SINGAPORE — Beyond the leadership he showed in the corporate social responsibility and charity spheres, the late property tycoon Kwek Leng Joo also contributed to the sporting and education arenas.

The late Mr Kwek played a key role in bringing the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) back on its feet, said SBF president Jessie Phua, who was among those who paid their last respects on the final day of his wake today (Nov 19).

Ms Phua recalled how back in 2002, when the federation was known as the Singapore Tenpin Bowling Congress, it had come under financial probe by the Commercial Affairs Department and was suspended from all funding by the Singapore Sports Council.

Mr Kwek resigned as patron of the congress because of the probe, but continued to seek solutions that could bring the organisation back into shape. “He was very passionate about bowling, very sincere. When he placed his commitment into something, it would be 100 per cent… one would expect no less from a business leader. He was constantly doing things in interest for the sport… thanks to Mr Kwek, he brought the house back on track,” said Ms Phua. Mr Kwek, who was deputy chairman of property developer City Developments (CDL), died in his sleep on Monday morning after a sudden heart attack. He was 62. Others who visited today include Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan and Hyflux executive chairman and group chief executive officer Olivia Lum.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, dean of National University of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, spoke of Mr Kwek’s support for education. Mr Kwek was a long-serving member of the National Technological University Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2015 and a member of Singapore Management University’s Master of Tri-sector Collaboration Advisory Group. “He was supportive of education and worked closely with institutions and institutors,” he said.

Mr Kwek’s family will hold a private funeral mass and cremation tomorrow.