SINGAPORE — The ongoing plans to turn Jurong into a regional centre were hatched as far back as 1984. And the man who came up with the idea — which was shelved because of a recession — was former civil servant and prominent business leader Tang I-Fang, who died on Thursday. He was 89.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed this yesterday in a condolence letter to Tang’s wife.

Recalling how Tang came up with “ambitious plans” for the Jurong regional centre while he was Chairman of the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), Mr Lee recounted: “He was very passionate about the scheme. But Singapore ran into a serious recession the following year, and we had to postpone the plans.

“As it turned out, Mr Tang was absolutely right about the strategic direction, but was ahead of his time. Our current efforts to transform Jurong into the Jurong Lake District, including regional offices and an integrated work-live-play environment, reflect many of his original ideas,” he added.

In noting Tang’s “important contributions” to Singapore’s development, Mr Lee highlighted his chairmanship of the Economic Development Board (EDB) and later the JTC.

As EDB Chairman, not only did Tang recognise that Singapore’s success depended on upgrading the economy and developing a skilled workforce, he also promoted investment in higher value-added industries, such as petrochemicals, electronics and pharmaceuticals, noted Mr Lee.

Because he was “sharp, shrewd, and a good negotiator”, Tang “enabled the EDB to attract leading MNCs and investors from around the world”, he added.

Mr Lee also highlighted how Tang had expanded the JTC’s role from an industrial developer to a catalyst for new industries, citing his “instrumental” role in establishing the Republic’s first Science Park at Kent Ridge and developing the Southern Islands into a petrochemical hub.

He also paid tribute to Tang’s leadership skills and personal values, citing how executives who dealt with the EDB during his time were “impressed by the quality of the officers — a testament to Mr Tang’s coaching”.

“He inspired everyone around him to give their best.”

Of his business achievements, Tang is noted for transforming WBL Corp, or Wearnes, from an ailing car distributor in the early ’80s into a multinational corporation with wide-ranging businesses.

Although Tang was born in China and came to Singapore in 1960 as a member of the United Nations Development Programme, he adopted Singapore as his home and his passion for the country was “beyond doubt”, said Mr Lee.