Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore between 1985 and 1992, Chairman of the Singapore Totalisator Board between 1988 and 1990, Director of Gateway Technologies Services Pte. Ltd. from 1991 onward, Adviser to the United Overseas Bank Group from 1993 onward, Chairman of N. M. Rothschild & Sons (Singapore) Ltd. from 1994 onward, and Vice-Chairman of Hong Leong Asia Ltd. from 1995 onward.

Goh was also Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Institute of East Asian Philosophies between 1983 and 1992, which was founded to study Confucianism. The institute later turned its focus on China's political and economic development, renaming itself the Institute of East Asian Political Economy, and Goh continued as Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Governors until 1995. In April 1997, the institute was reconstituted as the East Asian Institute, an autonomous research organisation under the auspices of the National University of Singapore.{{citation|title=EAI's profile & objectives|url=http://www.eai.nus.edu.sg/Profile_&_Objectives.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221073544/http://www.eai.nus.edu.sg/Profile_%26_Objectives.htm|archive-date=21 December 2010|url-status=dead|publisher=East Asia Institute, National University of Singapore|year=2008|access-date=16 May 2010}}.

On 14 May 2010, Goh died in the early morning at his home in Dunbar Walk off East Coast Road in Siglap, at the age of 91.{{citation|title=Farewell to one of Singapore's prime architects |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000105/Farewell-to-one-of-Spores-prime-architects |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183552/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000105/Farewell-to-one-of-Spores-prime-architects |archive-date=16 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=1 |url-status=dead }}. See also {{citation|author=Rachel Lin|title=A quiet passing for a quiet man: He lived simply, was a private man, with S'pore uppermost in his mind|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|page=A3}}.

His body lay in state at Parliament House from 20 to 22 May,{{citation|author=Esther Ng |title=From all walks of life, they came to pay their respects: More than 5,000 queue up at Parliament House to honour Dr Goh |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100521-0000126/From-all-walks-of-life,-they-came-to-pay-their-respects |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523043455/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100521-0000126/From-all-walks-of-life,-they-came-to-pay-their-respects |archive-date=23 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=21 May 2010 |page=3 |url-status=dead }}; {{citation|author=Nur Dianah Suhaimi|author2=Kor Kian Beng|title='Thank you and goodbye': Young and old, from near and far, over 7,000 pay respects to Dr Goh|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=22 May 2010|page=A16}}. and there was a state funeral on 23 May 2010 at the Singapore Conference Hall followed by a private ceremony for family members at the Mandai Crematorium.{{citation|author=Cassandra Chew|title=State funeral an honour reserved for rare few|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=22 May 2010|page=A16}}; {{citation|author=Chua Mui Hoong|title=Goodbye, Dr Goh: Tributes flow at state funeral for one of Singapore's founding fathers|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|pages=A1–A2}}; {{citation|author=Rachel Lin|title=A simple, moving funeral for Dr Goh: Nation mourns one of its founders in a sombre but intimate ceremony|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|pages=A2–A3}}; {{citation|author=Zul Othman |title=A nation says goodbye |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000060/A-nation-says-goodbye |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5q4H29DBH?url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000060/A-nation-says-goodbye |archive-date=29 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |pages=1 & 3 |url-status=dead }}.

The latter was conducted by the pastor-in-charge of Barker Road Methodist Church, with a message delivered by the Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Robert M. Solomon. As a mark of respect, State flags at all Government buildings were flown at half-mast from 20 to 23 May.{{citation|title=State funeral on May 23 |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000112/State-funeral-on-May-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183603/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000112/State-funeral-on-May-23 |archive-date=16 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=2 |url-status=dead }}.

In 1966, Goh was made an Honorary Fellow of the London school of Economics. In 1972, he was the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Services, which is often regarded as "Asia's Nobel Prize".{{citation|title=1972 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Services: Biography of Goh Keng Swee|url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyGohKengSwe.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801023049/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyGohKengSwe.htm|archive-date=1 August 2008|publisher=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation|date=August 1972|access-date=15 May 2010}}. It is awarded to people who have demonstrated integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. That same year, the Philippine Government conferred upon him the Order of Sikatuna, which is given to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous services in fostering, developing and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines.

