Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana 150 Sponsors and Partners Appreciation Reception

Istana 150 Sponsors and Partners 

Ladies and Gentlemen  

Good Evening 

Thank you for joining me at the Istana 150 Appreciation Reception this evening. This event is a simple but heartfelt gesture to thank you for partnering us in making the year-long Istana 150 commemoration in 2019 a great success. Many Singaporeans have shared how they enjoyed the series of commemorative events and activities. The commemoration also enabled Singaporeans to learn more about the history and heritage of the Istana, and in the process better appreciate our Singapore story. All these would not have been possible if not for your strong support. 

Over the course of last year, we produced a variety of commemorative souvenirs, including commemorative medallions, Istana models using LEGO bricks, and Istana 150 cookies. We worked together to publish a number of books containing little-known facts, interesting stories and lifelike illustrations of the fauna and flora of the Istana. For the first time, we also produced children’s books about the Istana, with the facts and important past events presented in the form of interesting stories.  I hope our young readers have enjoyed their book adventures!  

We launched a new multimedia interactive site that uses augmented reality and 360-degree virtual tours to provide visitors with a more immersive experience. I am glad to learn that the Istana 150 interactive site was recently ranked among the top 10 best interactive graphics for 2019!  

To engage Singaporeans in the heartlands, we organised a roving exhibition of the Istana’s history and heritage at six public libraries. I am glad that the exhibition was popular with the public and attracted more than 200,000 visitors in total. Many Singaporeans also joined us at the finale of the Istana 150 commemoration in October, and enjoyed a stunning Light Show narrating the Istana’s 150-year history and heritage.  It was a rare opportunity for many to see the Istana all lighted up at night. Some even suggested that we do the Light Show on a more regular basis!  

As we commemorated Istana 150, we also kept the less fortunate in our minds. We donated all the proceeds from the commemoration to charity under the President’s Challenge. We also involved beneficiaries of Social Service Agencies by showcasing their artistic talents in our commemorative books and souvenirs. 

The Istana 150 commemoration was a fitting tribute to the Istana – an iconic and significant institution in Singapore’s history. So let me conclude by making mention of our key sponsors – Far East Organisation; Singapore Press Holdings; DBS Bank; Singapore Pools; So Drama! Entertainment; Shell Eastern Petroleum; Singapore Symphony Orchestra; Tuan Sing Holdings; Sian Chay Medical Institution; and CapitaLand Group. Thank you for partnering us in making the Istana 150 possible.  

The Istana has journeyed with Singaporeans over the past 150 years, becoming a key part of our collective memories and identity. Let us continue this journey together and create many more happy stories in the years ahead.  

Have a wonderful evening.