Heng Swee Keat 'recovering well' from stroke and 'fully lucid': PM Lee

SINGAPORE — Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat is "recovering well" from the stroke he suffered more than two weeks ago and is "fully lucid, communicative, and cheerful", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong disclosed in an update on Monday night (May 30).

Mr Heng, 54, collapsed during a Cabinet meeting on May 12, and has since been hospitalised at the intensive care unit at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Mr Lee visited him on Monday evening.

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee wrote that he was "delighted to find (Mr Heng) recovering well, and making steady progress. He was fully lucid, communicative, and cheerful."

Mr Lee added that the doctors have advised Mr Heng not to receive visitors just yet, so that he can get as much rest as possible.

"I told him we had made arrangements to look after his residents in Tampines while he recuperates. He gave me two thumbs up," Mr Lee wrote, adding that Mr Heng conveyed his thanks to those who had sent him get-well wishes. "He especially sends his greetings and best wishes to his Tampines residents and volunteers, who have been asking after him."

The four other MPs of Tampines GRC — Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng, Mr Desmond Choo and Ms Cheng Li Hui — have been sharing the workload, while former Tampines MP Sin Boon Ann was asked to stand in for Mr Heng in grassroots activities.

When contacted, Mr Baey Yam Keng said: "We're very relieved that he seems to be recovering well." He added that Mr Heng's Tampines Central branch activists were also relieved and happy to hear learn that Mr Heng was recovering well. "The best thing we can do is for the activists (and the team) to keep on serving the residents well," he said.

Mr Desmond Choo also added: "We want to (give him the full assurance) that our team of four MPs will continue to look after his residents on his behalf. In fact, we've started house visits at Tampines Central, and the Meet-the-People sessions."

"(Mr Heng) should get as much rest as possible. His recovery is the most important thing."

Mr Heng's sudden stroke was due to an aneurysm, which is a localised weakening of a blood vessel, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The aneurysm was successfully closed after Mr Heng underwent neurosurgery to relieve pressure in his brain due to the bleeding.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been covering the duties of the Minister for Finance.

Mr Heng was a top civil servant, helming the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Monetary Authority of Singapore at various points, before being elected to Parliament five years ago. Along with Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lawrence Wong, who also entered politics in 2011, Mr Heng was seen as part of the core group of fourth-generation leaders.

Mr Heng was the only new face who was immediately made a full Minister following the 2011 General Election. He headed the Education Ministry between 2011 and last year, before he took on the finance portfolio.

Apart from his Cabinet responsibilities, Mr Heng has also been the driver of several key Government initiatives.

A little over a year after he entered politics, he was picked by Mr Lee to oversee the Our Singapore Conversation project. He also led the steering committee for the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Prior to his illness, Mr Heng also chaired the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE), which has been tasked with laying out strategies to overcome present economic challenges and position the country for future growth.

Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran, Mr Heng’s deputy in the committee, was appointed the co-chairman on May 16. Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing, who was already a member of the CFE, has also been drafted in as deputy chairman. 

Since Mr Lee's post, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli and former Tampines Central Member of Parliament Sin Boon Ann have also posted updates on their Facebook pages:

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TOH EE MING