Chet Singh, the quiet hand behind Penang’s industrial rise
As PDC’s first general manager, he helped turn Lim Chong Eu’s industrial ambitions into jobs, factories and new communities across Penang.
Chet Singh, a man who played a quiet but pivotal role in Penang's industrial rise, passed away at the age of 90. Celebrating his 90th birthday at InvestPenang, Singh was the first general manager of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), a position he held for two decades. Born in 1933, Singh began his career as a state financial officer in Penang in 1967, tasked with helping the state find a new economic direction following the loss of its free port status in 1967. His tenure as general manager began in 1971, at the age of 35.
Under Singh's leadership, the PDC focused on developing labor-intensive industries and attracting foreign investment to a state that could no longer rely on traditional trade. A significant challenge was convincing international companies to invest in Penang, providing land, workforce, and infrastructure. Singh's strategy centered on export-oriented industries and free trade zones, aiming to create electrical and electronics manufacturing jobs for the rapidly growing number of unemployed youth.
In 2024, Chet Singh recalled that approximately 50,000 young people were looking for jobs when he took over as PDC's general manager. AMD, Hewlett-Packard, and Intel moved into Penang, establishing the state as an electronics manufacturing center and connecting it to global supply chains. His contributions helped transform Penang's economy, with the number of companies in PDC's industrial parks growing from 200 in 1976 to 500 in 1990. Employment in these parks reached around 115,000 by the time Singh retired in 1991.
While Singh downplayed his and Chief Minister Dr Lim Chong Eu's foresight, he acknowledged the urgent need to address unemployment. He often kept a low profile after retirement but returned to serve in 2010, participating in a task force to examine ways of improving PDC's performance. The visit for his 90th birthday showcased the significant transformation achieved during his tenure at PDC, marking a legend in Penang's industrial history.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Chet Singh, the quiet hand behind Penang’s industrial rise freemalaysiatoday.com
