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3            One important area in the public sector we are addressing is sustainability. From an initial three PSC Sustainability Scholarships, this year we will award four scholarships. Although you will follow different disciplines in university, you will be involved in setting direction, building understanding, and steering the work of various agencies when you return. You will be key in bringing more Singaporeans on board Sustainability, which requires interdisciplinary understanding and implementation.

4            Another area in which we continue to build strength is from the diverse experience and interests of our new public officers. For Singapore to succeed, we need not only the brightest but those who can identify and meet the aspirations of all Singaporeans, as well as handle the range of challenges that the external world will throw at us.

5            We would like future public officers to have diverse educational experience and international exposure. I am encouraged by the diversity of countries that our scholarship recipients are going to this year. The scholarship offers a great opportunity to go out and see the world to learn new lessons and practices and develop skills for what we want to do for Singapore. 

6            28 per cent of our recipients this year will study in our local Autonomous Universities. They will have the opportunity to do part of their courses overseas through the different options that are offered by every Autonomous University. If they go on to do Master's courses, we will insist these are undertaken internationally.

7            Apart from those studying locally, we will see 57 per cent headed for the United States and the United Kingdom. The remaining 15 per cent will study in other overseas universities, and this year, I am pleased to see more scholarships being awarded to outstanding individuals for study destinations that are not the norm for Singaporeans. Out of 54 recipients of scholarships this year, three will go to Japan, three to France, and two to Germany.

8            I would like to express our appreciation to our foreign partners – governments and universities – who have partnered us to increase interest and uptake in studies in their countries. One partnership we have reinstated after a hiatus of 10 years is with the Japanese Government through the Monbukagakushuo (or Monbusho scholarship) and we will see more PSC scholars again studying in Japan.

9            It is important for our Public Service that we do not restrict our contacts to the familiar, tried and tested. Our talent must not fear new things, whether these be technology, ideas or people. Indeed we should look forward to and be excited by the opportunities provided through new languages, culture and contacts.

10          I do not minimise the challenges of living and studying in foreign countries. You will have our full support. We are willing to look at whatever help you require, including sending you on language and preparatory programmes, as well as support from the scholarship officers during your time away.      

11          To all recipients of scholarships today, your challenge is to refashion the norms of the university academic journey that has been ingrained over generations, to ensure that your journey widens your horizons and prepares you with both the depth and breadth to pursue service to Singapore. Be active and thoughtful agents in your own education. Do not succumb to the easy way out, to just do whatever others do.

12          After all, you will be expected by citizens to help anticipate and define tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities, as well as help design and implement successful approaches to them.

13          The PSC Scholarship will provide you ample support and opportunity to try new approaches to defining and solving challenges, and building your skills, experience and networks.

14          In conclusion, I want to thank all of you for stepping forward to serve. Remember why you are taking this direction, as you take the next steps. Enjoy your student days, take good care of yourselves and each other, and keep in touch with your scholarship officers. They are there for you.

2        Many years ago, I was in your position. I do not know what is on your mind now, and I do not know if you know what you have signed up for. I certainly did not, at your age. I took up the scholarship knowing little about what to expect and what was expected of me. But over time, I have come to appreciate how different this scholarship is. So today I would like to start with that. What did you sign up for?

3        It is not just another scholarship that merely gives you some stipend for your school fees, and gets you through university. It is also not merely about a job that you can secure after your studies. I am sure the Public Service Commission has no doubt about your ability to secure one, whether you take up the PSC Scholarship or not. Instead, this scholarship comes with responsibility – it comes with a calling to serve. It comes with a very fundamental calling - for all of you to lead Singapore onward to the next step. More simply put, it will be your generation that will lead us to SG100. In your hands, upon your shoulders, you have this responsibility.

4        Recently, at Public Service Week, I said that the role and mission of the Public Service is to build a thriving Singapore full of opportunities and hope for all Singaporeans. To build is to actively do something, not passively react to changes or wait for things to happen. To build is to create an opportunity, and the best way to anticipate the future is to shape it.

