Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 2021 Virtual President's Scholarship Award Ceremony on Thursday, 12 August 2021
OPENING ADDRESS BY MR LEE TZU YANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, AT THE 2021 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 28 JULY 2021
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND MINISTER-IN-CHARGE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE CHAN CHUN SING AT THE 2021 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY, 28 JUL 2021
The Public Service – Shaping Singapore’s Future in Challenging Times
Chairman and Members of our hardworking PSC,
Members of our Education Fraternity,
Family, Friends, and Fans of our award recipients.
A very good afternoon to you all.
Introduction
- As Chairman has mentioned, the scholarship that you are about to be awarded is not a reward for your achievements. Instead, it is a recognition of your potential to contribute, and a reflection of your commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.
- With this scholarship, comes responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities.
- Recently, I read a book compiled by Peh Shing Huei called “The Last Fools”. It gave a glimpse of the challenges that Singapore had to overcome in our early years. How the “8 Immortals”, or the 8 senior civil servants during the early years of nation-building who were usually not in the limelight but were pivotal to Singapore’s success, worked with the political leadership to translate ideas into reality and to shape the foundations of modern Singapore. Together, they overcame the odds to bring Singapore from 3rd World to 1st.
- But the world which you will be confronting, the Singapore that you will be shaping, and the Singaporeans whom you will be serving will be fundamentally different from what the founding generation and the 8 Immortals had to face.
- There will be different challenges and different opportunities.
Challenges and Opportunities
- The geopolitical order is undergoing tremendous stress. We should not assume that the next 50 years will be the same as the last. We should also not assume that any one global power will be able or willing to underwrite the international security order. Neither should we assume that the international rule of law will not fall to the law of the jungle, where might is right. How Singapore navigates this more uncertain world to create relevance for ourselves will be one of the key orders of business going forward.
- The global trading order is also being reshaped by geopolitical forces, new supply chains layout and technological disruptions. How we earn our living by entrenching our value in the new global economic order and new production layout will be another key challenge to overcome and another opportunity to be seized. It is not just about efficiency but resilience, especially in times of crisis and disruptions. How do we seize the opportunities in a world where connectivity allows us to transcend the tyranny of our geography and size? How do we leverage the shift towards intangibles like intellectual property and creativity to overturn our resource constraints? How do we distinguish ourselves with our brand of trust, rule of law, and policy consistency against competitors with more tangible physical resources and geographical heft?
- Our domestic population while ageing, is also becoming more diverse, more able, and with greater aspirations. We are also much more susceptible to external influences and the contest of ideas as an open society in a hyper-connected world. How do we engender unity amidst diversity? How do we leverage our diversity of talents to create global talent networks to strengthen our competitive advantage? How do we continually reinvent our system of governance and build that deep sense of trust necessary to distinguish ourselves in peace and crises?
- Climate change can soon become an existential crisis for island city-states like ours, threatening not just our coastal defences against the rising sea levels, but also reshaping the global economic layout and supply chains. How do we overcome our energy and carbon challenges, and turn them into opportunities, just as our forefathers turned water from a constraint into an opportunity? To this end, we will be starting a new PSC Scholarship (Sustainability) to build our capabilities in this and related areas.
- In the next 50 years, as we build and rebuild Singapore, how do we optimise our 1000+ sqkm of land and sea space, above and below ground, above and below sea even, to create even more and better live, work and play options for future generations?
What is Required
- These and many more exacting challenges and exciting opportunities are what awaits you when you return from your studies to take Singapore forward and create a better life for generations of Singaporeans to come.
- You might be daunted and be wondering, how can you ever overcome them all?
- The stories of the “8 Immortals” in the book “The Last Fools” provide some inspiration – gumption, tenacity, and mission.
- Gumption. The 8 Immortals never believed that anything could not be done. The only thing that could not be done was what they did not think about; or did not dare to think about. No one gave them a model for HDB, EDB, SAF, CPF, GIC and many more. They were deeply connected with the ground and knew the fears, concerns and aspirations of our people. They were clear-eyed about the challenges and had the gumption to dream, to dream big and to dream far. They were never constrained by their imagination. So can all of you. So must all of you.
