Glenn Knight

This morning I found out that Glenn Knight had passed away aged 80.

This man was the first director of CAD, one of the most feared organisations in Singapore when I was studying law. Every one had heard of him and he was acknowledged as a top lawyer. He was even handpicked by LKY to act as counsel in a few matters. He was a larger than life character during his time.

I had the chance to interact with him once in 1986. I was on a PSC scholarship tied to the Police Force and I wanted so much to be able to transfer it to the CAD. I spoke to a few people about it and eventually Eleanor Wong, who was then working at the CAD, arranged for me to meet up with him. I cannot recall where it was but it was at a function. I was introduced to him and had a brief chat with him. He was friendly and he readily agreed to my transfer but PSC refused to release me and so I never went to CAD to work under him.

He then got into trouble in 1991. Some speculated that it was because he started an investigation into LKY’s brother Dennis Lee Kim Yew and Oei Hong Leong in regards to the shares of UIC. That was his downfall. The case against him appeared to be a totally contrived one. Later that year Richard Hu as Finance Minister made a statement in Parliament that the SES had investigated and determined that there was no insider dealing in UIC shares.

At that time this happened, he was the President of the ACSOBA. He decided to step down and his VP David Wong Chin Huat asked me to be on standby in case there was any trouble at that upcoming AGM. That was the year I joined the OBA. Fortunately nothing happened that year and the next year I was co-opted by David Wong into the MC. That started my involvement in ACS.

He was a pale shadow of his former self after that. He suffered both physically and financially. I know Tan Sri Tan Chin Tuan helped him out quite a bit during that difficult period. Many of his friends who used to hang around him in large numbers also disappeared when he was facing difficulties.

Even when I bumped into him in the later years, he looked weak. We exchanged greetings but didn’t say much as I didn’t have much in common with him but it was always a pleasure for me to see him and greet him.

I last saw him at the 2024 ACS Founders Day dinner, one which he made a point to always turn up for.

Rest in Peace Glenn.