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Heng Swee Keat urges PM Lee to 'be kind' to his own health

SINGAPORE – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has been checking on Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's health since the latter suffered a stroke about three months ago during a Cabinet meeting.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat. TODAY file photo

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE  Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has been checking on Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's health since the latter suffered a stroke about three months ago during a Cabinet meeting.

The tables were turned unexpectedly on Sunday (Aug 21) night when Mr Lee become unsteady during his National Day Rally speech, prompting an 80-minute interruption to the live-telecast from ITE College Central. The Prime Minister's Office said Mr Lee's condition was due to prolonged standing, heat and dehydration, adding: "His heart is fine and he did not have a stroke."

Mr Lee returned to the stage at about 10.40pm to a standing ovation and loud cheers. He had a "brief fainting spell", according to Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen who likened it to "what soldiers get from standing on the parade square too long".

Mr Heng, in a Facebook post, wrote that he "never felt such a surge of joy as when PM came back on stage tonight after he took ill". But as Mr Lee headed to Singapore General Hospital for a check up, Mr Heng urged him to rest and be kind to his own health.

"He has been checking up on me in the last few weeks, advising me to take care after my stroke," Mr Heng wrote. "My sincerest hope is that he will also be kind to himself when it comes to his health."

In resuming his speech, Mr Lee announced that Mr Heng would be returning to his duties as Finance Minister and would be focusing on next year’s Budget and the Committee on the Future Economy.

Mr Lee made this decision after doctors gave Mr Heng the go-ahead to do office work. At the National Day Rally, Mr Lee also announced that he will appoint National Development Minister Lawrence Wong a second minister to help Mr Heng with the operational duties at the Ministry of Finance. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam will stop covering as Acting Finance Minister.

But Mr Heng cannot do community and grassroots work just yet, as doctors have recommended that he avoid contact with crowds for at least a few more months.

Mr Heng thanked colleagues who helped to cover his work while he was on medical leave. His sudden stroke was due to an aneurysm, which is a localised weakening of a blood vessel. Three doctors who were present attended to him immediately and a four-member ambulance team from the Singapore Civil Defence Force responded to the emergency.

Recounting his recent health scare, Mr Heng wrote: All my best to PM and his family, who must have had a scare tonight. And my deep thanks to the SCDF team, not just for helping me after my stroke, but for the assistance they gave to PM tonight too! I for one know that PM was in good hands with them."

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