Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs

Members of the Honorary Aide-de-Camp Corps

Distinguished Guests

1. Let me first congratulate each of you who have been appointed or re-appointed as full-time or honorary Aides-de-Camp (ADCs).

2. Our ADCs, drawn from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF), and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), are more than just capable officers. You are a special corps of committed officers who place duty over self. You ensure meticulous planning and smooth execution of the President’s events, both at home and abroad, all while managing your regular responsibilities.

3. Today, we gather in the Istana – a stately building that has witnessed many historical events. But it is the people within, the ADCs, who make these events memorable. A good example is Military Expert (6) Ho Yong Cheh, a full-time ADC, who recently led the team that organised the Swearing-in of Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister. Often working behind the scenes with precision, our ADCs’ efforts are critical even if they may not always be noticed.

4. So let me first extend my deepest gratitude, on behalf of the Office of the President, for your unwavering service.

5. We have 107 ADCs being appointed this year, including four full-time ADCs and 103 Honorary ADCs; let me highlight a few of them:

1. This year for the first time, the Istana will have a full-time Aide-de-Camp from the SCDF. Major Fung Ka Kin used to command the Paya Lebar Fire Station. Leading a team to respond to fire, rescue, and medical emergencies was his core work. His new assignment may look very different, but both require the same commitment to duty and excellence. He now serves alongside other full-time ADCs from the SAF and SPF. Welcome to the team, Ka Kin.

1. Military Expert (4) Nur Fadilah Jubir is one of the new appointees in the honorary ADC Corps. Fadilah used to work as an operating theatre and emergency staff nurse in Ng Teng Fong Hospital. Four years ago, she enlisted in the Army and traded her hospital scrubs for a military uniform. This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. Fadilah had in fact been volunteering with the SAF Volunteer Corps since its first intake in 2015. She feels strongly about serving the nation in both healthcare and defence, and I am sure her career as a senior military medical expert will enable her to fulfil both.

1. Captain Arjunan Muthu Kumaran serves as a neighbourhood family physician, treating young and old. He is also an NSman with the Republic of Singapore Navy and a second-year HADC. Thank you, Arjunan, for giving your time, service, and heart to the Office of the President, alongside managing your medical practice. I look forward to your continued contributions.

 

6. There are also some ADCs who are retiring from the Corps this year. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation for your dedication and service.

1. One of them is Assistant Commissioner of Police Ang Eng Seng, who has served for over 16 years. He was first appointed as a full-time ADC to our former President the late S.R. Nathan at the age of 27, and continued to serve for more than a decade as an honorary ADC. Eng Seng has contributed significantly to the Corps, including leading the organisation of the National Awards Investiture in 2009, when it was held at the NUS University Cultural Centre for the first time. Thank you, Eng Seng

 

7. Ka Kin, Fadilah, Arjunan, Eng Seng – they each have very different backgrounds and day jobs. But what binds them and all of you in the Corps is not just the tradition and history associated with this role, but a sense of responsibility and unswerving commitment to Singapore.

8. Ultimately, our ADCs are leaders serving their fellow Singaporeans, ambassadors making foreign dignitaries feel welcome, and role models for their peers in the uniformed services.

9. To the family members and spouses here with us, today’s event is also a recognition of the important role you play. It is your steadfast support and understanding, despite disruptions to your personal and family time, that has made it possible for these men and women to serve their nation with dignity and pride.

10. To the Aides-de-Camp, may your appointment serve to remind all of us of the enduring spirit of service and unity that defines us as Singaporeans.

11. Thank you.