SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Dec 29) paid tribute to the life of former F&N Group Chairman Michael Fam, describing him as a “rare, selfless individual who contributed much to Singapore”.

Mr Lee posted the tribute on his Facebook page and also wrote a condolence letter to Dr Fam’s wife, Madam Dulcie Fam.

“He (Dr Fam) was a successful businessman who held leadership positions in companies like the F&N Group, Asia-Pacific Breweries, SIA, Temasek Holdings, OCBC Bank and SPH,” Mr Lee said. ‘But he also had the energy and commitment to do an enormous amount of public service.”

Mr Lee further detailed several of Dr Fam’s successes. Dr Fam had chaired the newly formed Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) in 1983 when Singapore first began building the MRT. He also led the team to complete the North-South and East-West lines, which was done within budget and two years ahead of schedule.

He served on the Council of Presidential Advisers for many years and also chaired a panel that verified ministerial salaries benchmark in 1984.

Dr Fam led Singapore Airlines (SIA) through difficult times as its chairman, managing its first fatal incident in 2000 and the aftermath of 9/11 in 2001.

He was also the founding chairman of the Nanyang Technological Institute, now Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and established NTU as a leading university, helping many Singaporeans to secure good jobs in a burgeoning economy.

Dr Fam chaired the Housing Development Board (HDB) from 1975 to 1983 where he guided the HDB to modernise the construction industry by introducing pre-fabrication and mass production techniques to attract reluctant contractors to bid for HDB projects.

In recognition of his public service, Dr Fam was bestowed several national awards, including The Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in 1990.

In his condolence letter to Mdm Fam, Mr Lee said: “Michael’s legacy will live on as we remember his life and his contributions to Singapore. He embodies what it means to give back to society, to make lives better for all.”

PM LEE'S CONDOLENCE LETTER IN FULL

Dear Dulcie Fam,

Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your husband, Dr Michael Fam.  

Michael was a rare, selfless individual who contributed greatly to Singapore throughout his life. A successful businessman, he found the time and energy to do an enormous amount of public service. Time after time,Michael answered the call of duty steadfastly and without any hesitation. He did so purely as public service, often at considerable personal sacrifice.

In 1975, at the request of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Michael assumed chairmanship of Haw Par Brothers International Ltd, a large local company on the verge of bankruptcy.  Within a short time, he restored Haw Par’s health, protected the savings of thousands of shareholders and saved the jobs of many employees.  

In 1983, when Singapore started building our first MRT lines, Michael chaired the newly formed Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC).  He led the team to complete the largest and most complex project ever undertaken,well within budget and two years ahead of schedule.  

Michael served for many years on the Council of Presidential Advisers. He also chaired a panel that verified ministerial salaries benchmark in 1984. 

Michael served on boards of several important government-linked companies, including Temasek Holdings and Singapore Airlines (SIA). As chairman of SIA, he ably led the airline through difficult times, managing its first fatal incident in 2000 and the aftermath of 9/11 in 2001.

In 1986, Michael chaired the Public Sector Divestment Committee, which established principles guiding which GLCs the government should hold, and which it should divest. It identified 41 GLCs for divestment, a programme which was substantially realised, though it took many years.

Michael made the lives of Singaporeans better through the institutions he built and led.  Besides the MRTC, he was the Chairman of the Housing Development Board (HDB) from 1975 to 1983.  During 1979, amidst a private construction boom, contractors were reluctant to bid for HDB projects, threatening to derail our plans to house Singaporeans.  Michael guided the HDB to modernise the construction industry by introducing pre-fabrication and mass production techniques, getting the HDB building programme back on track. 

Michael was also the founding Chairman of the Nanyang Technological Institute, now the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), from 1981-1993. He established NTU as a leading university and enabled many Singaporeans to secure good jobs in a burgeoning economy.  

In recognition of his public service, Michael was bestowed several national awards, including The Order of Nila Utama (First Class) in 1990.

Michael’s legacy will live on as we remember his life and his contributions to Singapore. He embodies what it means to give back to society, to make lives better for all.  

My thoughts are with you and your family during this time of sorrow.

Yours sincerely,

LEE HSIEN LOONG