Minister Heng in stable condition

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat remains sedated and in a stable condition, his fellow Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng said yesterday.

Mr Baey, who is Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, said he had not had the chance to visit Mr Heng. MPs and grassroots leaders have been asked to put off visits till a later date.

"The family needs some space and that takes priority," he told The Straits Times.

He also said some Tampines GRC residents had asked if there would be a site for people to leave their expressions of good wishes as well as flowers and fruit for Mr Heng.

"Our view is that these are kind gestures we and the family really appreciate, but the most important thing now is for Swee Keat to recover," Mr Baey added.

Mr Heng, 54, had collapsed a week ago during a Cabinet meeting after suffering a stroke.

Doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital had successfully closed a ruptured aneurysm that had caused bleeding in his brain.

He remains in intensive care.

The Straits Times understands that flowers, cards and gifts for the minister continue to arrive at the hospital's Heritage Museum, where they are kept.

Mr Heng's duties have been taken over by several ministers and MPs.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the previous finance minister, is back helming the ministry, while Mr S. Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), was appointed co-chairman of the Committee on the Future Economy.

The four other Tampines GRC MPs will take turns to visit constituents in Mr Heng's Tampines Central ward, and attend to their needs at his Meet-the-People Sessions on Mondays. They will be helped by former Tampines GRC MP Sin Boon Ann, who has been appointed deputy chairman of the People's Action Party branch in Tampines Central.

This article was first published on May 20, 2016.
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