1986: Emerging from the ashes

REBUILDING and consolidation were the themes of 1986 as Singapore pulled itself out of the rubble of a historic recession and unprecedented market turmoil.

The government took the lead in forging a new path as the 12-member Economic Committee helmed by then-Minister of State for Defence and Trade and Industry Lee Hsien Loong proposed broad-ranging measures to revitalise the Singapore economy.

Among the key proposals was a 15 percentage point cut in the employer Central Provident Fund contribution rate and a reduction of maximum corporate and personal tax rates to 30 per cent from 40 per cent.

The Pan-Electric Industries crisis that shut down the stock market in 1985 was still developing. The year started with investigations into the Pan-Electric Industries stock debacle resulting in Malaysian businessman Tan Koon Swan, president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, being charged with six offences under the Companies Act.

The company itself was in its last throes, with liquidation becoming a growing possibility as creditor banks failed to find a willing white knight.

Other companies were also struggling to stay afloat. Emporium Holdings, whose department stores were a common sight across the island, was hit by winding-up suits from creditors as the 1985 recession triggered losses, store closures and retrenchments.

At its peak, the group had 113 businesses all over Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong. Emporium owner Lim Tow Yong would eventually become bankrupt in 1988 at the age of 63 only to stage a comeback and once again become a millionaire more than 15 years later at the age of 79.

The Business Times has been there to report and analyse the most significant news since 1976. Every week, this feature will showcase excerpts from the biggest stories for each year that the paper has been in operation. The full text of all the stories can be found online at bt.sg/bt_40