Fock Siew Wah, the founding chairman of both SMRT and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), as well as the former chairman of PSA International, has sadly passed away at the age of 84. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed deep sorrow over Mr. Fock’s demise in a Facebook post on Monday (Jan 6), where he remembered their long-standing association on the 1985 Economic Committee. Mr. Lee acknowledged Fock’s distinguished service to Singapore over more than 40 years in both the public and private sectors, remarking, “He has served Singapore with distinction in both the private and public sectors for more than 40 years.”
Mr. Fock, born in 1940, held the prestigious position of the first chairman of SMRT and LTA, and was also a board member of noteworthy organizations like Temasek Holdings, DBS, and Singapore Airlines. His leadership extended to PSA International, where he served as chairman from August 2005 until his retirement in 2019. Mr. Lee praised Fock’s discerning eye for talent and his dedication to service, which significantly shaped the growth of the various organizations he was involved with.
In a heartfelt tribute, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong described Mr. Fock as a pioneer leader with a profound sense of duty, whose influence will endure. From his role as the founding chairman of SMRT and LTA to his involvement with esteemed institutions like Temasek, DBS, and Singapore Airlines, Mr. Fock was instrumental in steering these organizations towards success. Mr. Wong acknowledged the pivotal role Fock played in transforming PSA International into a leading global port operator during his chairmanship from 2005 to 2019.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat also expressed his condolences over the passing of Mr. Fock, highlighting his significant contributions during his chairmanship at the Land Transport Authority from 1995 to 2002. Under Mr. Fock’s leadership, LTA achieved numerous milestones, including the launch of the Woodlands Line, the Bukit Panjang LRT, and the first Integrated Transport Hub at Toa Payoh. Mr. Chee emphasized Mr. Fock’s pivotal role in expanding PSA’s global presence to more than 50 terminals across 17 countries, doubling the cargo volume it handled to over 80 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Quoting Mr. Chee, “The excellent connectivity we have today and our reputation as a trusted international hub port is built on the strong foundations, hard work, and sheer grit of many of our predecessors like Mr. Fock. We will honour their contributions and legacy by continuing to build Singapore to become even better and stronger.”
