Ola22W86488: new basic article from scratch

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{{Short description|Singaporean politician (1911–1978)}}
{{Indian patronymic|Govindaswamy|Perumal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Perumal Govindaswamy
| honorific_suffix = [[Bintang Bakti Masyarakat|BBM]]
| term_start = {{Start date|1963|10|22|df=y}}
| term_end = {{End date|1978|06|04|df=y}}
| predecessor = [[David Marshall (Singaporean politician)|David Marshall]]
| successor = [[Devan Nair]]
| birth_date = 1911
| birth_place = [[India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|06|04|1911|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Singapore]]
| spouse = Krishnaveni
| children = 9
| alma_mater =
| image = Perumal Govindaswamy.jpeg
| native_name = {{nobold|{{native name|ta|பெருமாள் கோவிந்தசாமி|paren=omit}}}}
| native_name_lang = ta
| party = [[People's Action Party]]
| prime_minister = [[Lee Kuan Yew]]
| nickname =
| parliament = Singapore
| constituency_MP = [[Anson Constituency|Anson]]
}}

'''Perumal Govindaswamy''' {{Post-nominals|country=||list=[[Bintang Bakti Masyarakat|BBM]]}} (1911 – 4 June 1978), also known as P. Govindaswamy, was a Singaporean trade unionist, politician, and a founding member of the [[People's Action Party]], serving as Member of Legislative Assembly and later Member of Parliament for [[Anson Constituency|Anson]] from 1963 till his death in 1978.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Yap |first=Sonny |date=1974-06-25 |title=The restless mind of a 'nosy' MP |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19740625-1.2.22.5 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[New Nation]] |pages=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-06-06 |title=Govindaswamy meninggal akibat diserang sakit jantung |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19780606-1.2.54 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[Berita Harian (Singapore)|Berita Harian]] |oclc=53812840|pages=8 |language=ms}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
In 1911, Perumal Govindaswamy was born in [[India]], and in 1927, he migrated to [[Singapore]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=1978-06-05 |title=MP dies of heart attack |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/newnation19780605-1.2.24 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[New Nation]] |pages=4}}</ref> He received no formal education.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1978-06-15 |title=House pays respects to late MP |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19780615-1.2.25.10 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=8}}</ref>

In 1929, Govindaswamy joined the Postal Service Department (now known as [[Singapore Post]]) and soon became involved in the Union of Postal Workers and the Postal and Telecommunication Uniformed Staff Union. In May 1952, Govindaswamy was one of the organisers of a postal union strike, and engaged lawyer [[Lee Kuan Yew]] as their negotiator and legal advisor.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-03-26 |title=Mr Lee Kuan Yew a 'brother to our workers': NTUC |url=https://www.todayonline.com/rememberinglky/mr-lee-kuan-yew-brother-our-workers-ntuc |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[Today (website)|Today]]|oclc=46474542}}</ref> More than 400 workers began the 13-day strike on 13 May 1952.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1952-05-13 |title=Members of Singapore Post and Telegraph Uniformed Staff Union in discussion during a 13-day postal strike in negotiation for fairer pay |url=https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/b779c9d5-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=nas.gov.sg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1952-05-15 |title=Work Continues As Postmen Picket GPO |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/singstandard19520515-1.2.20 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[Singapore Tiger Standard|Singapore Standard]] |pages=2}}</ref> Lee was able to negotiate a settlement resulting in pay increase and better working conditions.<ref name=":2" />

In 1963, Govindaswamy retired from the department as inspector of posts.<ref name=":1" />

==Political career==
Upon retirement from the postal service, Govindaswamy stood for the Legislative Assembly at the [[1963 Singaporean general election|1963 general elections]] in the constituency of [[Anson Constituency|Anson]]. He won 46.9% of the votes cast and was elected to the [[3rd Legislative Assembly of Singapore|3rd Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1963 |title=1963 Legislative Assembly General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1963.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=[[Elections Department Singapore]]}}</ref>

