Wikipedia

J. Y. Pillay

Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay,also known asJ. Y. PillayDUNU (First Class)DUT (with Distinction)(born 30 March 1934), is a Singaporean retired civil servant.

J. Y. Pillay
DUNU (First Class)DUT (with Distinction)
Pillay in 2023
Chairman ofSingapore Airlines
In office
1972–1996
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMichael Fam Yue Onn
Managing Director of theMonetary Authority of Singapore
In office
1985–1989
Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew
Goh Chok Tong
Chairman of theSingapore Exchange
In office
1999–2010
Prime MinisterGoh Chok Tong
Lee Hsien Loong
Preceded byPosition established
President of Singapore
Acting
In office
1 September 2017 – 13 September 2017
Other offices
Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers
In office
September 2005 – 2 January 2019
PresidentS. R. Nathan
Tony Tan
Halimah Yacob
Preceded bySim Kee Boon
Succeeded byEddie Teo
Chairman ofTiger Airways
In office
2011–2014
Chancellor ofSingapore Management University
In office
1 September 2015 – 1 August 2019
Preceded byYong Pung How
Succeeded byLim Chee Onn
Personal details
Born(1934-03-30)30 March 1934(age 90)
Klang,British Malaya
Spouse
Beatrice Rasammah
​
(m.1963)​
EducationImperial College London
Alma materUniversity of London(BEng)

For 34 years, Pillay was one of Singapore's top-ranking civil servants. He is also one of the pioneers who helped build theSingapore economyafter its independence in 1965, including the country's national airlineSingapore Airlines,having served as its first chairman for 24 years from 1972 to 1996.

Pillay served as the country's acting president for 13 days from 1 to 13 September 2017 as an interregnum betweenTony TanandHalimah Yacobduring the2017 Singaporean presidential election.He had also served as the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) between 2005 and 2019.

Early life and education

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Pillay was bornKlang,British Malayain 1934. He isTamil.He graduated from theUniversity of Londonwith aBachelor of Engineeringdegree in 1956.[1]

Career

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Singapore Airlines

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His most significant contribution during his civil service was buildingSingapore Airlines(SIA) into a world-class carrier with a distinguished reputation.[1][2]He served as Chairman of Singapore Airlines from 1972 until 1996. In 1978, his bold and calculated move to purchase 19Boeingaircraft, including multipleBoeing 747s,at the total cost of US$900 million for the airline, made headlines worldwide as "the sale of the century" as it was the largest purchase at the time by any airline in the world.[3][4]He is one of the fewCivil Serviceofficers to reach Staff Grade III.[5]

Monetary Authority of Singapore

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He was managing director of theMonetary Authority of Singapore(MAS) from 1985 to 1989.[3]

Singapore Exchange

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In the 1990s, he headed the advisory panel that reviewed the merger of the Stock Exchange of Singapore (SES) and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX).[3]The resultant Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) was established on 1 December 1999 and he was the first Chairman of theSingapore Exchangebetween 1999 and 2010.[6][3]

Post-civil service

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Few can match his record of public service in the Ministry of Finance, Temasek, GIC, MAS, MND and not to speak of SIA and SGX.

Pillay retired from civil service in March 1995 and subsequently served as the Singaporean High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Ambassador to Ireland until 1999.[3]

He was the Chairman ofTiger Airways Holdings[8]from 2011 until 2014. He was the Chairman of theCouncil of Presidential Advisersfrom 2005 until 2019.[9]

Pillay was the longest serving chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisors (CPA).[10]He stood down as Chairman of the CPA on 2 January 2019 which was handed over toEddie Teo.[11]

Pillay took over from formerChief Justice of SingaporeYong Pung Howas Chancellor ofSingapore Management University(SMU) from 1 September 2015.[12][13]Pillay was then succeeded by Mr Lim Chee Onn as the next Chancellor of SMU with effect from 1 August 2019.[14]

Pillay was the Acting President from 1 September 2017 when PresidentTony Tan's term expired on 31 August 2017, until the next presidentHalimah Yacob,was sworn into office on 14 September 2017.[15]

