Howe Yoon Chong

Four times he ignored the experts. Four times he was right. The fifth time, he ignored the people — and it ended him.

Every Singaporean has an opinion about CPF. Too much locked up. Can't touch it. Why can't I just have my money.

I've said all of it. You probably have too.

Here's what I didn't know until recently: the man behind the most unpopular CPF decision in history is also the man who gave Singapore Changi Airport, the container port, and public housing.

His name was Howe Yoon Chong. Son of a liquor shop owner in Malacca. No technical background. Studied economics. Worked as a teacher, a broadcaster, a police magistrate.

Somehow he ended up as the first CEO of HDB in 1960. His philosophy? "Demolish first, plan later."

When the Bukit Ho Swee fire left 16,000 homeless in 1961, Howe's HDB built 768 replacement flats in nine months. By 1965, 54,430 flats. 400,000 people housed — a quarter of the population. Experts said you can't build that fast. Howe built that fast.

Then the port. Experts said containerisation was unproven. Howe borrowed $45 million from the World Bank, built Southeast Asia's first container terminal.

Then Changi Airport. British consultants told cabinet to expand Paya Lebar. Howe overruled them. Built a new airport on reclaimed land. Delivered on time.

Then the MRT. Harvard economists wanted an all-bus system at half the cost. Howe pushed relentlessly for the S$5 billion rail system.

Four times he ignored the experts. Four times he was right. Colleagues called him a bulldozer. He took it as a compliment.

Then came 1984.

As Minister for Health, Howe proposed raising the CPF withdrawal age from 55 to 60. He'd chaired a committee on ageing. The data was clear — Singaporeans were living longer, retiring with too little.

He was right. Singapore's ageing crisis is front-page news today.

But he delivered it the way he delivered everything else. Like a bulldozer. When voters in his constituency pushed back, he told them: "You all don't know what is good for you."

That line ended his career.

Even PAP stalwarts turned on him. The party lost 12% of the national vote. Potong Pasir fell to opposition — and stayed there for decades. Howe never returned to politics.

He died in 2007 at 84. Three Prime Ministers attended his wake.

Here's what stays with me:

Being right isn't enough. You can have the data, the foresight, the conviction. But if you deliver truth the way you pour concrete — you build everything except trust.

Four times he ignored the experts. Four times he was right. The fifth time, he ignored the people. And it ended him.

What's a time you were right — but it still cost you?