5        We must build a thriving Singapore that defies the odds of history, and transcends our geographical boundaries and constraints. Not many city states have survived 100 years or more. We are the latest to attempt it. At the same time, never before have city states had the best chance of doing so, by building connections in many dimensions beyond air, land and sea connectivity, and in terms of talent, ideas and financial flows, for example. Through that, we have hope and opportunity for Singapore to transcend our geographical constraints, turn them into opportunities, for Singapore to reach SG100 and beyond. That is both our challenge and our responsibility.

6        Is it daunting? Yes, it is. But let me share with you where we have come from. Every generation will have its fair share of challenges. In the 1960s when we were newly independent, we had to take care of our defence where we had very little to call our own defence force. When the British withdrew east of the Suez and left Sembawang Naval Base, 20 per cent of Singaporeans were out of jobs, including my grandparents. In the 1960s, having left our colonial history behind us, we were confronted with communism and communitarianism. In the 1960s and 70s, we had to create jobs for our people. We also had two oil crises. In the 1960s and 1970s, we had very little public housing. But over the last 50 over years, we have built public housing for more than 80 per cent of our people who can proudly call their homes. In the 1960s when we first started, we barely had enough water to drink, to support our industries. I remember my geography lessons where we only had to learn the names of three reservoirs – MacRitchie, Pierce and Seletar. Today, we have 17 reservoirs. Today, two thirds of the entire island is a water catchment area, notwithstanding our urbanisation. Today, we have four taps — imported water, water from our local sources, desalinated water, and NEWater. Today, Singapore is one of the leading countries in water technology, and we export the technology.

7        Why do I share this with you? Because it reminds us where we come from and how we can overcome in spite of our constraints. Your generation will have your fair share of challenges. Over and above the challenges that I have mentioned, which are still very much alive and with us, going forward, we will have new challenges.

8        If water was our challenge for the last 50 years, clean energy will be our challenge for the next 50 years. If we have enough clean energy, we will be able to have enough clean water, food, industries and many other things for our people.

9        In the last 50 years, survival and security were uppermost on our mind. In the next 50 years, the global order will undergo another transformation. The years of peace and global order that we have gotten used to in the last few decades might no longer be there. Instead, we might be returning to history 100 years ago just like the 1920s where we saw the rise of protectionism, and now in the guise of industrial policy. We will certainly see a more fragmented global order, a more fragile economic system, and certainly also more fractious domestic politics in many countries, and if we're not careful, in Singapore.

10       We will have to build a new generation of housing to cater to the needs of a new generation, and we will reach a point where we have to refresh our housing in a 100-year cycle. We will have to take care of our aging population, and yet create new opportunities for productive longevity.

11       We also have to deal with climate change.

12       Having heard all these challenges, and for me to tell you that it is in your hands and upon your shoulders together with the rest of the public service, will you still want to join us? To lead this country is not for the faint hearted. We never promised you a bed of roses as leaders of this country. We only promised ourselves that we will give our very best, our utmost to all the things that we do in service of our people and country.

13       But perhaps at this stage of our development, our biggest challenge is none of the above. The biggest challenge and my greatest fear for us all is a sense of complacency. To think that Singapore has arrived, that we no longer need to make difficult choices, that we do not need to take hard decisions, or that we think that we have the resources to do everything that we want to do without having to have any trade-offs. This is furthest from the truth.

14       I hope you will never fall into this trap of complacency. In Singapore, the only easy day was yesterday — when our minds were focused by our finite resources to make hard but wise choices for the long term. I hope in our affluence, when we have much resources, we will not choose the easy way out. Or have a laziness of the mind to think that we can have it all.

15       The geopolitical realities that confront us are challenging. To work out a new living in a new world is not easy. To hold our people in times of affluence may be even more difficult than to keep our people together in times of need. If we were united by our poverty in the past, let it not be our affluence now that divides us - both absolutely or relatively. So now is not the time to be distracted to think that we have arrived, and that we can be on autopilot maintenance mode.

16       Now is the time for us to recommit ourselves to continue building this country. So that even when we are at the forefront with no one else to copy, we will not rest on our laurels. Instead, each and every day of our lives, we are committed to asking the following simple questions: where are the new challenges that may erode our edge and not allow us the chance to be called Singaporeans? Where are those opportunities to create value propositions for ourselves so that we can continue to shine as Singapore, a free and independent country?

