Ms Dolly Goh, SNCF Chief Executive Officer

CITATIONS BY MS DOLLY GOH, CEO OF SINGAPORE NATIONAL CO-
OPERATIVE FEDERATION (SNCF) AT THE SNCF HONOR AWARDS 2013
& IYC CLOSING ON 19 JANUARY 2013
What is a champion? The Webster dictionary describes a champion as a
warrior, fighter, advocate or defender. In many ways, this description defines
the seven co-op champions we are honoring tonight.
Our co-op champions possessed a kind of restlessness and dissatisfaction
with the way things were and they decided to do something about it. The co-
operative philosophy and values of self-help, mutual-help, co-operation and
serving the community offered them the answer to their conviction, that life
could be better, so, let’s work together. They saw a need and filled it. And by
doing so, they significantly changed the way Singaporeans live, work, eat,
shop, raise our children, manage our money, and lead our lives. They
revolutionized the co-operative movement, the communities in Singapore and
made a difference.
They bravely battled the odds and fought against conventional ways of
running trade unions, businesses or do good organizations. They diligently
worked hard and took risks to meet common goals and achieve the common
good for the common people.
One quality that stood out above all, is their generosity of spirit, time and
effort. Between the seven of these champions, they clocked in more than 200

years of selflessly serving the co-operative movement. Tonight, we celebrate
their conviction, tenacity, perseverance, leadership, and compassion.
At this moment, I would like to invite our special guest, Mr Lawrence Wong,
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of
State, Ministry of Communications and Information, accompanied by SNCF
Chairman, Mr Chan Tee Seng, on stage to present the awards to our Co-
operative Champions. Minister, please…
For the past two years, we have featured these co-op champions in our
humble publication,’ The Co-operator’. Tonight, they will be honored in the
order in which their story was published.
It gives me great pleasure to invite Mr Leow Ching Chuan on stage to be
recognized. Mr Leow, please…
While Mr Leow Ching Chuan would prefer to remain low profile his growing
status behind the success of Seacare Co-operative Ltd demands otherwise.
In 1994, Mr Leow and SOS Executive Committee decided to set up the
Seacare Co-operative Ltd with the mission to help and benefit Singapore
seamen and families. The Seacare Co-operative now has 21 subsidiary
companies and 6 associated companies with an annual turnover of over S$20
million.

Mr Leow found time to offer unwavering support to SNCF and participates in
the activities of the Singapore co-operative movement. He served in SNCF
Executive Council in 1999 till today (14 yrs). As the Chairman of the SNCF
Service Sector, a post he has been helming from 2001 to now, Mr Leow
provided leadership and mentorship diligently, working closely with SNCF,
winning him respect from the co-operatives in the service sector. His fellow
co-operators saw in him a keen sense of business acumen and his soft spot
for those who need a helping hand.
Mr Leow’s wholehearted involvement in co-operative activities at all levels
shows he is as dedicated a co-operator as he is, a trade unionist.
_________________
Our next champion needs no introduction. You will see for yourselves
through the photos, her dedication in championing the co-operatives through
the years…. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon
Mrs Yu-Foo, please….
The former Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports
Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon served the co-operative movement unstintingly in
various pioneering and leadership capacities; and stayed in close affinity with
SNCF for more than 25 years.
Mrs Yu-Foo was personally involved in the setting up of NTUC Childcare (as it
was called then) and NTUC Foodfare - which are today regarded as national

institutions serving the needs of all families and not just those of union
members.
As a former Vice Chairman of NTUC Insurance (Income), board member of
NTUC FairPrice, and Chairperson of NTUC Childcare, she participated
actively in their development and witnessed first-hand how social enterprises
delivered good business results and at the same time, created positive social
outcomes. The experience affirmed her life calling - to be a change maker in
the lives of the man in the street; and for three decades serving in the labour
movement, she relentlessly promoted the co-operative cause.
She served on SNCF Board of Trustees, and later chaired the Board and the
Central Co-operative Fund (CCF) Committee. For her contribution, the
Rochdale Medal was conferred on Mrs Yu-Foo by SNCF in 1997.
_____________________
And now, we welcome on stage our next Co-op Champion, a man who wears
many hats and has an amazing talent in juggling his time. He never says ‘no’
when asked to contribute his time for the movement…. Mr Seah Kian Peng.
Mr Seah, please....
Mr Seah Kian Peng believed enough in the Singapore brand of co-operatives
to showcase it on the global stage.

