SINGAPORE — News that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat suffered a stroke yesterday brought forth a wave of good wishes from the public and both sides of the political divide, with several of his colleagues noting the heavy workload on the Finance Minister’s shoulders, as well as his strong work ethic.

In a Facebook post, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, revealing that he has been working very closely with Mr Heng on “a number of things”, said Mr Heng had been looking “very tired”.

Pointing to the “incredible load” that he was carrying — helming the Finance Ministry alongside other duties such as chairing the SG50 Steering Committee last year and the Committee on the Future Economy — Mr Shanmugam said: “I have been telling him that he was overworking so much that it will affect his health.”

Urging Singaporeans to “hope and pray” for Mr Heng in a Facebook post, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said: “He is one of Singapore’s finest sons, and a leader with much promise.”

Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Heng’s fellow Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines GRC, said he had met Mr Heng for lunch yesterday and observed that the minister was his “usual self”.

Describing Mr Heng as a hard worker, Mr Baey said Mr Heng, who took his own notes and would sometimes send emails “very late at night”, also makes it a point to acknowledge emails, even “when it’s just simple updates”.

“When agencies share with the MPs about the latest development, he would always respond, give guidance or encourage,” added Mr Baey, who is also Parliamentary Secretary for the Culture, Community and Youth Ministry.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, who is also MP for Tampines GRC, said on Facebook that the Tampines team — which includes Ms Cheng Li Hui and Mr Desmond Choo — will take care of residents while Mr Heng recuperates.

Immediately after the news broke around 7pm yesterday, netizens took to social media to express their shock and dismay, using the hashtags #prayforsweekeat and #getwellsoonhsk.

East Coast GRC MP Lee Yi Shyan recounted advice that Mr Heng had given him a year ago, after he suffered a mini stroke.

“Swee Keat advised me to go slow and doing ‘less is more’. I really wish he will recover soon and completely,” he said.

Opposition parties also conveyed good wishes, with the Workers’ Party, Singapore Democratic Party and Reform Party (RP) issuing statements wishing him a “speedy recovery”.

RP secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam said he knew Mr Heng back when they were both studying economics at Cambridge University.

“He and his family are in our thoughts and we send our best wishes for a speedy and full recovery,” said Mr Jeyaretnam.

People’s Power Party chief Goh Meng Seng shared that Mr Heng had visited his brother’s wake during the 2011 General Election, despite the fact that they were both contesting against each other in Tampines.

“I hope he can overcome his current medical conditions and (have) a speedy recovery,” he said.

MR HENG SWEE KEAT'S CAREER MILESTONES: