Tan Tock Seng, one of Singapore's most illustrious pioneers, was an influential Chinese community leader. In the early 1820s, he responded to Sir Stamford Raffles' call to open up Singapore for trade, and later became a prominent entrepreneur, a social leader of the Chinese community and a philanthropist. He also spearheaded the building of the Thian Hock Keng Temple as a rallying point for his fellow clansmen, as well as the Tan Tock Seng Hospital to provide medical services for people in Singapore.This book provides a comprehensive account of Tan Tock Seng's life, tracing his life and legacy, as well as the contributions of himself and his family. It also includes prominent family members such as Tan Kim Ching, Tan Teck Guan, Tan Boo Liat, Tan Chay Yan and Tan Hoon Siang. The fruits of their contributions have greatly impacted communities in Singapore, as well as other countries in the region.In delineating the Tan family's life and contributions, perspectives into the social, political and business workings of the lives of Overseas Chinese immigrants during the colonial era are also brought to light. Their legacy beyond Singapore's shores also highlights the regional networks of business and Chinese settlement in Nanyang. These stories bring complexity and nuance to broad-stroke developments, events and milestones in Singapore history, enhancing popular understanding and appreciation of Singapore.

The rapidly developing major roles in the world's economy of China and India are of course often well to the fore in any discussion of the future. In this very readable book, a senior player on the industrial/investment scene in China and Singapore uses his experience to explore possible and positive ways in which Singapore can use and profit by its own unique position and experience in the world's major area of economic growth. Many vignettes are drawn from recent linkages in cultural, educational, trade, transport and industrial areas including Singapore's bumpy passage in Suzhou Industrial Park and the 2004 fall of China Aviation Oil (Singapore). Recent developments in India/China economic relations are addressed and Singapore is seen as likely to have gateway and joint venture potential.

"How did Singapore's health care system transform itself into one of the best in the world? It not only provides easy access, but its standards of health care, not only in curative medicine but also in prevention, are exemplary. Fifty years ago, the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 26 per thousand live births; today the IMR is 2. Life expectancy was 64 years then; today, it is 83. The Singapore Medicine brand is trusted internationally, and patients are drawn to Singapore from all over the world. And while many countries struggle to finance their health care, Singapore has developed a health care financing framework that makes health care affordable for its people and gives sustainability to the health care system. Reliability is provided by a professional workforce that seeks to continually learn, improve and become ever more proficient with cutting edge technology while emphasizing the relational aspects of health care by nurturing compassion and maintaining high standards of integrity. Convenience and safety are enhanced by a unifying IT system that enables the portability of medical records across health care institutions. All these have been achieved not by chance but by careful planning, strong leadership and dedicated people who are prepared to learn from Singapore's own experience while adapting best practices from around the world. But the system is not without challenges -- not least those of an aging population, and an increasing market influence. This book provides a fascinating insight into the development of Singapore's health care system from the early days of fighting infections and providing nutrition supplementation for school children, to today's management of lifestyle diseases and high-end tertiary care. It also discusses how the system must adapt to help Singaporeans continue to "live well, live long, and with peace of mind."--

Written by author and speaker Shawn Seah, My Father's Kampung delves into the social history of Aukang and Punggol as it traces a son's journey to better understand and appreciate the kampung life his father lived. The book is rich in personal stories and oral histories of those who lived there from the 1940s to 1970s, brought to life by Seah's passionate narrative as well as illustrations and photos.This book is supported by the National Heritage Board, with Forewords by Robert Yeo and Montfort Alumni.

In 1852, six Brothers of the Christian Schools, following in the tradition of their founder St. John Baptist de La Salle, gave up all they had and travelled to the Far East to bring education to the poor. They landed in Singapore and established the second school of the La Salle Brothers in this region. Their unparalleled approach to education saw an astronomical rise in student numbers and reputation. For years, St. Joseph's Institution has been an icon of Singapore's history, grooming many of its leaders.An earlier book Men for Others by Warren Fernandez celebrates the first generation of post-independence leaders. In the same spirit, this edition honours some of those who have taken on the mantle of service leadership for the next generation of Singaporeans. Inspiring alumni featured in this edition include Gerard Ee, Justice Chan Seng Onn, Teo Hock Seng, and Peter Seah. This book commemorates the 165th anniversary of the Christian Brothers in Singapore by showing that the mission of those first Brothers is well alive, 165 years on.