Teh Cheang Wan
Encyclopedia
Teh Cheang Wan was an architect
who was in charge of the Housing Development Board as Minister
for National Development
of Singapore. He served as the minister between 1979 to 1986.
, Penang
. He studied architecture at the University of Sydney
in Australia, graduating in 1956.
. He then moved to the Housing Commission, New South Wales
, Australia
before expanding his expertise with the Housing Trust in Kuala Lumpur
and serving in the Penang City Council. In August
1959, he joined the Singapore Improvement Trust
as an architect. He was promoted to Chief Architect, Building Department of the newly formed Housing and Development Board (HDB) in October 1959. Later he became the Chief Executive Officer of HDB from 1970 to January 1979. He was also the Chairman of Jurong Town Corporation between September 1976 to March 1979. He resigned from his posts to go into politics where he would further contribute to a different aspect of the landscape of Singapore.
Teh was elected as a Member of Parliament
for Geylang West constituency in January 1979, and held the seat till December 1984.
for accepting two bribes of $500,000 each in 1981 and 1982. In November 1986, the prime minister of Singapore approved an open investigation on his alleged corruption, however, the papers were issued to the Attorney-General on December 11. Though he maintained his innocence, he committed suicide before being charged for the offences, on December 14.
In his suicide note, Teh wrote
As a result of the suicide, the Attorney-General could not proceed with the charges. However, there was a subsequent investigation into the matter as a result of allegation of Chiam See Tong
, the opposition MP, that there were unanswered questions into the whole episode. In December 1987, the findings of the Commission of Inquiry were presented to the President of Singapore, however, they were not released to the public till the end the year.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who was in charge of the Housing Development Board as Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
for National Development
Ministry of National Development (Singapore)
The Ministry of National Development is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to land use planning and infrastructure development...
of Singapore. He served as the minister between 1979 to 1986.
Education
Teh's early education began at Lai Teck School and later at Chung Ling High SchoolChung Ling High School
Chung Ling High School is a boys' secondary school in Malaysia, located in George Town, Penang.-The school:...
, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. He studied architecture at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia, graduating in 1956.
Career
Teh's early career was as an architect at PWD, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He then moved to the Housing Commission, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
before expanding his expertise with the Housing Trust in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and serving in the Penang City Council. In August
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
1959, he joined the Singapore Improvement Trust
Singapore Improvement Trust
-History:The Singapore Improvement Trust was a government organisation set up in 1927 by the British colonial government in Singapore in response to the housing needs of the population of Singapore. At that time, many people resided in overcrowded shophouses and squatter settlements, resulting in...
as an architect. He was promoted to Chief Architect, Building Department of the newly formed Housing and Development Board (HDB) in October 1959. Later he became the Chief Executive Officer of HDB from 1970 to January 1979. He was also the Chairman of Jurong Town Corporation between September 1976 to March 1979. He resigned from his posts to go into politics where he would further contribute to a different aspect of the landscape of Singapore.
Teh was elected as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Geylang West constituency in January 1979, and held the seat till December 1984.
Corruption charges
He was investigated for corruption by the Corrupt Practices Investigation BureauCorrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau is a government agency in Singapore which investigates and prosecutes corruption in the public and private sectors...
for accepting two bribes of $500,000 each in 1981 and 1982. In November 1986, the prime minister of Singapore approved an open investigation on his alleged corruption, however, the papers were issued to the Attorney-General on December 11. Though he maintained his innocence, he committed suicide before being charged for the offences, on December 14.
In his suicide note, Teh wrote
I have been feeling very sad and depressed for the last two weeks.
I feel responsible for the occurrence of this unfortunate incident and I feel I should accept full responsibility. As an honourable oriental gentleman I feel it is only right that I should pay the highest penalty for my mistake.
As a result of the suicide, the Attorney-General could not proceed with the charges. However, there was a subsequent investigation into the matter as a result of allegation of Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong
Chiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
, the opposition MP, that there were unanswered questions into the whole episode. In December 1987, the findings of the Commission of Inquiry were presented to the President of Singapore, however, they were not released to the public till the end the year.