17       For that, I only ask one thing from all of you. I ask that you have gumption. The gumption to venture out and get to know the world as it is, come back with a fresh perspective. Gumption to connect with the world regardless of the differences. While the rest of the world may be divided and distracted, let us remain focused and united. Gumption to always think of new value propositions so that we don't have to ask the question of who do we choose, but we can always make the proposition for others to choose us instead. Gumption to transcend our differences. We are never a country that is built on a common path. But we can always be a country that is built on a shared future. A sense of shared ethos founded on meritocracy, multiculturalism, incorruptibility, and the pursuit of excellence.

18       Finally, I hope in your generation, you will help us to build a nation where we call ourselves Singaporeans out of conviction and not a nation where we just call ourselves Singaporeans out of convenience. I always ask this question in many of my school visits: why do you want to be called a Singaporean? Many will tell me it is the family ties here, the food here and so on. I always challenge ourselves and ask ourselves these more difficult questions: If the chips are down, if we are no longer successful, if the challenges that are confronting us are bigger than ever before, will we stay? And even if the chips are down, will we fill it all up again? That is a Singaporean by conviction. And I hope that when we reach SG 100, we will have truly a Singaporean tribe, fuelled by conviction, based on our ideas and ethos and not just based on what the country can offer us.

19       And when you join the Public Service, I will not promise you that we have a perfect Public Service. We will have our highs and our lows. But through it all, I hope you will remember this moment when you pledged to serve the country and people. That even if the chips are down – or be in the Public Service or in Singapore – that you will be the one in your respective stations to help us build it all up again. That we will truly have a nation of Singaporeans full of conviction – because that will be how we will define the spirit of Singapore. We are never defined by our circumstances, we are always defined by our responses to our circumstances. The 1965 generation have shown us the way with their backs to the wall, and nothing very much to their names. They built it all up for us. Should we ever have the misfortune to lose it – some or all – we will be determined to build back better and that is what I hope you will do.

20       So joining the Public Service is not just about solving problems. More than that it is about pre-empting problems. But even more than that, joining the Public Service is for us to take on the leadership role to unleash the potential of our people in service of our country. If in the next leg of Singapore's development, we can all define our success not by our individual accomplishments but by our collective contributions, I am sure Singapore will be here in SG100 and more.

21       On that note, you can have your cooling off period. If there is any hesitation it is not too late to say now. But if you take up this scholarship, I truly hope to see you, work with you, work with the rest of the Public Service, to take our country forward, to keep Singapore going, to keep growing and most importantly, keep Singapore glowing. Thank you very much.

Ministers

Excellencies

Chairman and Members of the Public Service Commission (PSC)

Ladies and Gentlemen 

Good evening. Tonight, we celebrate the achievements of three outstanding young individuals who have been awarded the nation’s most prestigious scholarship.

They have, beyond achieving excellence in academic pursuits and co-curricular activities, exemplified the values and ethos of Public Service and demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities. Collectively, they stand ready to serve with integrity, a drive for excellence, and most importantly, a dedication to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

This year, I am pleased to award the President’s Scholarship to: 

a)   Inspector Chua Jia Zhi, Edison

b)   Miss Foo Yong Yee Renee; and

c)   Miss Mei Feifei.

Edison will be pursuing his studies in Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Edison is a purposeful and driven leader who enjoys galvanising collective action. He has served as a leader in various capacities in school, notably leading a virtual overseas community involvement programme that taught English to students across different provinces in China. Edison also served as a peer tutor to beneficiaries from Northbrooks Secondary School. As a recipient of the SPF Scholarship, Edison aspires to contribute to the stability and security of the country when he joins the Police Force after graduation.

Renee will be going to Georgetown University to read Business and Global Affairs. She has a heart to serve, demonstrated by her active involvement with Ulu Pandan Stars and Oasis Tuition Befrienders. Renee reached out to underprivileged children through weekly reading sessions and tutoring. She also served as a Peer Aider in secondary school, spreading positivity and care for schoolmates who needed a listening ear. Renee has also led teams in various capacities. As vice-captain of the Taekwondo club in JC, she led the club to finish as overall champion in the National School Games in 2022. She also led Project Sonder as part of the Youth Expedition Project in 2021 to conduct online workshops on topics such as food and nutrition, and mental wellness for children in Cebu, the Philippines.

