SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said about 1,500 Singaporeans will be invited to an Istana function on February 9 as the country honours its pioneer generation.
Mr Lee said those invited to the function have made significant contributions to nation building.
He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre and Alexandra Fire Station on Friday morning.
The Istana guest list will include former political leaders, community leaders and also ordinary Singaporeans from different professions. Others include those from the pioneer batches of uniform groups like the SAF, SCDF and Police.
Mr Lee said some of the guests have already been informed, but the list is still being worked out as he wants to make sure it is representative of the pioneer generation.
He said that it is not possible to cover everybody as there are hundreds of thousands in that generation.
To ensure that no one gets left out, the government will be organising events throughout the year to honour the rest of Singapore’s pioneer generation.
The government is also preparing a Pioneer Generation Package, to be announced on Budget Day on 21 February.
On Friday morning, Mr Lee met some 80 Home Team officers from the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre and Alexandra Fire Station.
He thanked them for their service and dedication in responding to emergencies and keeping the country safe.
This year is the first time Mr Lee and union leaders are calling on the Home Team during his traditional visit to essential services organisations on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre’s Assistant Superintendent of Police, Zheng Ruilin, said: “As a team leader, as a Chinese officer, given it’s the festive season, I would like to lead by example and be the one who sacrifices my own time with my family (to work on Lunar New Year day).”
Alexandra Fire Station’s Senior Warrant Officer II, Azharee Arsad, said Prime Minister Lee’s visit “boosted the morale of my team”.
1500 to be invited to Istana as Singapore honours pioneer generation
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