Following his retirement from politics, in 1985 Goh was awarded the Order of Temasek (First Class), Singapore's highest civilian honour. He was also presented with the LSE's Distinguished Alumnus Award on 21 January 1989,{{citation|author=Phua Kai Hong |title=The day Dr Goh removed words from his citation [letter] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100525-0000122/The-day-Dr-Goh-removed-words-from-his-citation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527121523/http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC100525-0000122/The-day-Dr-Goh-removed-words-from-his-citation |archive-date=27 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=25 May 2010 |page=8 |url-status=dead }}. and made the first Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Development Board Society in 1991.

During the National Day Rally on 29 August 2010, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the Singapore Command and Staff College, where senior officers of the Singapore Armed Forces receive training; and a complex to be constructed at the Ministry of Education's North Buona Vista Road headquarters for specialist teacher training academies in English language, physical education, sports and the arts would be respectively named the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College and the Goh Keng Swee Centre for Education.{{citation|author=Clarissa Oon|title=SAF institute, education centre named after Goh Keng Swee|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=30 August 2010|page=B4}}; {{citation|author=Alicia Wong|title=Military college and education centre to be named after Goh Keng Swee|newspaper=Today|date=30 August 2010|page=13}}.

• {{cite book|title=The Economic Front: From a Malayan Point of View|location=Singapore|publisher=Government Printers|year=1940|oclc=226068826}}.
• {{cite book|title=Urban Incomes & Housing: A Report on the Social Survey of Singapore, 1953–54|location=Singapore|publisher=[Department of Social Welfare]|year=1956|oclc=504452751}}.
• {{cite book|title=Techniques of National Income Estimation in Under-developed Territories, with Special Reference to Asia and Africa [Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London, London School of Economics, 1956]|location=London|publisher=University of London Library, Photographic Section|year=1978|oclc=63630985}}.
• {{cite book|title=This is How Your Money is Spent [Budget statement by Goh Keng Swee, Minister for Finance; Towards Socialism, vol. 3]|location=Singapore|publisher=Ministry of Finance|year=1960|oclc=63838096}}.
• {{cite book|title=Some Problems of Industrialisation [Towards Socialism; vol. 7]|location=Singapore|publisher=Government Printing Office|year=1963|oclc=17270555}}.
• {{cite book|title=Communism in Non-Communist Asian Countries|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed by the Government Printing Office for the Ministry of Culture|date=c. 1967|oclc=433094}}.
• {{cite book|title=The Economics of Modernization and other Essays|url=https://archive.org/details/economicsofmoder0062gohk|url-access=registration|location=[Singapore]|publisher=Asia Pacific Press|year=1972|oclc=534320}}. Later editions:
• {{cite book|title=The Economics of Modernization|location=Singapore|publisher=Federal Publications|year=1995|isbn=978-981-01-2317-8}}.
• {{cite book|title=The Economics of Modernization|location=Singapore|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Academic|year=2004|isbn=978-981-210-330-7}}.
• {{cite book|title=Some Problems of Manpower Development in Singapore [Occasional publication (Singapore Training and Development Association); no. 1]|location=Singapore|publisher=Ad Hoc Publications Sub-committee, Singapore Training & Development Association|year=1974|oclc=226024028}}.
• {{cite book|title=Some Unsolved Problems of Economic Growth [Kesatuan lecture; 1]|location=Singapore|publisher=Kesatuan Akademis Universiti Singapura|year=1976|isbn=9971-68-076-9|oclc=3072805}}.
• {{cite book|title=The Practice of Economic Growth|location=Singapore|publisher=Federal Publications|year=1977|oclc=4465760}}. Later edition:
• {{cite book|title=The Practice of Economic Growth|location=Singapore|publisher=Federal Publications|year=1995|isbn=978-981-01-2322-2}}.
• {{cite book|last=Goh|first=Keng Swee|author2=Education Study Team|title=Report on the Ministry of Education 1978|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed by Singapore National Printers|year=1979|oclc=416421063}}.
• {{cite book|last=Goh|first=Keng Swee|editor-last=Low|editor-first=Linda|title=Wealth of East Asian Nations: Speeches and Writings|location=Singapore|publisher=Federal Publications|year=1995|isbn=978-981-01-2297-3}}.