Feifei will be reading Economics at the University of Chicago. Feifei is an accomplished and dependable leader. As the Chairperson of Raffles Press in JC, she led the team to forge a new direction to build itself up as a multimedia press, creating and diversifying output of different content forms such as podcasts and videos. Her ability to identify problems, introduce effective solutions, and communicate effectively helped her lead the team through various challenges. These included coping with a lack of ideas, resources, or time to produce content, as well as keeping up the engagement and involvement of team members when student activities were curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who know Feifei see her as someone who stands up for what is right, and one who wants to make a difference by serving. She has tutored a child from a single-parent family over the past few years, and also organised book drives, food drives and digital literacy workshops for the underprivileged.

My heartfelt congratulations to the three of you.

It must also be a moment of great pride for your families, principals, teachers, and friends who have guided, developed, and journeyed with you. Congratulations to all of you as well.

Today, as I reflect on the recipients of the President’s Scholarship whom I have interacted with over the years, I am reminded of the importance for us to work together to make Singapore more inclusive, caring, and compassionate. As a nation, we must continue to forge a shared consensus of our collective aspirations as a people and the realities that we are confronted with. If we fail to do so, we will start to fragment as a nation and become weaker as we would no longer be able to rely on the strength of the collective to take on tomorrow’s challenges.

Now, more so than ever, we need to be united to face the external challenges ahead. Singapore remains confronted with major, exacting challenges. Geopolitical uncertainties, economic volatility, and climate change will pose existential questions to Singapore. We must continue punching above our weight to stay relevant. We must reinforce the values of a multi-racial, multi-religious society in an increasingly polarised world. We must support one another, especially those who are adversely affected, to ensure that no one is left behind.

Every Singaporean has a part to play in shaping Singapore’s future. The ones who answer the call to serve must lead by example. Edison, Renee, and Feifei, as President’s Scholarship recipients, you must lead your generation of public officers and galvanise the strengths of different individuals, communities, and organisations to tackle the challenges of tomorrow 

For you to be able to bring people on board, they must trust you and have confidence that you have the necessary tools, expertise, and resources. This must be underpinned by the instinct to do what is right for Singapore. As you embark on the next chapter of your journey in education, I encourage you to build relevant and valuable competencies, knowledge, and connections that Singapore and the Public Service needs. Always maintain a high level of conduct, even when no one is watching.

You must be able to connect with different segments of our society. Empathise with their desires, aspirations, and needs. This is why I am glad that the PSC continues to press on in its efforts to select scholarship recipients from diverse backgrounds, and to encourage and support scholarship holders in building up a rich portfolio of experiences. The Public Service is in good stead to represent the people that it serves even more comprehensively, as long as its future leaders embody a wide variety of lived experiences. Edison, Renee, and Feifei – it is your responsibility to ensure that the people who will build Singapore in the years to come will demonstrate the shared values of our nation and identify with the hopes, aspirations, and dreams of all our fellow citizens. Stand guided by this in everything that you do in the Public Service, even when it gets tough.

This is my sixth and final President’s Scholarships Award Ceremony. In the last 6 years, I have conferred the award to 19 recipients, and have met many more past recipients over the course of my Presidency. I am heartened to see many young, accomplished individuals, some having come through challenging life circumstances, putting themselves forward to serve in the Public Service. It was inspiring to hear from them their deep passion and vision for a better Singapore.

I would also like to express my appreciation to the PSC for their contributions over the years, in selecting and guiding the next generation of public officers and leaders to secure Singapore’s future. The work that goes into further distinguishing amongst a small pool of scholarship recipients, who are already a good fit for the Public Service, to decide on the few who would be most deserving of the President’s Scholarship is extremely significant. They represent the highest standards, and they will influence and inspire their fellow public sector scholarship awardees to aspire towards these standards.

Lastly, I would like to thank all President’s Scholarship recipients – past, current, and future, for taking on the hard but purposeful work of making Singapore better.