Chet Singh, arkitek senyap kebangkitan industri Pulau Pinang

Chet Singh, a 90-year-old architect, celebrated his birthday at InvestPenang in July, marking 35 years since he resigned as the first Chief Executive Officer of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC). The city-state of Penang has seen a shift in its daily life, with residential, commercial, and commercial districts catering to the growing population and the expansion of the state's industrial sector.

However, half a century ago, Penang faced economic turmoil, with traditional trade declining, thousands of young people seeking jobs, and the nation struggling to find a new direction. The loss of its free port status in 1967 dealt a significant blow to the state. As the decade drew to a close, the unemployment rate reached 16%, prompting an urgent need to find a new economic direction.

Among those responsible for finding a way forward was Chet Singh, who died at the age of 90. As the first Chief Executive Officer of the PDC, he spent two decades helping to realize the industrial aspirations of then Chief Minister Dr. Lim Chong Eu. Lim provided political leadership, while Chet and his colleagues were responsible for implementing the plan and building the necessary infrastructure to transform Penang's economy.

Founded in 1969, the PDC was tasked with developing labor-intensive industries and attracting foreign investment to the state, which was no longer reliant on traditional trade. Established in 1969, the PDC was given the mandate to build labor-intensive industries and attract foreign investment to the state, which was no longer dependent on traditional trade.

Singh was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer in 1971 at the age of 35. Before joining the Ministry of Defence in 1960, Singh was a non-businessman with a degree in economics and history from the University of Malaya in Singapore. He later became a state financial officer in 1967. According to a post by Nazir Razak on Instagram, Chet Singh played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the state's industrial development.

In an interview with The Edge in 2024, Chet reflected on the challenges faced, noting that around 50,000 young people were looking for work during the early years. The high unemployment rate and opportunities in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector provided the key to creating the necessary employment. Focusing on export-oriented industries and free trade zones enabled foreign companies to establish manufacturing facilities.

However, attracting investment was not just about offering land. The PDC had to address technical questions, facilitate operations, and convince investors that Penang could support their businesses in the long run. Chet's experience at National Semiconductor provided insight into his approach to handling these challenges. The American company, one of the earliest multinational corporations showing interest in investing in Penang, was impressed by Chet's ability to answer technical questions with thorough research.

When faced with a long list of technical inquiries from a representative, Chet and the PDC's team requested a day to gather the necessary information. They then returned with a completed list of follow-up questions the next Monday. In addition to attracting investment, ensuring that the industrial development could meet investors' needs was a significant task.

The PDC had to provide industrial areas, ensure the availability of road networks, water, and electricity supply. As Chet explained to The Edge, attracting investors was one thing, but ensuring the necessary infrastructure was available was another. The PDC's responsibilities also included managing factories. Throughout his tenure, the corporation carried out the construction of several new towns, including Bayan Baru, as the growth of industry brought more workers and families to the island.

By 1991, the scale of the transformation had become evident. According to a profile on Perdana.org from 2019, the number of companies in the PDC township increased from around 200 in 1976 to 300 in 1987 and 500 in 1990. The number of employees in the industrial township also increased to approximately 115,000. For thousands of families, this figure represented more than just economic growth; it meant employment opportunities for recent school leavers, the chance to acquire new skills, and the prospect of building a life without having to leave Penang.

However, Chet was not fond of taking too much credit for these achievements. He often downplayed the notion that he and Lim had a unique vision. Instead, he emphasized the importance of addressing the 50,000 young people seeking work during the early years of the industrial transformation.