- Tenacity. They never always succeeded. They tried, they stumbled, they picked themselves up and tried again. They implemented. They adjusted as circumstances evolved. They never fell in love with their original plan. They only fell in love with the challenges and never gave up in trying to come up with ever better ways to solve them. You too, can. And you too, must.
- Finally, a sense of mission. They knew there was no lifeboat waiting to save us. We would either survive by our wits and hard work; or be consigned to the dustbins of history. Yet, they knew that we could defy the odds of history to not only survive but to thrive. To show the world, that a well-led, well-run, united city-state, without a conventional hinterland, can survive and thrive by creating man-made competitive advantages and turning the equation around by having the world as our hinterland for markets, resources, talent and networks. Ultimately, they never forgot that we must never love ourselves more than we love our country. They put our country first, always. Sometimes even at great danger and price to their own security, and personal comfort. They dedicated their lives to our country and gave us their best. It is now our turn, and your turn, to do so for our future generations.
- Upon the current high point, we will step forward together to scale the next higher peak. You will be part of the next chapter of our Singapore Story. You will never be alone because we will do it together. May this be an even more exciting and fulfilling chapter for all Singaporeans.
- Thank you for answering the call to serve.
- We look forward to your contributions and leadership. Thank you.
Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service
Chairman and Members of the Public Service CommissionGood evening. Every year, the President’s Scholarship is conferred to outstanding young individuals who exemplify the values and ethos of the Public Service, and demonstrate strong leadership traits in their own ways.
Zyn Yee is passionate about the environment and serving the community. She hopes that more can be done to promote social mobility in Singapore. Zyn Yee is actively involved in the Kampong Glam Youth Network, which comprises a group of youth volunteers who aims to make a difference in the community through projects, interest groups and programmes. With her keen interest in the environment, Zyn Yee spearheaded ‘The Tumbler Experiment’, a project to foster a green culture within the community through the use of reusable containers and the reduction of disposable waste. Zyn Yee also founded the ‘Straw Free Singapore’ movement, an initiative to reduce the use of disposable plastic straws. By raising awareness in schools and businesses, Zyn Yee successfully convinced a number of large corporations to embrace the movement.
Zyn Yee will pursue Economics and Statistics at Brown University and will serve in the Singapore Armed Forces.
We have had to make adjustments in our daily lives, including the way we commemorate our nation’s independence. On Monday, we celebrated Singapore’s 56th birthday with a scaled-down ceremonial parade. For the first time in our history, we have to postpone the National Day Parade show segment, which will be held only later, on 21 August.
The COVID-19 pandemic will not be the last we face as a nation. As future leaders, you have to remain steadfast and continue to serve with dedication and humility. Stay resilient and adaptable so that you can create policies that will serve the best interest of Singaporeans. Stay engaged and connected to the community and listen to the views and concerns of our people with empathy and understanding. It is your duty to embody the values of the Public Service, uphold the trust that has been placed in you, and do your part to support Singapore’s continued success.
OPENING ADDRESS BY MR LEE TZU YANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, AT THE 2021 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY ON 28 JULY 2021
1. Good afternoon.
Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister of Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service
My Fellow Commission Members
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
2. On behalf of my Commission colleagues, let me first extend my warmest congratulations to all recipients of scholarships and your families. I would also like to thank your principals and teachers for their patience and support in your education journey. This is a proud day for all of you. The selection of young Singaporeans for public service is an intensive effort and many stakeholders have come together. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone, and this includes my fellow Commission members and the secretariat team.
3. I would have preferred a physical ceremony today. Unfortunately, we are not able to do so owing to the uncertainties and measures these couple of months. Nonetheless, we have endeavoured to make today’s virtual ceremony a meaningful one. We each have the responsibility to ensure good outcomes for Singapore, and in the current circumstances this means not having a physical ceremony, to keep the community and our loved ones safe. In these unconventional times, we must be willing to change in how we approach new challenges.
