44 years since his father’s passing, the younger Tay is honouring his legacy with a memoir that paints a portrait of a complex individual: the visionary leader, the dedicated public servant, and a husband and father.
During the dialogue, Tay regaled us with a treasure trove of anecdotes from his book.
One particularly intriguing tale involved his teacher’s persistent questioning about his father’s occupation. Despite Tay’s simple answer of “civil servant”, the teacher remained unconvinced, pressing for further details. It was only after a mysterious phone call, instructing the teacher not to delve beyond the title of “senior civil servant” that the matter was settled. This incident, among others, painted a vivid picture of the enigmatic aura surrounding Tay’s father.
Tay admits that because his father passed so young, he “didn’t really get to know him” as a young adult. But he revealed, “My roles as chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) and a professor of international law relates a bit to [my father’s] role in security intelligence.” At home, Tay finds himself discussing political issues with his son, mirroring the conversations he once shared with his father.