In the [[1968 Singaporean general election|1968 general elections]], Govindaswamy was the only candidate contesting in the constituency of Anson, and was elected unopposed to the [[2nd Parliament of Singapore|2nd Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1968 |title=1968 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1968.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=[[Elections Department Singapore]]}}</ref>

In 1971, rumours alleged that some applicants were able to receive their [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB) flats earlier than others "if they are willing to pay". As the chairman of the committee overseeing allocation of HDB flats, Govindaswamy said such allegations were untrue, and elaborated in his speech at a balloting exercise:{{Blockquote|text=The board's first-come-first-served policy has always been followed and in every balloting, the cards are checked and sealed in envelopes by me personally. The allocation of flats is based strictly on Housing Board rules and regulations. The rumours might have been spread by people who did not understand the rules of the board or by people with malicious intention of damaging the good name of the Board. Action can be taken by the police to charge these people in court for spreading malicious rumours.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perumal Govindaswamy |date=1971-07-16 |title=MP: No truth in 'jump HDB queue' rumours |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19710716-1.2.52 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=9}}</ref>}}

In the [[1972 Singaporean general election|1972 general elections]], Govindaswamy won 74.3% of the votes cast and was elected to the [[3rd Parliament of Singapore|3rd Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1972 |title=1972 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1972.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=[[Elections Department Singapore]]}}</ref> The other two candidates were Tay Kim Oh from [[Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party]] and Paul C. Kunjuraman from [[United National Front (Singapore)|United National Front]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-09-02 |title=Election Scoreboard |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19720902-1.2.17 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=4}}</ref>

In 1975, during a debate in Parliament about conducting feasibility studies into the [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) system, Minister for Communications [[Yong Nyuk Lin]] announced that the cost of the studies was expected to be {{SGD|4500000|link=on}}. Govindaswamy felt that there was no need to waste "good money" on research into the MRT system as the Government was already improving the existing public transport system, and the money could be diverted to other projects. MP for [[Moulmein Single Member Constituency|Moulmein]] [[Lawrence Sia]] disagreed with Govindaswamy, and felt that the MRT system should be introduced as soon as possible to cope with the increasing reliance on public transport.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1975-03-20 |title=MRT SYSTEM STUDY TO COST $4.5M |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19750320-1.2.30.3 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=6}}</ref>

Once again, in the [[1976 Singaporean general election|1976 general elections]], as the sole candidate for Anson, Govindaswamy was elected unopposed to the [[4th Parliament of Singapore|4th Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1976 |title=1976 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1976.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=[[Elections Department Singapore]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1976-12-23 |title=THE 16 WHO WERE RETURNED UNOPPOSED... |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19761223-1.2.62 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=12}}</ref>

In 1978, Minister for Culture [[Ong Teng Cheong]] was addressing criticisms of [[Radio Television Singapore]] (RTS). Govindaswamy complained of discrimination by RTS against Indians as not many Indians were hired as staff, and that Tamil listeners were neglected by RTS as football matches were not broadcast in Tamil.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Chia |first1=Poteik |last2=Ngiam |first2=Tong Hi |last3=Rodrigues |first3=Christina |last4=Chong |first4=Elena |last5=Teo |first5=Edmund |date=1978-03-23 |title=No way you can compare RTS with Hollywood |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19780323-1.2.42.3 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=8}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Together with his wife, Krishnaveni, they had four children, as well as five adopted children.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1999-10-24 |title=Obituaries |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/straitstimes19991024-1.1.38 |access-date=2025-01-04 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=38}}</ref>