4. The PSC Scholarship is Singapore’s premier scholarship for school leavers. We aim to bring committed and able young Singaporeans to serve in the Public Service. You are selected for whole-person qualities, with emphasis on character, integrity and passion to serve. Where you come from and your background are less important to the Commission than where we think you are capable of going to and contributing.
5. Of the 75 [1] of you this year, 74 will pursue undergraduate studies and 1 for Masters. You come from different educational pathways and institutions, including Junior Colleges, Integrated Programme schools, International Baccalaureate schools and Polytechnics. You will pursue a wide variety of disciplines at many well-established local and overseas universities.
6. Our development of a stronger and more resilient corps of future public service leaders leads us to search for diverse backgrounds and various perspectives, as the Public Service must tackle many wicked problems with no obvious solutions. This is why, even in a pandemic, we continue to award overseas scholarships. This range in your experience will strengthen your ability to make sense of the world and contribute to Singapore.
7. I would like to offer just two pieces of advice. We must be able to apply learnings from multiple disciplines and seek synergies from them to understand and solve problems. The fight against COVID-19 teaches us that we need this multi-disciplinary approach to tackle challenges. Science and technology are critical, but alone they will not suffice. Societal understanding, economics and business, good communications and building of trust – all these are needed. You should take the opportunity to learn more widely than your chosen courses.
8. Second, follow your curiosity and take courage to venture where it is new for you. This could be in your chosen course, in your choice of Masters, or in your internships or vacations. Wherever you go, you should explore and seize opportunities to engage. Experience more of other countries, especially our regional neighbours, but also, in the private sector and people sector. As a student you have many many more degrees of freedom in how you choose to spend your time. Yes, grades matter, and English-speaking countries may appear more familiar, but the diversity of insights and perspectives which you grow will become your assets.
9. Now in all this, your safety and wellbeing are important to us, and we will continue to look out for you. When the pandemic situation was worsening last year in many parts of the world, the PSC Secretariat worked with other agencies to bring PSC and other public sector scholarship holders back safely to Singapore. As the situation evolved, we provided flexibility to suit needs and circumstances, such as the option to temporarily study for overseas degrees from Singapore. For those who decided to proceed overseas, we provided support. I am happy to say that all our scholarship holders are safe and well, and we have kept in close contact with them. We have engaged professional services to support their well-being, including provision of counselling, advice and services.
10. The PSC Scholarship is the beginning of your journey to prepare you for a career in the Public Service. Later this evening, you will take the pledge as a PSC scholarship holder. It will affirm your commitment to do all that you can to serve Singapore. Ask yourselves – what will you do with this opportunity?
11. Congratulations once again and I wish all of you a meaningful journey ahead. Thank you.
[1] For reporting, the number 59 should be used to avoid double counting. This comprises those who were awarded the scholarships in the 2020 and 2021 selection exercise and are proceeding for studies this year. The figure 75 should not be used for reporting purposes as it includes 16 recipients who had been awarded the PSC scholarships in 2019 but are only proceeding for their studies this year. These 16 had earlier been reported in 2019 based on the previous reporting methodology.
From the 2020 batch onwards, the reported number comprises those who are proceeding for their studies in the same year, regardless of when they were awarded the scholarship.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND MINISTER-IN-CHARGE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE CHAN CHUN SING AT THE 2021 PSC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD CEREMONY, 28 JUL 2021
Introduction
1. A very good afternoon to all of you, Chairman and members of the Public Service Commission, parents, teachers, principals, and recipients.
2. First, a warm welcome and my congratulations to all the award recipients.
3. All of you could have chosen a different path, but you didn’t.
4. You have decided to join the ranks of many who have come before you, to commit your future to taking care of our country and people. For that, thank you very much.
5. The challenges that will confront our country and our people in the coming years will be no less daunting than those that we have overcome.
6. COVID-19 has accentuated many of the trends shaping our future – for example: digitalisation, the political flux of our region, and many others.
