'He has given a lot to Singapore': Business leaders, staff pay tribute to Wee Cho Yaw

SINGAPORE: Hundreds of people paid their respects on the first day of former UOB chairman and CEO Wee Cho Yaw’s wake on Monday (Feb 5), including business leaders and staff from related companies, some of whom arrived in chartered buses.

They spoke of him as a visionary leader who prized efficiency and punctuality, and an outstanding figure who contributed much to the Chinese business community.

Mr Wee died on Saturday at the age of 95. He retired from UOB’s board in 2018 after more than 60 years with the company.

Mr Chua Gim Siong, who previously served as the secretary-general in the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, said meetings helmed by Mr Wee – who was the founding president of the association – could be as short as five minutes.

“He expected everyone to prepare for the discussion before the meeting. If there was nothing else, we would end the meeting,” he said in Mandarin.

“He didn’t want to waste anyone’s time or waste his own time. He was very efficient.”

Mr Chua added that he was influenced by Mr Wee during the time they worked together.

“If not for him, I would not be so willing to contribute to the Chinese community in Singapore,” he said.

Mr Chua got emotional at points as he spoke to reporters.

“When I stood before him today, I cried,” he said.

Mr Wee’s wake was held at Woodlands Memorial, taking up all eight funeral parlours on the sixth floor.

There were around 30 small tables for attendees and a few rows of chairs facing the front of the hall, where the casket lay. Wreaths lined one side of the room.

Service staff in Park Royal Collection shirts served drinks to attendees at the wake, and there was a buffet line set up when CNA entered the hall at around 3.10pm. The fifth floor was booked for UOB staff.

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was seen at the wake, though he did not speak to the media. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid their respects on Sunday.

Mr Kho Choon Keng, president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Neo Group founder Neo Kah Kiat, Jumbo Group CEO Ang Kiam Meng and Professor Chan Heng Chee, former ambassador to the United States, also attended the wake.

Prof Chan said Mr Wee was not only a banking leader, but a leader of Singapore society.

“His story is inspiring to everyone. He’s interested in community, education and culture,” she told TODAY.

“He has given a lot to Singapore, so that’s why when I read about the news, I felt like I had to come.”

KIND, PERSONABLE

Also at the wake were Mr Wee’s tennis mates, semi-retired surgeon Dr Chow Shen Jung and jeweller Ms Jenny Cheng.

Dr Chow said up to three years ago, he was playing tennis with Mr Wee three times a week. “But after that, his health was not very good, so he slowed down to tennis once a week,” he told TODAY.

He described Mr Wee as kind and personable.

President of the Singapore Buddhist Federation Venerable Seck Kwang Phing said Mr Wee was generous in donating to Manjusri Secondary School. He also recalled that Mr Wee dressed simply and was an affable person.

He was easy to get along with despite his social status, Venerable Kwang Phing said.

Long-time Pan Pacific staff Mr Vincent Yaw said Mr Wee was humble and benevolent.

“He was always smiling and would greet us whenever we met,” said the senior operations manager at Keyaki, a Japanese restaurant in Pan Pacific Hotel, which is a subsidiary of UOL.

Mr Yaw said Mr Wee would come to the hotel around once a month, and dine at either Keyaki or Chinese restaurant Hai Tien Lo.

“He’s very punctual and will arrive at least 10 minutes before the reservation so that he will be there to receive his guests,” said Mr Yaw.

Mr Wee also wanted the food to be served quickly so that his guests would not have to wait. He did not eat much, but had a soft spot for vintage pu’er tea and suckling pig.

“He loved Cantonese cuisine … Even though he went to the Japanese restaurant, we would prepare the Chinese restaurant’s suckling pig to bring over for him.”

Having been with the hotel for 17 years, Mr Yaw became a trusted staff member to Mr Wee, who valued loyalty. When there were events at Park Royal Beach Road, Mr Yaw would be asked to go over to help out.

“When he wanted something, he would look for me,” he said. “I’m very happy to be trusted.”