Peter Lee Bay Tseng
(Founder)
1978/79 & 1983/1984
Following an unsuccessful attempt by Er. Phillip Chow to start a learned institution for concrete, I approached Er. Francis Mak, then President of The Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES). He confirmed that he sees no conflict of interest between the proposed institution and IES, and encouraged me to proceed. I formed a Protem Committee comprising a wide spectrum of representation from the academic, statutory, construction and conference organising fraternities with interest in the science, technology, production and use of concrete in all aspects of construction. We decided on the name, The Singapore Concrete Institute, and organized a design competition to select and decide on the logo for the Institute.
The early goings has not been a bed of roses, but I was privileged to work with an able and passionate team of co-workers who have rapidly spread the message throughout the industry and formally constituted The SCI on 10 March 1978. The Protem Committee members then constituted the fi rst Board of Directors of SCI and I was elected by acclaim the Founder President and the First Ordinary Member of SCI. We decided to invite not only ordinary members but also group or corporate members of companies and organizations to subscribe from the beginning.
The SCI jointly organize and support the annual Our World in Concrete and Structures Conferences. Other learned activities include seminars of topical interest, visit to important construction sites and above all in research and development work in universities, polytechnics, cement and ready-mix concrete production, quarrying, sand dredging and importing facilities. We produced and distributed the Good Concrete Practice booklets to raise the processing and usage standards of concrete in the construction industry.
In these activities Professor Tam Chat Tim, among other co-workers, was a pillar of strength and naturally succeeded me as the second President of SCI. Since the founding of SCI, Singapore has witnessed a tremendous leap in construction activities in the past thirty years for high-rise buildings, transportation, water supply and regeneration, waste-water management and many other infrastructural and defense facilities. All built environment in Singapore uses predominantly concrete in various forms such as plain, reinforced and pre-stressed concrete. So much so that we are experiencing challenging situation in the procurement of basic aggregate materials of sand and stone even from far away locations in the world.
Singapore has advanced in financial, material and technological terms during this period of thirty years, but for the future generation of our society and nation we discern urgent need to advance the moral character of our people and government. Else all our physical achievement would be in vain, and decline inevitable as we have witnessed in recent history of the relentless and mostly self-inflicted decline of the Anglo-Saxon and Caucasian Civilization. SCI as a citizen institution of our nation also has the responsibility to exercise moral advancement for the long term greater welfare of our people for whom we help to deliver the built-environment.
May the Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the universe bless and keep Singapore and the Singapore Concrete Institute to His eternal glory.
Peter Lee Bay Tseng
Founder President
Singapore Concrete Institute
5 November 2009