Govindaswamy lived in the Windsor Park estate, off Upper Thomson Road. In 1971, Govindaswamy was elected as the president of the estate's association.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-04-28 |title=MP heads Windsor Park Assn |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/singherald19710428-1.2.36 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[Singapore Herald]] |pages=5}}</ref> On 12 March 1972, Prime Minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]] was accompanied by Govindaswamy to officiate the opening of the estate's {{SGD|18000|link=on}} clubhouse located at 2 Jupiter Road.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-03-14 |title=VITAL TO LEARN TO LIVE AT EASE WITH EACH OTHER: LEE |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19720314-1.2.81 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=15}}</ref> In 1974, he was re-elected as president.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1974-04-25 |title=Govindaswamy re-elected |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19740425-1.2.50 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659}}</ref> The clubhouse was demolished in 2000 and a [[terraced house]] subdivided into three units was constructed on the site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Koh |first=Boon Pin |date=1999-05-23 |title=Windsor Park clubhouse may have to go |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19990523-1.2.34.7 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=28}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=[[Urban Redevelopment Authority]] |title=PROPOSED ERECTION OF 3 UNITS OF 2-STOREY TERRACE HOUSES EACH WITH AN ATTIC |date=2000-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=[[Urban Redevelopment Authority]] |title=SUBDIVISION OF LAND OF THE 2 STOREY TERRACE HOUSE |date=2002-08-01}}</ref>

On 4 June 1978, after complaining of chest pains and difficulty of breathing, Govindaswamy was sent to [[Toa Payoh Hospital]]. He died of a heart attack on the way to the hospital.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-06-05 |title=MP for Anson dies |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19780605-1.2.13 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=1}}</ref> In a condolence message to his widow, Lee described Govindaswamy as "an old and treasured friend" that was a "responsible, firm and steady leader" who always spoke from his heart, representing the constituents of Anson with sincerity by looking after their interests.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-06-06 |title=Man who always spoke from his heart, says the PM |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19780606-1.2.28 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Ai Li |date=2015-08-16 |title=The MP who won affection with his sincerity |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20150816-1.2.37.12.7 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=8}}</ref> On 6 June 1978, Acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister [[Goh Keng Swee]] led ministers and MPs at the funeral service held at [[Mount Vernon Columbarium]], paying their last respects.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-06-07 |title=Goh leads ministers and MPs at Govin's funeral |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19780607-1.2.48 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Penghormatan akhir utk Govindaswamy |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19780607-1.2.45 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[Berita Harian (Singapore)|Berita Harian]]|oclc=53812840 |pages=8 |language=ms}}</ref>

His wife died on 22 October 1999.<ref name=":4" />

== Awards and decorations ==
After his death, Govindaswamy was posthumously awarded the Public Service Star, and the award was received by his wife.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Ngoo |first=Irene |date=1978-12-09 |title=Joy and sadness for award recipients |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19781209-1.2.23 |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |issn=0585-3923 |oclc=8572659 |pages=8}}</ref>

* [[File:Bintang Bakti Masyarakat ribbon (1963–1996).png|80x80px]] [[Bintang Bakti Masyarakat|Public Service Star]], in 1978.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-08-09 |title=Peguam Negara dahului senarai penerima pingat |via=[[NewspaperSG]] |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19780809-1.2.14 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=[[Berita Harian (Singapore)|Berita Harian]]|oclc=53812840 |pages=1 |language=ms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1978-08-09 |title=Republic of Singapore Government Gazette Extraordinary |url=https://www.pmo.gov.sg/-/media/PMO/National-Day-Awards/PDF-before-1998/NDA-Recipients-1978-pdf.ashx |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=[[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par | sg}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[David Marshall (Singaporean politician)|David Marshall]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Member of Parliament for [[Anson Constituency|Anson]]
| years = 1968 – 1978
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Devan Nair]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{1st Parliament of Singapore}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Govindaswamy, Perumal}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1978 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Singaporean politicians]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Singapore]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Singapore]]
[[Category:People's Action Party politicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat]]
[[Category:Singaporean trade unionists]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore]]
[[Category:20th-century trade unionists]]

Perumal Govindaswamy - Revision history

Ola22W86488: new basic article from scratch