Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the HADC Appreciation Dinner 2019

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence

Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs

Members of the Aide-de-Camp Corps

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Evening.

Mohamed and I are pleased to host tonight’s Appointment Ceremony and Appreciation Dinner for our Aides-de-Camp. This annual event gives us the opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the 103 Honorary Aides-de-Camp who have served the Presidency for the past year, as well as to extend a warm welcome to the 21 newly appointed Honorary Aides-de-Camp.

The important institution of Aides-de-Camp traces its history back to our pre-independence days, when then Yang di-Pertuan Negara Encik Yusof Ishak started appointing HADCs to assist in the execution of state functions. In 1964, Mr Peter Joe Chia, then serving as a District Commissioner in the Boy Scouts’ Association, was appointed as the first and only HADC from the Scouts’ Movement. A year later, a young Captain Winston Choo was appointed as the first full-time ADC. Winston eventually rose to become Singapore’s first Chief of Defence Force. In 2006 and 2007 respectively, we had the first full time lady ADC as well as the first HADCs from the SCDF appointed to the office.

This evening, I am pleased to appoint 102 HADCs, 21 of whom are newly inducted to the Corps. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service to the Presidency, as you have had to sacrifice your personal time. This strong spirit of volunteerism and camaraderie was especially evident this past year, as the Corps were involved in over 100 events. As we are commemorating Istana 150 over the next few months, the Corps can expect to be even busier in the coming work year. My husband and I would also like to place on record our appreciation to your families and loved ones, for their unwavering support which makes it possible for you to dedicate yourselves wholeheartedly to your HADC duties.

I am heartened that the Corps continues to attract officers of high calibre and from all walks of life. Among this year’s new intake of HADCs, we have Assistant Superintendent of Police Joshua Ebenezer Jesudason and Major Muhammad Izzuddin Bin Amirruddin. Joshua is a President’s Scholar who spent many years growing up in Papua New Guinea, where his parents worked as Missionaries. His experiences will add to the already diverse backgrounds of the Corps. Izzuddin is one of the rare few outside of the Commando formation to have completed the coveted Singapore Armed Forces Ranger Course, one of the most mentally and physically demanding courses in the Singapore Armed Forces. Both officers represent some of the finest that the respective Forces have to offer and I am glad that they have stepped forward to serve.

We also have several distinguished National Service Officers among the new intake for the Corps this year. This year, we welcome our first National Service Medical Officer, Major (NS) (DR) Joel Chan Meng Fai, from the 1st Medical Squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Joel works as a paediatrician in KK Hospital and I am sure his medical experiences will bring new insights and perspectives to the HADC Corps. We also have Major (NS) Su Caizheng, who works as a Regional Health and Safety Manager for American Express International and serves as the Company Commander of the 32 (“Three-Two”) Rescue Unit in the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Major (NS) Su Caizheng received the Home Team NSman of the Year award in 2017 for his outstanding National Service records, as well as the Home Team NS Meritorious Service Award this year for his contributions as an Executive Committee member in the Home Team NS Sembawang Clubhouse. Both officers are accomplished individuals, who, despite their busy schedules, have chosen to contribute beyond their National Service roles and value-add to the Presidency through the HADC Corps. I appreciate their desire to serve and look forward to their support in the coming years.

Another officer worth a special mention is Assistant Superintendent of Police (Volunteer) Paul Seah. Paul is the subject head for Student Management at Maris Stella High School. On top of his heavy commitments in school, he has been serving with the Police Volunteer Special Constabulary, or VSC, for 14 years, clocking an average of 44 hours a month, way above the minimum of 16 hours. It was during one of those VSC duties, when he was deployed for crowd control at our Istana Open Houses, that Paul first interacted with our HADCs. He was inspired by the confidence and dedication of the HADCs, and decided to apply to join the HADC Corps last year.

Earlier this evening, we also witnessed the presentation of certificates of appreciation to 23 HADCs who will be retiring from the Corps this year. I want to thank all of them for the combined 112 years of dedicated service to the office! In particular, I would like to mention two officers: Senior Lieutenant Colonel Derrick Chew from the Army and Lieutenant Colonel Cecilia Ong from the Air Force. Both officers have served the Presidency conscientiously for over a decade, rising in rank over the years to take on leading roles in the Corps. Derrick, a HADC for 11 years, has led the VIP guest management team as the Overall-In Charge (OIC) for many successful runs of the National Day Investiture Ceremony. Cecilia, a HADC for 12 years, has numerous appointments as an ADC-In-Attendance to VIPs under her belt. After long and illustrious careers in the Singapore Armed Forces, both officers will be retiring in the coming year and I thank them for their dedicated service to the office as well as to the nation.

My husband and I wish Derrick, Cecilia and the other 21 retiring HADCs all the best in your future endeavours.

In closing, let me also thank the Chief of Defence Force, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of SCDF, Service Chiefs and all supervisors for nominating some of your finest officers into the HADC Corps and supporting these officers whenever they are called upon to serve the Office.

We wish everyone a pleasant and enjoyable evening. Thank you.