Thank you, DPM Heng!

I will miss DPM Heng Swee Keat in Government. He is one of the kindest and most encouraging to me and the causes I advocate—for the disabled, the vulnerable, and education for all.

He was respectful, non-defensive, and open-minded when interacting with me and my fellow members of the Education GPC over the years.

From the time that he was Minister to the time after he became DPM, he supported the disability cause through The Purple Parade, The Purple Symphony, and many, many quiet actions behind the scenes.

As Finance Minister, he supported the mayors’ proposal of CDC vouchers to support residents and heartland merchants during the COVID pandemic, and then expanded it to a nation-wide cost of living support measure with then Minister Lawrence Wong.

But it is not just the big things that distinguished him; it is the small, authentic, humble, and thoughtful acts of kindness that earn my lifelong respect for him, whether he has an important title or not.

I cannot help the surge of gratitude when I went through his encouraging words to me over the years—even when I’m not a direct member of his team in his ministries and probably not useful to his career.

Thank you, DPM Swee Keat, for who you are. I wish more people knew this side of you. I trust we will stay as friends for life.