Two candidates have been awarded the 2020 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship
Ms Chua Sock Koong appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission with effect from 29 Jan 2020
Four outstanding candidates were awarded the President's Scholarships on 15 August 2019 at The Istana
Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 2019 President's Scholarships Award Ceremony on Thursday, 15 August 2019 at The Istana
In commemoration of the significant contributions made by Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship was set up in 1991 by the Tanjong Pagar Citizens’ Consultative Committee. It is publicly funded and awarded to exceptional individuals who demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to serve Singapore and her citizens.
In 2020, two outstanding candidates have been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to support their pursuit of postgraduate studies. The awardees are:
| S/N | Name/Age | University/Course |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ms Amy Tan Wei Leng 陈为玲 Age 47 |
Master’s in Public Health Imperial College London United Kingdom |
| 2 |
毛仁豪 Age 38 |
Executive Masters of Business Administration University of California, Los Angeles United States National University of Singapore Singapore |
Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship holders may choose to pursue their postgraduate studies in any country and field of study that best develops their potential as leaders. The scholarship holders are expected to contribute actively to better Singapore and her community.
CHANGES AT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
The President has appointed Ms Chua Sock Koong (蔡淑君) as Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC). She was sworn-in on 29 January 2020 and will serve alongside Deputy Chairman, Mr Kwa Chong Seng (柯宗盛), 73.
Ms Chua, 62, will be the PSC’s first female Deputy Chairman. As the Group Chief Executive Officer of Singtel since April 2007, Ms Chua directs the Singapore-based multinational’s global strategy and oversees its consumer, enterprise and digital businesses. She sits on the boards of Singtel, Bharti Airtel Limited, Bharti Telecom Limited, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Cap Vista Pte Ltd, and key subsidiaries of the Singtel Group. She is also a member of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council as well as the Indonesia-Singapore Business Council, and is an alternate member of the Council of Presidential Advisers.
The PSC will also be seeing two other changes. Mr Richard R Magnus, 75, has retired on 28 January 2020 after serving 11 years as a member of the PSC. Mr Tan Yam Pin (陈炎斌), 79, will be retiring on 31 January 2020 after serving 30 years on the PSC, including almost 10 years as Deputy Chairman.
Four outstanding candidates were awarded the President’s Scholarships on 15 August 2019 at the Istana. They were Mr Siow Mein Yeak, Yue, Midshipman Allison Tan Sue Min, Mr John Chua Je En and Mr Muhammad Dhafer Bin Muhammad Faishal Khan Surattee.
Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security
Ministers
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good evening.
Every year, the President’s Scholarship is conferred on outstanding young men and women, who have committed to serving Singapore and Singaporeans through the Public Service.
This evening, we recognise and celebrate the achievements and commitment of four outstanding young Singaporeans. They are:
- Midshipman Allison Tan Sue Min;
- Mr John Chua Je En;
- Mr Muhammad Dhafer Bin Muhammad Faishal Khan Surattee; and
- Mr Siow Mein Yeak, Yue.
Allison will be studying International Relations, and will serve in the Singapore Armed Forces. John and Dhafer will pursue their studies in Liberal Arts at Stanford and Harvard Universities respectively, and Mein Yeak will read Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. The three gentlemen will serve in the Public Service upon graduation.
My heartfelt congratulations to you.
Today is a memorable occasion for you and your families. It is even more meaningful to receive the award in Singapore’s bicentennial year. The bicentennial year reminds us to look back with gratitude to our pioneers who had worked hard and tirelessly to build our thriving modern city, and to look forward with humility and optimism. We all know that no matter how brilliant we are, without the right support and opportunities provided for us to develop to our fullest potential, our growth will be limited. Our forefathers helped to build a strong foundation and we have benefitted from it. Now it is your turn, to play a role in helping Singapore forge ahead for the next 200 years.
During the launch of the Singapore Bicentennial Experience a couple of months ago, I spoke about key traits of the Singaporean DNA that has brought us to where we are today – openness and connectedness to the world, multi-culturalism, and determination to survive as a nation no matter what the circumstances are. The same traits will bring us ahead.
I encourage Allison, John, Dhafer and Mein Yeak to think about how you can prepare yourselves to contribute to the future Public Service. To enable the Public Service to be more open and receptive to the evolving needs of citizens; to help Singapore continue to forge stronger relationships with our allies amid uncertain times; to continue to be aware of the fault lines and actively promote inter-racial and cultural understanding; and to stay resolute in the face of our national challenges. Above all, how to ensure that we remain a progressive, contemporary and globalised city state but, at the same time, one that is inclusive, caring and compassionate where no one is left behind.
The President’s Scholarship is an honour and also a responsibility. We believe that you have exemplified, and will continue to espouse, the values and ethos of the Public Service. Within your cohort, we expect you to be leaders and role models. Public service goes beyond doing a job well. It is a complete dedication to the people and nation.
I hope you will bring Singapore forward by shaping a cohort of future public officers through your actions, inspiring them to lead by example, to be connected to the ground and the community; and to put the needs and interests of the nation and our citizens at the core.
This is a weighty responsibility to shoulder. I am confident that you are ready for this. Through public service you can improve lives and the world around you. Its greater reward, however, is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring to your own life.
Today, you are joined by your families, principals, teachers and friends who have supported your growth, shaped your character and values, and helped you develop your potential. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate them on their role in your development.
Allison, John, Dhafer and Mein Yeak – I wish you success in your journey ahead and look forward to you serving the nation with passion when you begin your careers in the Public Service.
Thank you.