{{Notelist|30em}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite news|title=From civil servant to PAP stalwart|newspaper=The Straits Times (Saturday)|date=15 May 2010|page=D2}}
• {{cite book|author=Nur Dianah Suhaimi|title=His work was his passion: The late Goh Keng Swee showed brilliance even when he was a child|location=Singapore|date=16 May 2010|page=10}}
• {{cite news|title=Parliament pays respects|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=18 May 2010}}
• {{cite news|last=Tien|first=Jenny Mui Mun|title=Dr Goh Keng Swee|url=http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_662_2005-01-11.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623062124/http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_662_2005-01-11.html|archive-date=23 June 2008|publisher=Singapore Infopedia, National Library, Singapore|date=8 October 2002|access-date=15 May 2010}}

• {{cite book|last=Austin|first=Ian Patrick|title=Goh Keng Swee and Southeast Asian Governance|location=Singapore|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Academic|year=2004|isbn=978-981-210-351-2}}
• {{cite book|editor-last=Desker|editor-first=Barry|editor2-last=Kwa|editor2-first=Chong Guan|title=Goh Keng Swee – A Public Career Remembered|location=Singapore|publisher=World Scientific|year=2011|isbn=978-981-4291-38-5}}
• {{cite book|last1=Doshi|first1=Tilak|last2=Coclanis|first2=Peter|chapter=The Economic Architect: Goh Keng Swee|editor-last=Lam|editor-first=Peng Er|editor2-last=Tan|editor2-first=Kevin|title=Lee's Lieutenants: Singapore's Old Guard|location=St. Leonards, N.S.W.|publisher=Allen & Unwin|year=1999|pages=24–44|isbn=978-1-86448-639-1}}
• {{cite book|last=Kuah|first=Adrian|title=UnChartered territory: Dr Goh Keng Swee and the ST Engineering Story|location=Singapore|publisher=Published for ST Engineering by SNP International|year=2007|isbn=978-981-248-169-6}}
• {{cite book|last=Kwok|first=Kian-Woon|chapter=The Social Architect: Goh Keng Swee|editor-last=Lam|editor-first=Peng Er|editor2-last=Tan|editor2-first=Kevin|title=Lee's Lieutenants: Singapore's Old Guard|location=St. Leonards, N.S.W.|publisher=Allen & Unwin|year=1999|pages=45–69|isbn=978-1-86448-639-1}}
• {{cite book|last=Nair|first=E. Shailaja|title=The Master Sculptor: Goh Keng Swee [Great Singapore Stories. Founding Fathers.]|location=Singapore|publisher=SNP Editions|year=2008|isbn=978-981-248-160-3}}
• {{cite book|last=Ngiam|first=Tong Dow|title=A Mandarin and the Making of Public Policy: Reflections by Ngiam Tong Dow|location=Singapore|publisher=NUS Press|year=2006|isbn=978-9971-69-350-3}}
• {{cite book|last=Ooi|first=Kee Beng|title=In Lieu of Ideology: The Intellectual Biography of Goh Keng Swee|location=Singapore|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|year=2010|isbn=978-981-4311-30-4}}
• {{cite book|last=Tan|first=Siok Sun|title=Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait|location=Singapore|publisher=Editions Didier Millet|year=2007|isbn=978-981-4155-82-3}}.
• {{cite book|last=Yeo|first=Siew Siang|title=Tan Cheng Lock, the Straits Legislator and Chinese Leader|location=Petaling Jaya, Selangor|publisher=Pelanduk Publications|year=1990|isbn=978-967-978-236-3}}

