The inner light that takes us from being stranger to angels: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2023 Award Ceremony

Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Chairman of SPH Media

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1.     It is my pleasure to join you today in recognising an inspiring group of individuals –Singaporeans performing extraordinary deeds or flying the Singapore flag high on the world stage. 

2.     Each of our finalists today has been doing something extraordinary, but for none of them was this about a sudden or dramatic spectacle. They have each been doing something exceptional for a long while, some of them in fact for many years. 

3.     We know too that most of us as fellow-Singaporeans would not be able to make the extraordinary contributions that they each have made.

4.     But it is the inner motivation that drives them on, the inner light, that we can all seek to find in ourselves. And to bring alive in our own ways.

5.     The inner light that leads to us wanting to do something to make life better for others, something that goes well beyond what is convenient in our daily lives. Including doing something for those who will most treasure the joy and hope that comes from our contributions, like the children with cancer whom Ronita Paul and Geraldine Lee have been serving.

6.     Or the inner light that leads us to do good even in the face of the obstacles we face in our own lives, like Priscilla Ong, who despite physical disability has been there in every way for the elderly who are alone.  

7.     Or that inner motivation to reach truly exceptional heights of achievement, even if it means years of struggling to overcome setbacks, like Shanti Pereira has. 

8.     And the inner light that gives rise to personal sacrifice, none more remarkably than by Herman Sing. It wasn’t just his weekly beat of volunteering  – delivering groceries to those in need and bringing cheer to dialysis patients. Or how he went from being a blood donor to giving blood plasma and platelets. Herman decided to save the life of someone he never knew by giving 2/3 of his liver – because of which he has had to stop his daily jogs and feels breathless after walking. And give up his favourite laksa and oily foods, as his gallbladder was also removed as part of his surgery.   

9.     Why did he do this? In Herman’s own words: ‘If our loved ones are in the same situation, and we cannot donate, won’t we also hope that a stranger will come forward? So why can’t we be that angel to people?”

10. Few of us can be like Herman.

11. But the ultimate value of The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year awards is in demonstrating that inner motivation and hopefully making it contagious – the inner light that takes us from being strangers to angels. Each in our own ways, doing what we can to uplift others and to uplift all our spirits.

12. Starting young, like Chng Rui Jie has shown. And making it a way of life, like Sandy Goh does.   

13.  Let me finally thank The Straits Times for organising this award, and UBS for your generous support. Our gratitude also to the families and supporters of all those who were nominated for the award, because you too are spreading the message. 

14. Thank you.