SINGAPORE – Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat dedicated his entire working life to serving Singapore and its people, and consistently upheld the ethos of service above self throughout his more than four decades in public service, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In a valedictory letter on May 6, PM Wong said DPM Heng brought rigour and determination to every role he was given, mastering every policy detail and working tirelessly to shape a better future for Singapore.
DPM Heng, 64, confirmed his retirement from politics on Nomination Day, April 23, ending speculation over his GE2025 plans. He said in a Facebook post then that it was time to make way for a new team to serve Singapore.
Having started his career as a police officer, he then took on key positions in the Administrative Service – such as managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry – before joining politics in 2011.
PM Wong said that as Minister for Education from 2011 to 2015, Mr Heng believed deeply in nurturing the full potential of every child, regardless of their starting point.
“Your slogan, ‘every school is a good school’, captured a key objective of our education system: That every school should bring out the best in all its students, in its own ways,” he said.
Mr Heng spearheaded reforms to emphasise character development while balancing academic achievement. These included abolishing secondary school rankings and piloting subject-based banding, which paved the way for the complete removal of streaming, said PM Wong.
He also expanded university pathways for Singaporeans, and under his watch, the Singapore Institute of Technology became Singapore’s fifth autonomous university.
Mr Heng envisioned Singapore as a learning society, noted PM Wong. Under his leadership, the SkillsFuture movement for lifelong learning was launched, which opened up more inclusive pathways for success that continue to be enhanced today under Forward Singapore, he added.
As Minister for Finance from 2015 to 2021, he served as a steady and trusted steward of Singapore’s fiscal resources. PM Wong said Mr Heng made “tough but necessary decisions” such as planning for the goods and services tax (GST) increase and introducing Singa bonds, ensuring disciplined expenditure growth.
Singa bonds are government securities used to finance long-term national infrastructure – such as new train lines – while spreading the cost over generations as these projects also benefit future Singaporeans.
To cushion the impact of higher GST, Mr Heng designed a comprehensive Assurance Package, which ensured that that middle- and lower-income households would not be unduly hit, he added.
The Assurance Package provides cash, rebates, top-ups and CDC vouchers to blunt the impact of the GST increase for Singaporean households while helping them cope with cost-of-living pressures.
When Covid-19 struck, Mr Heng understood sooner than many the scale of its impact, added PM Wong, and he delivered an unprecedented five Budgets in a year that saved lives and livelihoods while preparing Singapore to emerge stronger.
“Your calm leadership, grace under pressure, and concern for ordinary Singaporeans provided stability and reassurance for the nation in those uncertain times,” he said.
Mr Heng also played a key role in upgrading Singapore’s economy and creating good opportunities for all Singaporeans.
As Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and chairman of the Future Economy Council, and later the Future Economy Advisory Panel, DPM Heng oversaw the roll-out of Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs).
These sector-specific roadmaps, shaped in partnership with businesses and workers, helped drive growth in targeted industries. Between 2016 and 2023, sectors with ITMs outpaced the overall economy, noted PM Wong.
He also strengthened economic ties with Singapore’s key partners. As co-chair of the annual Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation with China, he promoted bilateral cooperation in areas such as public health, innovation and the green and digital economies.
As chairman of the National Research Foundation, he aligned research, innovation and enterprise strategies with industry needs, and ensured that research was focused on national priorities.
“As a result, Singapore’s standing as a Global-Asia node for technology, innovation and enterprise has risen,” said PM Wong.
Always a believer that Singapore is stronger when citizens are actively involved in shaping Singapore’s shared future, Mr Heng led national engagement exercises such as Our Singapore Conversation in 2012, Singapore Together in 2019, and the Emerging Stronger Conversations in 2020.
These efforts helped to deepen partnerships between the Government and the public, and were built on in the Forward Singapore exercise to refresh the country’s social compact, said PM Wong.
As an MP, Mr Heng was known for his bold and imaginative approach to community building, he added.
“Our Tampines Hub, which opened in 2017, testifies to your vision,” said PM Wong, referring to the integrated community and lifestyle hub that brings together facilities such as sports venues, a library, healthcare services and public service centres under one roof.
In East Coast GRC, he championed monthly conversations with residents to hear their concerns and involve them in estate planning, and this made the community greener and more vibrant.
Within the PAP, Mr Heng served as first assistant secretary-general and later as chairman, and helped the party connect more deeply with Singaporeans.
PM Wong noted that Mr Heng accepted the responsibility when the PAP’s 4G team unanimously chose him as their leader. But when the pandemic delayed leadership succession, he selflessly stepped aside to let the team choose a younger leader with a longer runway.
The Prime Minister also paid a personal tribute to Mr Heng, recounting their time working together in the education and finance ministries, fighting the pandemic, and in politics.
“I only wish that our partnership could have been longer. You have been a steadfast comrade and cherished friend,” said PM Wong. “We joined politics at the same time, but you were my senior and were always generous with your advice and unstinting in your mentorship.”
He added: “On behalf of all Singaporeans, thank you for your many years of dedicated service to Singapore and our people. I wish you good health, joy and peace in your retirement.”
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