As the Chairman of the SNCF (2002 - 2008), he championed for the
International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) General Assembly to be held in
Singapore. In 2007, more than 1000 co-operators from around the world
turned up on our shores and left impressed. The Singapore flag flew high
once again when Mr Seah became the first and only Singaporean to be on
this global board in the 112-year history of ICA then. He was re-elected for a
second term from 2009 to 2013.
“Do well; Do good” is his signature mantra. He is driven by it; his work of over
20 years embodies it; and his achievements have a lot to show for it. NTUC
FairPrice Co-operative, of which he is its Chief Executive Officer, is a
prestigious member of the ICA global 300 with a chain of over 260
stores. The Co-operative employs over 8,500 staff with an annual turnover of
over S$2.6 billion.
Mr Seah was an Adviser to the Singapore International Year of Co-operatives
(IYC) 2012 National Committee and a member of the United Nations
International Year of Co-operatives Advisory group.
Mr Seah continues to press on to spread the message of mutual help for
mutual good as the current co-chair of Social Enterprise Association of
Singapore.
__________________

Ou next Co-op Champion is non other than Mr Everyday Low Price, Mr S
Chandra Das! Let’s welcome him on stage….
Mr Das, please ….
A Co-operative pillar, visionary, and consummate businessman who
congealed social mission at the core of FairPrice’s existence, Mr S Chandra
Das is known affectionately by NTUC FairPrice staff as “Mr Everyday Low
Price” for his role in identifying and benchmarking prices of everyday essential
items.
In 1969, Mr Das was one of the original directors for NTUC Welcome (which
later became NTUC FairPrice in the early 80s). When he took on the
chairmanship of FairPrice from 1993 to 2005, stretching the dollar was his
consuming passion. He tasked NTUC FairPrice to offer the cheapest price for
a basket of 400 everyday essential items. Today, Mr Das still patrols the
supermarkets, identifies and benchmarks prices of everyday essential items
against other supermarkets. While he believes making ‘profit’ is not a dirty
word, as you must make money to do a lot of things, he reminds us that the
social objective of any co-operative is most important.
As the Chairman of the Central Co-operative Fund, he is constantly on an
active look-out for new, sustainable co-operative business models where
people with a good heart and a good head for business can do more good for
society.
____________________

Our next Co-op Champion is one most remembered as the initiator of the
establishment of the NTUC insurance co-operative INCOME, the taxi co-
operative COMFORT and the WELCOME chain of co-operative
supermarkets, the late former President of Singapore, Mr C V Devan Nair.
Accepting the honor on his behalf is his son, Mr Janadas Devan.
Mr Devan, please…
Mr C V Devan Nair was a leader’s leader way ahead of his time. As the first
Secretary-General of NTUC, a post he held until 1979 when he became
Singapore’s third President, Mr Nair decided the best way forward would be to
create a better future for workers through the co-operative approach to
resolving issues.
In November 1969, the watershed Modernization Seminar which he chaired
changed the fate and face of trade unionism and co-operative movement in
Singapore for good.
He ignited a social revolution with the birth of the NTUC Co-operatives, whose
ideals invigorated Singapore’s co-operative landscape.
The transformational changes Devan Nair masterminded became the lasting
legacy he left behind. He planted the seed of greatness in the NTUC Co-
operatives. We fondly remember his passion and greatness, his immense
contribution to the co-operative movement.

_________________
The next Co-op Champion, a soft spoken, unassuming unionist with a heart
for the people … Mr Lim Boon Heng.
Mr Lim, please…
For 26 years working with the National Trades Union Congress – the last 13
as its Secretary-General, Mr Lim Boon Heng has been an instrumental force
in transforming lives - through the co-operative pathway.
His background of working with unionists and coming in contact regularly with
the man in the street had long made him aware of the many tremendous
social needs. In the co-operative model, he found compelling answers to
developing greater social impact.
Under his leadership, the reach and impact of the co-operatives and social
enterprises of the labour movement grew wider and deeper; serving more
than 1.5 million customers with a turnover of more than $6 billion annually.
Mr Lim called for a co-operative solution to offer quality and affordable
eldercare services for seniors. NTUC Eldercare was set up and since 2000,
he is the Chairman of the Co-operative.

He continues to evolve new solutions and strive to bring about new conditions
to meet the changing needs of workers and the communities. As Chairman of
the NTUC Enterprise Co-operative Ltd, he provides the visionary leadership
and passion to scale up rapidly 12 of NTUC social enterprises.
_________________
Our next Co-op Champion is a man who needs no introduction, the former
President of Singapore, Mr S R Nathan. Unfortunately, Mr Nathan is unable
to join us this evening.
Those who know Mr S R Nathan well, knows that he promotes the cause of
co-operative, reminds his audience of the good they should continue to do
and inspire co-operators to keep on making a difference. The Singapore’s 6 th
President himself had personally benefited from being a co-operative member
and knew firsthand the good work of mutual help. Three times the credit co-
operative offered him a helping hand… in the form of low interest loans.
There is also another compelling reason why the co-operative movement
remains ever so grateful to him. In 1969, Mr Nathan participated in the
watershed NTUC Modernization Seminar by presenting a paper on
‘Standardization of Subscriptions’ and to chair a workshop on it. He made a
case for a standardized rate of union subscriptions and the introduction of the
‘check-off system’. This enabled NTUC to grow strong financially and to do
more good for the workers by offering more benefits and setting up co-

operatives to meet their needs. The system also gave its affiliates access to
funds for the union work and participation in various NTUC social enterprises.
When it comes to championing the co-operative mission, Mr Nathan would not
bat an eyelid. For this, the co-operative movement is appreciative.
We accept this award on his behalf.
________________
We have come to the end of our presentation. Congratulations to all our
seven co-op champions. Let’s give them another round of applause!!! Thank
you, Minister and Mr Chan.
'Nothing lasting can be built without a desire by people to live differently and
exemplify the changes they want to see in society.'