A total of 6,258 individuals in 21 Award Categories were recognised at the National Day Awards 2022. Among this group, many individuals may be business leaders, who have gone beyond their call of duty, especially to their businesses, to serve the public.
In this article, we hope to celebrate the business leaders among the award recipients. While we wish to highlight all business owners, the task is not easy (for me!) as the individuals’ public designations are listed rather than their professional designations.
(Editor’s Note: We look at business owners who received awards within the top 3 categories of 2022 awards: 1) The Distinguished service Order; 2) The Meritorious Service Medal; 3) The Publis Service Star (Bar). There would be more business leaders if we were to crawl through the other categories for sure. These are not the top 3 categories of awards available, but just the top 3 categories with recipients in 2022. Do note that there may be more business owners, even within these categories, that we could not verify as the information provided on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website typically states the individual’s public designations rather than personal/business designations. You can let us know if there were any business leaders left out at [email protected])
Read Also: 8 Business Owners Who Received The Singapore National Day Award In 2021
New COVID-19 Resilience Medal To Be Conferred
During PM Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally address, he thanked our healthcare workers, frontliners and other groups who joined in Singapore’s whole-of-nation effort to fight COVID-19.
He also mentioned that the government will present everyone who participated directly fighting COVID-19 during the pandemic with a special state award: The COVID-19 Resilience Medal.
He also went on to state that “those who made exceptional contributions will receive existing state awards, such as the Commendation Medal, the Public Service Medal and the Public Administration Medal”. These medals will have a special indication to show that it was presented for service fighting COVID-19.
Entrepreneurs Conferred Awards At National Day 2022
#1 Gopinath Pillai
National Day Award: The Distinguished Service Order
Gopinath Pillai is a former Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and the founding chairman of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of NUS.
While he is no stranger to public service, he is also a businessman. In his biography on Savant Infocomm’s website, an IT solutions firm where he is listed as Executive Chairman, he is also listed as having varied business interest including investments in education, logistics and information technology.
#2 Png Yiow Beng
National Day Award: Public Service Star (Bar)
While there is not much public information on Mr Png Yiow Beng, a Google search turns up a 2018 interview by Straits Times describing him as the “founder of Singapore River Cruise and Trishaw Uncle”.
He is attributed as the biggest shareholder of the company that runs the Chinatown Heritage Centre in Pagoda Street.
#3 Chia Chor Meng
National Day Award: Public Service Star (Bar)
Mr Chia Kim Lee founded Chia Khim Lee Food Industries (CKL) in 1975. On its website, it states that CKL has grown from a “small food and beverage company supplying to the local market” into an international manufacturer.
A quick glance of the company’s brands lists the Sagiko canned bottled juice/drinks, Kings’ Choice oil, and Iceberg bottled water.
#4 Dr Chua Ee Chek
National Day Award: Public Service Star (Bar)
On the Gleneagles Hospital website, Dr Chua Ee Chek is listed as a practicing eye surgeon, with 20 years of experience. It also lists his private practice Chua Eye Surgery.
#5 Dr Toh Soon Huat
National Day Award: Public Service Star (Bar)
We found a post by Spiking blog detailing Dr Toh’s journey as an entrepreneur. He initially opened a small furniture shop in 1984, which would eventually become Novena Holdings. He would go on to build a chain of furniture, retail and beauty stores and beauty salons in Singapore.
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