'An important period of transition': PM Wong thanks Khaw Boon Wan who retired as SPH Media chairman

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on Thursday (Oct 1) paid tribute to former cabinet minister Khaw Boon Wan, who retired as chairman of both SPH Media Trust and SPH Media Holdings, after five years at the helm.

The 73-year-old was appointed in May 2021 when SPH announced that its core media business will be hived off into a public company with a limited by guarantee structure.

At that time, SPH faced declining advertising revenue and print circulation, posting its first net loss of $83.7 million for the financial year that ended on Aug 31, 2020.

Khaw, who last served as Minister for Transport and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure from 2015 to 2020, before retiring from politics in June 2020, was known as "Mr Fix-it", taking on challenging portfolios such as housing and transport.

In a statement then, Khaw said that the role is a "heavy responsibility" and one which he accepted with "some anxiety" as he lacked the background in digital media.

But he also said that he would adapt and do his best to ensure the national project succeeds.

"I cannot allow a Singapore institution to go into decline. I will see how I can help unleash the talent and the passion in our newsrooms. We will re-focus on our primary mission of providing quality journalism to help build this young nation."

In a Facebook post on Thursday, after SPH announced that its chief executive Chan Yeng Kit will take over as executive chairman, PM Wong noted that Khaw could have taken a "well-deserved break" after more than 40 years of public service, but hestepped forward when asked to serve again.

"Under Boon Wan’s leadership, SPH Media strengthened its digital and multimedia capabilities, reached new audiences, and continued to serve Singaporeans across our four official languages," PM Wong wrote.

He noted that Khaw had put SPH Media on a stronger footing during his term, while ensuring that it continues to provide Singaporeans with reliable news and perspectives that matter to them.

"As Boon Wan steps down today as chairman, I thank him for taking on this responsibility when he was called upon, for seeing SPH Media through an important period of transition, and for his many years of dedicated service to Singapore," PM Wong said on Oct 1.

Teo recalled how Khaw would deal with issues affecting Singaporeans "calmy, firmly but always with empathy".

She said he stepped out of retirement to help an "important institution" in Singapore that was going through a critical transformation to remain relevant and effective in the new media landscape.

The minister noted that while the transformation remains ongoing, Khaw has set it on the right path by ensuring that "worthy successors" are in place at SPH Media.

"I am deeply appreciative that he took up the challenge. We could not have found a better person for this role. Mr Khaw was, as always, strategic and purposeful in charting the way forward," Teo wrote.

The minister said that under Khaw's leadership, SPH Media has continued to earn the trust of Singaporeans, even as it adapts to fast-changing media consumption habits.

In 2022, the Government announced that it will provide up to $900 million in funding support for SPH Media Trust over the next five years.

Speaking in Parliament on Feb 15, 2022, Teo said that this will help SPH Media to make "essential investments that move it decisively into the digital era".

总理黄循财和数码发展及新闻部长杨莉明于周四（10月1日）向已退休的前内阁部长许文远致敬。许文远在担任新加坡报业控股媒体信托和新加坡报业控股媒体集团主席五年后退休。

这位 73 岁的老人于 2021 年 5 月被任命，当时新加坡报业控股宣布，其核心媒体业务将分拆成一家担保有限公司形式的上市公司。

当时，新加坡报业控股（SPH）面临广告收入和印刷发行量下降的困境，在截至 2020 年 8 月 31 日的财政年度中首次出现净亏损 8370 万美元。

许文远曾在2015年至2020年担任交通部长兼基础设施统筹部长，于2020年6月退出政坛。他以“问题解决先生”著称，曾承担过住房和交通等具有挑战性的职务。

当时，许文远在一份声明中表示，这个角色责任重大，他“有些焦虑”地接受了这个角色，因为他缺乏数字媒体方面的背景。

但他还表示，他会做出调整，尽最大努力确保国家项目取得成功。

“我不能允许新加坡的新闻机构走向衰落。我会尽力帮助我们新闻编辑室释放人才和热情。我们将重新聚焦于我们的首要使命，即提供高质量的新闻报道，助力这个年轻国家的建设。”

周四，在新加坡报业控股（SPH）宣布其首席执行官陈永杰将接任执行主席后，黄英贤总理在脸书上发帖指出，许文远在为公众服务 40 多年后本可以“好好休息一下”，但他应邀再次为公众服务时挺身而出。

黄英贤总理写道：“在文万的领导下，新加坡报业控股媒体加强了其数字和多媒体能力，拓展了新的受众群体，并继续使用新加坡的四种官方语言为新加坡人提供服务。”

他指出，许文远在其任期内使新加坡报业控股媒体集团（SPH Media）站稳了脚跟，同时确保该集团继续为新加坡人提供他们关心的可靠新闻和观点。

黄英贤总理在10月1日表示：“今天，文万卸任主席一职，我感谢他在被召唤时承担起这一责任，感谢他带领新加坡报业控股媒体度过了重要的过渡时期，感谢他多年来对新加坡的尽心服务。”

张先生回忆说，许文远处理影响新加坡人的问题时总是“冷静、坚定，但始终充满同情心”。

她说，他从退休状态中复出，是为了帮助新加坡一家正在经历关键转型、以在新媒体环境中保持相关性和有效性的“重要机构”。

部长指出，虽然转型仍在进行中，但许文远通过确保新加坡报业控股媒体公司（SPH Media）有“合格的继任者”到位，使转型走上了正确的道路。

“我非常感激他接受了这项挑战。我们找不到比他更适合这个职位的人选了。许先生一如既往地富有战略眼光和目标明确，为我们指明了前进的方向，”张写道。

部长表示，在许文远的领导下，新加坡报业控股媒体集团（SPH Media）不断适应快速变化的媒体消费习惯，持续赢得新加坡人的信任。

2022年，政府宣布将在未来五年内向新加坡报业控股媒体信托基金提供高达9亿美元的资金支持。

张志贤于 2022 年 2 月 15 日在国会发言时表示，这将有助于新加坡报业控股媒体进行“必要的投资，使其果断地迈入数字时代”。