Temasek Explained: How was Temasek started? [Part 1/8]

With an initial portfolio worth S$354 million, Temasek has grown its value to S$389 billion today. But how did Temasek come into existence? Where did it get its name from? This video traces the evolution of the global investment company to its humble beginnings, revealing little-known facts about its early history between 1974 and 1979.

(Video produced in partnership with Temasek)

Selected Newspaper Headlines:
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

00:00 Rarely seen ledger from when Temasek was established
00:53 Temasek’s achievements over five decades
01:36 The humble beginnings of Temasek in the 1970s
02:35 Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on how Singapore’s GLCs started
03:23 Why were GLCs transferred to Temasek?
05:00 Could Temasek have been named Merlion instead?
05:43 What was Temasek’s role in its early years?
06:26 How small was Temasek’s first office?
07:06 Staying low-key but making a significant impact
08:50 Stepping out of MOF’s shadow
11:12 Doing things today with tomorrow in mind

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[Kaif]

This is a good follow up from the GIC documentary series, thanks CNA.

[fairworld]

JY Pillay is the greatest boss in Singapore..under his leadership SIA was on top of the world for 25 years.

[lleong]

While may not be highly profitable, it is certainly a highly prominent and stable fund.

[anziar]

First-world PAP and Temasek.❤❤. Opposition parties certainly have a lot to learn from PAP and Temasek.

[SANN-]

Temasek is our early country name no Singapore, it is a trademark after new buisnessman invented, now Schools and Business used the name Temasek as leading in marketing Authority matched into more funding

[JonTan-ze]

they need to make a series on GIC and temasek's most catastrophic and hilarious

most economics and finance channels would have a field

the greatest one being 10 billion dollar USD bond investment in UBS. when the swiss sold SG govt a colossal bag of odourous excrement right just before the market fell out in 2008, and structured it in such a brilliant way that greed overtook the fools at temasek and GIC and fell for it hook line and sinker and didnt even suspect for a minute why the deal was too good to be

of course the swiss probably knew what they were doing.

the UBS bond sales was a masterstroke of genius for the have to applaud should be the ones running temasek and GIC, maybe our countries would have 10% annualised returns and Singapore wouldnt have to sell itself so much and import so many

[ronaldhee]

Are you going to release a version that combines all eight parts?

[cookingwithfluffytiny]

If so, why are ministers in director of private companies

[nasir-myog]

How it's started...who else
pap lah

[hackiest]

So why was the wife of the prime minister in charge? I’ll wait

[chrisk]

Temasek, the first and most glorious money launderer of Singapore.

[comments]

CNA should make another documentary. Who was paid billions $$$ yet screwed up our money with zero accountabilty.

[jingleval]

if make money why saingaspore need to employ forieger manage the reserch?

[DonYang]

Very ironic, reading the quote of Dr Goh….

[chrisk]

Anyone can make marketing videos, but why did Temasek make such disastereous investments in crypto exchanges? Among other bad investments and laundering.

[hengbin]

I believe TH derives most of its "profits" from its ownership of LOCAL companies, listed or otherwise, like SP services, PSA TH first published its "annual review" in 2005, I had called on MOF to breakup TH into local and foreign ownership so that sinkies could better understand TH' claimed increased in asset value - due a lot to govt injection., but MOF steadfastly refused. As anyone can see, there is a huge price sinkies and SGP have to pay for the unmitigated disasters @ TH & bad. To repeat the Robinson sale advert: "once its gone, it's gone".

[jrukawa]

But is someone’s wife and family members. Common interest

[DS]

Creating value or privatise everything without working for it?

Very difficult choices.

[JojoJoget]

Only reason they are making this 8 part coverage on Temasek is because they fked up big time.

[CECADEVILS]

Don’t divert
We are talking about incompetence and over population caused by p a p.