Speech by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Aides-de-Camp Appointment Ceremony at the MINDEF Annex Building on 25 May 2026

Mr Chan Chun Sing, Coordinating Minister for Public Services; and Minister for Defence

Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs; and Foreign Affairs

Members of the Honorary Aide-de-Camp Corps

Distinguished Guests

1.    Let me first congratulate each of you who has been appointed or re-appointed as a full-time or Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC). And let me extend, personally and on behalf of the Office of the President, my deepest appreciation for your dedication and professionalism.

2.    The role of an ADC goes back to our pre-independence years, when our then Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Encik Yusof Ishak, first appointed ADCs to assist in the execution of State functions.

3.    That tradition of service has endured.

a. Our ADCs continue to help plan, coordinate, and execute events attended by the President, at home and abroad – from State Visits and key national events such as the National Awards Investiture and the National Day Reception, to Istana Open Houses that bring tens of thousands of Singaporeans together in celebration of our shared heritage.

4.    These occasions differ greatly in scale and character. But they call for the same qualities: discipline, judgment, discretion, and the ability to work with others to ensure that every detail is looked after. Our ADCs have consistently brought these qualities to bear, often while carrying significant responsibilities in their primary appointments.

5.    This year is a meaningful milestone for the Corps. For the first time, we welcome Honorary ADCs from the Singapore Prison Service (SPS).

  a. Honorary ADCs have traditionally been drawn from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The inclusion of the Singapore Prison Service reflects the essential role that Prisons plays in our Home Team, and in our society.

  b. Notably, the work of the Prison Service is not only about security and discipline. It is also about rehabilitation, reintegration, and the belief that every person deserves a life of dignity and a second chance.

    c. It is difficult work, often unseen by the wider public. But it speaks to something important in our national ethos: that justice must be firm, but society must also retain its capacity for hope and redemption.

6.    Our two pioneer SPS Honorary ADCs embody this spirit.

    a. DSP Chua Yi Gang, currently an Assistant Director overseeing Corporate Relations in SPS, previously served as a Senior Correctional Unit Officer and a Correctional Rehabilitation Specialist. He has co-authored research on the Inmate Peer Support Programme and was the lead staff officer representing SPS at the Asia-Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators (APCCA).

     b. DSP Lin Rouxiu is a Team Leader in a Correctional Unit, and she previously served as a Senior Correctional Unit Officer and Staff Officer in the HR Planning and Recruitment Branch. Beyond her operational roles, she was lead staff officer for the SPS delegation to the ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference (ARCC) 2025.

    c. Both carry a conviction that their responsibility to improve lives of inmates and support reintegration does not end at the boundaries of their job descriptions. That is the spirit we welcome into the Honorary ADC Corps.

7.    Tonight, we are appointing 113 Honorary ADCs, including 18 who are newly appointed. The Corps continues to reflect a rich diversity of professional backgrounds – spanning medicine, aviation, engineering, finance, the civil service, corrections, and the arts.

8.    This diversity matters.

    a. The breadth of experience within the Corps strengthens its ability to relate to people from all walks of life, and represent Singapore with confidence and humility.

9.    Let me mention a few examples:

    a. CPT Ahmad Hafizuddin Bin Abdul Hamid from the Singapore Army brings the discipline and resilience of a Guards Officer, having completed the demanding Ranger Course and now leading soldiers as a company commander in 1^st Battalion Singapore Guards.

    b. DSP (NS) Azhar Muhammad from SPF serves simultaneously as a civil servant, an NSman, and a community volunteer – each role demanding its own form of commitment, and each reflecting his belief that service is a privilege rather than an obligation.

    c. MAJ Ng Kai Yong from SCDF has taken his expertise in urban search and rescue beyond Singapore's shores, being deployed in  Myanmar following the earthquake in March 2025 and helping to build international capacity in countries like Oman.

10. I would also like to thank several Honorary ADCs who are retiring from the Corps this year.

    a. DAC Ho Li Fang from SPF served for almost 15 years, coordinating some of our more complex national moments – including the live telecast of the Cabinet swearing-in across two venues during COVID.

     b. LTC (NS) William Wong from SCDF served across four Presidencies over 16 years. His dedication has left an impression nationally, and I should add on his own five children as well.

    c. COL Edwin Chua from the Army brought 11 years of professionalism and expertise to the Corps, quietly ensuring the smooth execution of numerous national events and ceremonies, while at the same time passing on the experience and knowledge to every incoming batch of new Honorary ADCs.

11. Together with the other officers who are retiring, I thank you for your contributions, and hope that you look back fondly upon the experiences and friendships forged over these years.

12.  Let me also thank the Chief of Defence Force, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of SCDF, Commissioner of Prisons, and all supervisors, for your continued support in nominating officers of quality and character.

13. And to the spouses and family members here with us tonight, thank you. The demands of service are rarely borne by officers alone. Your support makes it possible for them to serve with commitment and purpose.

14. To the ADCs, may your appointment serve to remind us all of the spirit of service and unity that defines us as Singaporeans.

15. Thank you.