About Dr Goh Keng Swee

In 1939, Dr Goh Keng Swee 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. However, his career was interrupted by the Japanese Occupation. Shortly after the start of World War Two, Dr goh Keng Swee joined the Singpore Volunteer Corps, a local militia. He then return to the pervious job in 1946. In 1945, Dr Goh Keng Swee joined the Department of Social Welfare, and was active in post-war administration. He became supervisor of the Department's Research Section six months later.

During his time in London, Dr Goh Keng Swee met fellow students seeking independence for British Malaya, including Mr Abdul Razak (later Malaysia's second Prime Minister), Mr Maurice Baker (subsequently Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia), Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Toh Chin Chye. In1948, Dr Goh Keng Swee organised a student discussion group, the Malayan Forum. He was the first chairman of the group.

After Janpanese Occupation, Dr Goh Keng Swee joined the Department of Social Welfare. He was appointed assistant secretary of its Research Section. In 1952, together with fellow civil servant Kenneth M. Byrne, he formed the Council of Joint Action to lobby against salary and promotion policies that favoured Caucasians over Asians.

In 1956, Dr Goh Keng Swee completed his Ph.D. in Economics and returned to the Department of Social Welfare, where he served as Assistant Director and then Director. In 1958, Dr Goh Keng Swee was made Director of the Social and Economic Research Division in the Chief Minister's Office. In August 1958, He resigned from the civil service to work full-time for the People's Action Party(PAP).