Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and former chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers Eddie Teo have been awarded the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) — the highest honour conferred at this year's National Day Awards.
The award recognises individuals who have rendered exceptionally distinguished service to Singapore.
They head this year's list of National Day Award recipients, which sees a total of 7,491 individuals recognised for their contributions to Singapore.
The recipients are made up of 6,624 civilian recipients, including public servants, educators, community and grassroots leaders, while 867 are military personnel.
According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) website, the honour was introduced in 1962 and has three grades — the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction), the Order of Temasek (With Distinction), and the Order of Temasek.
Only Singapore citizens can be admitted to the Order, although non-citizens may be admitted in an honorary capacity under special circumstances.
One such recipient was former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was conferred the Order of Temasek (With High Distinction), the highest grade of the award, for his contributions to regional cooperation and Singapore-Indonesia relations.
World-class legal system 'the work of many hands': CJ
Chief Justice Menon was appointed judicial commissioner for a one-year term in 2006 and later became attorney-general in October 2010.
In August 2012, he was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal, before becoming Singapore's fourth chief justice in November that year. He will be retiring on February 26, 2027, after more than 14 years at the helm of the Judiciary.
He is awarded the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) for his outstanding contributions to the development and modernisation of the Judiciary and to the advancement of the rule of law in Singapore, a citation from the Singapore Courts reads.
In a statement issued to AsiaOne, the 64-year-old said he is deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the strengthening of Singapore's legal and judicial system, and to be conferred the award.
The retiring chief justice emphasised that the development of Singapore's world-class legal system has been "the work of many hands", with the Government's commitment to the rule of law — a defining feature of Singapore since independence — serving as its foundation.
Reflecting on his time leading the judiciary, he said: "It has been the greatest privilege and honour of my professional life to be entrusted with leading our Judiciary.
"As a lawyer, I could imagine no higher calling."
"I have also been richly blessed by the countless people —judges, judicial officers, court administrators, staff, and members of the legal profession — who have dedicated themselves to upholding and strengthening the institutions that sustain the rule of law and make it a reality for all Singaporeans. Their commitment has inspired me throughout my tenure."
Chief Justice Menon added that the award was not just a personal recognition, but also honoured those who had worked tirelessly to strengthen the Judiciary and sustain public confidence in the administration of justice.
56 years of public service: Eddie Teo
Looking back at his 56-year career in public service, Eddie Teo said he was inspired by Singapore's pioneer generation leaders Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, as well as his mentor, the late former president S R Nathan, to give his best in serving the nation and its people.
After graduating from the University of Oxford in 1970, Teo joined the Security and Intelligence Division, rising to become its director in 1979.
Between 1982 to 1986, he also led the Internal Security Department, becoming the first person in Singapore to concurrently head both Singapore's internal and external intelligence organisations.
The 79-year-old was appointed permanent secretary for defence from 1994 to 2000, and permanent secretary in the prime minister's office from 1998 to 2005.
Even after retiring from the administrative service, Teo continued serving in public office. He was Singapore's high commissioner to Australia from 2006 to 2008, before serving as chairman of the Public Service Commission from 2008 to 2018.
In 2019, he was appointed chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA), a role he held until June 1, 2026.
Asked what was most memorable during his term as chairman of the CPA, Teo said it was helping to steward Singapore through the Covid years, when Singapore had to draw the largest amount ever from its reserves.
But he was clear-eyed about the need, saying doing so helped keep the economy steady, preserve jobs and support businesses during a period of unprecedented uncertainty.
"It is a great privilege and honour to receive the Order of Temasek. It means so much to me to learn that my 56 years of public service have been appreciated," the 79-year-old said in a statement to AsiaOne.
He added that he hopes his journey will show those considering a public service career that working for the government can be both "worthwhile and interesting", even though it may not make one as wealthy as someone who succeeds in the private sector.
"I am optimistic about the future of the Singapore public service because the values we continue to uphold — integrity, meritocracy, incorruptibility and excellence — enable us to recruit, promote and develop capable individuals to help govern Singapore," Teo said.
5 awarded Distinguished Service Order
Five individuals have been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Order for this year's National Day Awards.
The Prime Minister's Office said on its website that the Order may be awarded to any person who has performed within Singapore any act or series of acts constituting distinguished conduct.
The recipients are:
- Alan Chan Heng Loon, chairman of the board of Land Transport Authority.
- Edmund Cheng Wai Wing, former chairman of the board of Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
- Dr Iskandar Jalil, artist.
- Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Bin Hassan, co-chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group.
- Bob Tan Beng Hai, former chairman of the board of Sentosa Development Corporation.
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editor@asiaone.com
