Speech by President S R Nathan at the 2011 President's Scholarships Award Ceremony on Friday, 12 August 2011, 7.30pm at The Istana

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean

Minister for Education Mr Heng Swee Keat

Excellencies

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission

Ladies and Gentlemen

1       This year, we celebrate Singapore's 46th year of independence. Today, we have a generation that faces a different, but just as challenging, environment. This is an environment of intense global competition which requires us to adapt to the rapid pace of change. More than ever, Singapore needs exceptional leadership to ensure our continued survival and success.

2       As President, one of my roles is to approve the appointment of people of integrity to key public positions to ensure that Singapore is well governed. The President’s Scholarships is one main avenue for us to build up a pool of people with the right calibre who could in future become public sector leaders.

3       This will be my last year serving you as the President of Singapore. In the 12 years of my Presidency, I have witnessed more than 40 President’s scholarship recipients honoured. Some of these young men and women are still pursuing their studies, and others are serving in various capacities in the Public Service. What unites them is their desire to contribute to Singapore to the best of their ability.

4       I am glad to see that many of you are here amongst us tonight. You have distinguished yourselves through your active contributions to our country’s development. Through your service to your fellow Singaporeans, you have also demonstrated your selfless commitment to foster a more cohesive and compassionate society.

5       Through my years in public service, I have seen how Singapore has overcome its many challenges in moving from the third-world to the first. My generation lived through turbulent times in the formative years of Singapore and our instincts and values were shaped by the struggles we went through.

6       As a new generation, you will have different values and perspectives from my generation. You will face different circumstances and challenges, but the same passion to stand up for Singapore, to serve our people and do your best for our nation, must still underpin all that you do as future leaders of Singapore.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARSHIP

7       The President’s Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country. It is awarded to the most outstanding young men and women who have the integrity and commitment to work for Singapore’s continued success. These are talented and passionate individuals who have excelled not just academically but in non-academic pursuits as well. They have distinguished themselves from their cohort based on their leadership qualities and calibre.

2011 PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS

8       This year, the President’s Scholarship is awarded to four outstanding individuals. They are Ms Xiao Yifei, Mr Koh Zhan Wei Aaron, Mr Fong Jie Ming Nigel and Mr Yoong Ren Yan. They will be going to top universities in Singapore, the UK and US.

9       Yifei and Aaron will be reading International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. Aaron is a concurrent holder of the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship. Nigel will be reading Medicine at the National University of Singapore and Ren Yan will be reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. I congratulate each of you.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRESIDENT’S SCHOLARS

10       If there is one more piece of advice I can give to the four of you today, it is to always bear in mind the Public Service values of Service, Integrity and Excellence. These are core values that will underpin your work as a public officer.

Service

11       In all you do, always have the interest of our people at heart and never forget to show compassion to those who are less fortunate than you. For our society to remain strong and cohesive, we need public officers who listen and appreciate the problems faced by ordinary citizens and believe in the need to give back to society.

Integrity

12       The Singapore Public Service has a strong reputation for being clean and honest. We must ensure that it remains so. With integrity as your core, you must uphold fairness and honesty in all you do.

Excellence

13       Finally, strive for the best in whatever you do and live up to the standards of excellence that is the hallmark of our Public Service. The Public Service needs bold, nimble, adaptive and empathetic leaders with a good understanding of not only the domestic environment but also the global environment. In your pursuit of excellence, you must always be a good role model for your colleagues in the Public Service.

Conclusion

14       Let me conclude by offering my heartiest congratulations to the families, principals and teachers of the four President’s Scholars this year. You have nurtured them throughout the years and brought out the best in them.

15       Yifei, Aaron, Nigel and Ren Yan, it leaves me now to wish you all the best as you pursue your studies. You will be among the future public sector leaders who will take Singapore to the next level. I am confident that you will serve with pride and passion and do Singapore proud.