7. COVID-19 has also compounded many of our challenges – from the security and sustainability of our supply chains, to our connectivity with the world, just to name some.
8. Yet COVID-19 has also provided new opportunities for us to transcend the tyranny of geography and demographics to reinforce our brand, as a trusted and principled partner that brings relevance to the parties we deal with.
9. So what has the Public Service learned from the COVID-19 pandemic thus far? There are many lessons, but I will share three aspects today – Agility, Connectivity and Trust.
10. No country in the world could claim they were ready for COVID or had fully anticipated its impact. Even now, we are all grappling with the surprises that COVID continues to throw at us.
11. However, in such an uncertain environment, agility is key. Countries that survive best are not necessarily the biggest or strongest, but those that are most agile in adapting; countries that do not just tackle COVID, but also seize the unexpected opportunities that come their way.
12. These are the ones that have done relatively better than us. We have not done too badly thus far. But we should not be complacent.
13. Our Public Service has to reconfigure ourselves to have new organisations and processes to keep Singapore going through this pandemic.
- We had to change our processes in double quick time to determine the industries and businesses to keep open, and those whose operations had to cease, as the situation evolved.
- We had to start up a new Assurance, Care and Engagement Group, or ACE Group, to take care of the wellbeing of migrant workers in a very short time.
- We worked out new ways to manage our airports, ports and points of entry to maintain our connectivity while safeguarding our public health.
- These are just some examples of what we had to do to keep our country going, and our people safe.
- Our responses may not be perfect, but they have allowed us to keep going, hopefully better than our competitors.
14. The lesson learnt is that no organisation and structure of yesterday can fully prepare us for the future and tomorrow’s crises. We all have to be agile and adapt quickly – faster than the competition if we are to keep our lunch.
15. How did we get things done in an uncertain and chaotic environment? How did we secure critical supplies and vaccines? The answer lies in Connectivity.
16. We tapped on our whole of nation network, our public, private and people sectors working together. We leveraged our extensive network of overseas contacts.
17. Take the example of the disruption to our food chains. We kept supplies flowing by pulling out all stops to leverage our domestic and overseas networks to secure supplies ahead of time.
18. All these would not have been possible if our people did not have a culture of anticipation and working together across sectors and domains as a habit, and these were all developed in times of peace.
19. All these would also not have been possible if our Public Service operated in silos and not in close partnership with the private and people sectors, leveraging each other’s perspectives, capabilities and capacities.
20. Hence, it is of utmost importance that we continue to enrich the public sector with private and people sector perspectives, experiences and contacts.
21. To this end, we will introduce the Mid-Career Leaders Track to strengthen our recruitment of mid-career professionals with the heart to serve, and the skills and experience to contribute. Doing so will inject diversity and consequent resilience to the public sector.
22. There is one very important aspect that brought us this far, much further than many other countries, in the fight against COVID. And that is trust.
23. Trust between people and Government. Trust between Singapore and partners beyond our shores.
24. If we did not have a reputation of being a principled and trusted partner globally, we would have had a much harder time securing the things that we need in a crisis.
25. If we had not built up a reservoir of goodwill and trust with our people, we would not have been able to execute our responses so effectively in a collective and cohesive manner. This is what distinguishes us from many others in the world.
26. However, this trust must be earned, and renewed every generation.
27. So to all the award recipients today, I hope you will remember the significance of today’s ceremony where you commit to help take care of Singapore and Singaporeans in time to come.
28. I hope you will always strive to help Singapore and Singaporeans find opportunities amidst challenges by staying agile and adaptable.
29. I hope you will help build up our network of ties with the world, and with the private and people sectors, for us to be able to mobilise a whole of nation effort, in times of peace and in crisis.
30. I hope you will work hard and earn the trust of Singaporeans and partners beyond Singapore, so that we will always have a reservoir of goodwill to call upon.
31. Thank you for your service to our nation.
32. In partnership and with teamwork, we fear no challenges too big for us.