Speech by President Halimah Yacob at The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year Award 2018

Mr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Mr Anthony Tan, Deputy CEO, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Mr Edmund Koh, President UBS, Asia Pacific

Mr Warren Fernandez, Editor, The Straits Times

Ladies and Gentlemen

I wish everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.

I am happy to join you at this evening’s Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award, and to meet the finalists and their families and supporters. I am glad that some of the past years’ winners and finalists are also back to join us today. A warm welcome to the Istana, especially for those of you who are here for the first time.

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award, launched in 2015, seeks to honour extraordinary acts of goodwill, ingenuity or perseverance by Singaporeans who have made a positive impact on society.

Interest in the award has not waned despite the passage of four years since the award was first introduced. The Straits Times continues to receive a respectable number of nominations totalling about 72 individuals or groups. This also shows that there are many people out there doing good work for the community, and which is acknowledged by the public who have in turn nominated them for the award.

In the final round, 11 finalists were chosen and I think that the judges have the truly unenviable task of selecting one amongst them, that is most outstanding, to receive the Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award.  Although there is only one winner, I can with all honesty say that in fact all 11 of you are deserving nominees for the contributions that you have made in the different areas of your interest.

From feeding the poor and providing shelter to needy youngsters to leveraging technology to reach underserved needs, you all share some common traits. You place the needs of others above your own and worked tirelessly for the community. Many of you also use your special talents, skills and experiences to enhance the value of your contributions to community service. You demonstrated perseverance, tenacity and resourcefulness in pursuing your objectives. I hope that your examples will inspire other Singaporeans to similarly do good and help the needy in our society.

The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year Award shows that Singaporeans are not passive bystanders to the plight of others, whether these occur in Singapore or elsewhere. The daily humdrum of our existence, mired in work and other responsibilities, have not deadened our souls and we find nourishment in helping others. The human spirit remains undaunted and the stories of the nominees are clear examples of how all of us can do something for the betterment of others, so long as we have the heart to do so. We don’t have to wait for others to show the way. We can take leadership of what we want to achieve. If all of us do our part, no matter how small, we will collectively become an indefatigable force for good.

I am glad that this year’s event is held at the Istana, which is a touching addition, as this year the Istana celebrates 150 years of our establishment. Even as we remember our past legacies, we constantly strive to create new memories too. The Istana has been celebrating the achievements of Singaporeans in so many different fields, such as social workers and teachers, and this is a fitting addition to recognise our extraordinary Singaporeans.

I would like to thank UBS for your continued support for this event. I am also pleased to see more local brands - SIA, Millennium Hotels and Resorts Group, Tridente Automobili and OSIM - coming on board to give their support too. I hope there will be even more sponsors coming on board to support this award for many years. We are in this together, to celebrate the contributions of extraordinary Singaporeans, in making our society a better place to live in.

Let me conclude by congratulating all the nominees and, in particular, our Straits Times Singaporean of the Year award winner.

We know that we can’t create a society in one day. Time, effort and a sense of common purpose among the people living together are essential ingredients, including the belief in pulling everyone along as we move forward. Together, we can make Singapore a better place for everyone.

Congratulations, once again, and keep up the spirit.

Thank you.