He is currently Rector ofNational University of Singapore(NUS) University Town's College of Alice and Peter Tan and adjunct professor at theLee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy(LKYSPP).[16][17]

Awards

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In 2012, theNational University of Singapore(NUS) set up two professorships in his honour, for his contributions.[18][19]

For his public service, Pillay was awarded theOrder of Nila Utama (First Class),one of Singapore's most prestigiousNational DayAwards on 9 August 2012.[20][21]

In August 2019, Pillay was awarded theOrder of Temasek (With Distinction),Singapore's highest civilian honour.[22][23]

In the same year, he received the Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th South Asian Diaspora Convention organised by the NUS Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS).[24]

References

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  1. ^ab"J Y Pillay Profile".National University Singapore. Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2012.Retrieved15 August2012.
  2. ^Lee, S.H. (10 April 1998)."Ex-SIA chiefs honoured as" legends'".The Straits Times.
  3. ^abcdeArunasalam, Sitragandi."J. Y. Pillay".Singapore Infopedia.Singapore Government Agency.Retrieved5 April2021.
  4. ^Low, Aaron (17 June 2022)."How J.Y. Pillay helped Lee Kuan Yew turn Singapore Airlines into a global giant".South China Morning Post.Retrieved18 June2022.
  5. ^Ibrahim, Zuraidah (26 March 1995)."J. Y. Pillay: Visionary with a clear focus".The Straits Times.p. 1.
  6. ^"J Y Pillay to step down as SGX chairman at year-end".Channel NewsAsia.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2012.Retrieved14 September2010.
  7. ^"J. Y. Pillay a pioneer in public, private sectors".The Straits Times.Retrieved15 August2012.
  8. ^"Tiger Airways: Appointed Mr. J Y Pillay As Non-Executive Chairman".ShareInvestor.Retrieved29 August2012.
  9. ^"Istana — Council of Presidential Advisers".Istana, Singapore. Archived fromthe originalon 15 August 2012.Retrieved14 August2012.
  10. ^Goh, Melissa (9 August 2019)."J Y Pillay heads list of National Day Award recipients".CNA.Retrieved5 April2021.
  11. ^"J Y Pillay retires as Council of Presidential Advisors chairman, Eddie Teo to succeed".CNA.17 December 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 18 May 2020.
  12. ^"Former top-ranking civil servant appointed as Chancellor of SMU".Singapore Management University (SMU).3 September 2015.Retrieved5 April2021.
  13. ^Huiwen, Ng (3 September 2015)."JY Pillay appointed SMU chancellor".The Straits Times.Retrieved5 April2021.
  14. ^"Great national honour for SMU Chancellor Mr Lim Chee Onn".Singapore Management University (SMU).6 August 2019.Retrieved5 April2021.
  15. ^"Pillay takes on role of acting president".The Straits Times. September 2017.Retrieved8 September2017.
  16. ^"J Y Pillay Global-Asia Programme and Study Award".Yale NUS College.Retrieved5 April2021.
  17. ^"Faculty".NUS College of Alice and Peter Tan.National University of Singapore.Retrieved5 April2021.
  18. ^"NUS honours Prof J Y Pillay".National University of Singapore.17 January 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 11 November 2018.Retrieved5 September2014.
  19. ^"NUS honours J Y Pillay".Channel NewsAsia.Archived fromthe originalon 19 January 2012.Retrieved17 January2012.
  20. ^"J Y Pillay awarded highest public service honour".Channel NewsAsia. Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2012.Retrieved14 August2012.
  21. ^"Recipients".Prime Minister's Office Singapore.2012.
  22. ^"Top honours for J.Y. Pillay who built up SIA, led GIC, MAS".The Straits Times.9 August 2019.
  23. ^"Recipients".Prime Minister's Office Singapore.2019.
  24. ^Min Zhang, Lim (15 November 2019)."NGO founder, veteran civil servant J. Y. Pillay among South Asian diaspora lauded for their contributions to society".The Straits Times.Retrieved5 April2021.
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