• {{cite news|last=Lee|first=Hsien Loong|author-link=Lee Hsien Loong|title=Without him, much of S'pore wouldn't exist: Eulogy by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|pages=A4 & A6}}; {{cite news|last=Lee |first=Hsien Loong |title=A giant in our midst [eulogy by the Prime Minister] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000043/A-giant-in-our-midst |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525173700/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000043/A-giant-in-our-midst |archive-date=25 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |pages=12–14 |url-status=dead }} See also {{cite news|title='He turned the tide for Singapore': PM Lee recounts Dr Goh's contributions and compassion |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000034/He-turned-the-tide-for-Singapore |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145945/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000034/He-turned-the-tide-for-Singapore |archive-date=26 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |page=4 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Lee|first=Kuan Yew|author-link=Lee Kuan Yew|title=He made the greatest difference: Eulogy by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|page=A6}}. See also {{cite news|title=As my troubleshooter, I gave him toughest jobs in Govt: MM |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000035/As-my-troubleshooter,-I-gave-him-toughest-jobs-in-Govt--MM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145951/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000035/As-my-troubleshooter,-I-gave-him-toughest-jobs-in-Govt--MM |archive-date=26 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |page=3 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|author=S. Dhanabalan|author-link=Suppiah Dhanabalan|title=Singapore's greatest entrepreneur: Eulogy by S. Dhanabalan, chairman of Temasek Holdings|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|page=A8}}. See also {{cite news|title=Dhanabalan: How Dr Goh changed my life |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000036/Dhanabalan--How-Dr-Goh-changed-my-life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145956/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000036/Dhanabalan--How-Dr-Goh-changed-my-life |archive-date=26 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |page=4 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Goh|first=Ken-Yi|title=A caring, selfless grandfather: Eulogy by grandson Goh Ken-Yi|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|page=A10}}. See also {{cite news|author=Zul Othman |title=To me, he was simply a great grandfather |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000052/To-me,-he-was-simply-a-great-grandfather |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526150012/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100524-0000052/To-me,-he-was-simply-a-great-grandfather |archive-date=26 May 2010 |newspaper=Today |date=24 May 2010 |page=2 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Hui|first=Marian|title=He motivated me to pursue my dreams: Excerpt of eulogy by Grand-niece Marian Hui|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=24 May 2010|page=A8}}

• {{cite news|last=Lee |first=Hsien Loong |title=A far-sighted visionary and pragmatic manager [letter from the Prime Minister to Mrs. Goh Keng Swee] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000085/A-far-sighted-visionary-and-pragmatic-manager |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183502/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000085/A-far-sighted-visionary-and-pragmatic-manager |archive-date=16 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=10 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|author=S.R. Nathan |author-link=Sellapan Ramanathan |title=Nothing too insignificant for his attention [letter from the president to Mrs. Goh Keng Swee] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000087/Nothing-too-insignificant-for-his-attention |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183506/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000087/Nothing-too-insignificant-for-his-attention |archive-date=16 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=10 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Goh |first=Chok Tong |author-link=Goh Chok Tong |title=Practical and full of ideas [letter from the Senior Minister to Mrs. Goh Keng Swee] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000106/Practical-and-full-of-ideas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622001750/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000106/Practical-and-full-of-ideas |archive-date=22 June 2011 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=11 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Tan |first=Tony Keng Yam |author-link=Tony Tan Keng Yam |title=Farsightedness and fortitude [letter from the Deputy Chairman and Executive Director of the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore to Mrs. Goh Keng Swee] |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000107/Farsightedness-and-fortitude |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516183556/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100515-0000107/Farsightedness-and-fortitude |archive-date=16 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=11 |url-status=dead }}

• {{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rachel|last2=Cai|first2=Haoxiang|last3=Kor|first3=Kian Beng|title=Ex-MPs recall a fearsome technocrat: A strict taskmaster who didn't suffer fools, but he was never brusque|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|page=A8}}
• {{cite news|title=Leaders salute 'this marvellous man'|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=15 May 2010|page=A4}}
• {{cite news|author=S. Ramesh |title=A national hero who touched people's lives |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000101/A-national-hero-who-touched-peoples-lives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518145810/http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100515-0000101/A-national-hero-who-touched-peoples-lives |archive-date=18 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=15–16 May 2010 |page=2 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|title=Goh Keng Swee: Passing of a colossus [editorial]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=22 May 2010|page=A32}}
• {{cite news|last=Balji |first=P.N. |title=Dr Goh, the Dream No 2 |url=http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/EDC100522-0000080/Dr-Goh,-the-Dream-No-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530030357/http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/EDC100522-0000080/Dr-Goh,-the-Dream-No-2 |archive-date=30 May 2010 |newspaper=Weekend Today |date=22–23 May 2010 |page=11 |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite news|last=Devan|first=Janadas|title=Simply sincere: Dr Goh's simple yet eloquent writing style showed desire to reach out to ordinary people|newspaper=The Sunday Times|location=Singapore|date=23 May 2010|page=35}}

{{Library resources box

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• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401091116/http://www3.channelnewsasia.com/gohkengswee/ |date=1 April 2013 |title=Channel NewsAsia – Obituary: Goh Keng Swee 1918–2010 }}, archived from [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/gohkengswee/ the original] on 1 April 2013
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110410180550/http://libguides.nl.sg/gohkengswee National Library Singapore – NLS Resource guide on Dr. Goh Keng Swee]

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