SINGAPORE – Former Cabinet minister and Temasek Holdings chairman S Dhanabalan tops the list of 3,888 National Day Awards recipients this year, being awarded the nation’s highest honour, the Order of Temasek (First Class).

Immediate past president of the Singapore National Employers Federation Stephen Lee was conferred the Order of Nila Utama (First Class) for his contributions in building a strong tripartite partnership in Singapore.

Fifteen individuals were also awarded Commendation Medals for their “devotion to duty and exemplary conduct during the Sabah earthquake” in June — including posthumous honours for two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS), an instructor from Camp Challenge, and two Mountain Torq trainers.

Mr Dhanabalan, 78, who has had a sterling career in both the public and private sector, receives the top grade of the award eight years after he received the Order of Temasek (Second Class). Mr Dhanabalan joins other recipients, including Queen Elizabeth II, and former Presidents Wee Kim Wee and S R Nathan.

In a statement, Mr Dhanabalan said he is “gratified to be bestowed this honour”.

He added: “I have been fortunate to have worked with a team of outstanding and dedicated people, whether in politics or the corporate world.”

Mr Dhanabalan was Member of Parliament from 1976 to 1996, and held various portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, National Development, and Trade and Industry, from 1980 to 1992. He also served as chairman of Temasek Holdings for 17 years — the longest tenure — where he is credited with reshaping its investment strategy.

In the private sector, high-profile appointments that Mr Dhanabalan has held include Chairman of DBS Group Holdings, while he was also among the founding Board of Directors at Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC).

Responding to TODAY’s queries, GIC Group President Lim Siong Guan lauded Mr Dhanabalan for his “abiding sense of duty” in doing his best for Singapore’s future.

Meanwhile, Mr Lee, 68, said he feels “extremely honoured and humbled to receive this high national award”.

Successfully establishing the flexible wage system as an employer representative on the National Wage Council and the extension of retirement age, as well as re-employment for mature workers were among the accomplishments memorable for him.

On his hopes for the future, Mr Lee said: “Our long term objectives are the provision of good quality jobs for our workers and the equitable sharing of the fruits of our economic success.”

Those who got Commendation Medals this year include those who were on the ill-fated school expedition to Mount Kinabalu in June this year, when a magnitude 6 earthquake claimed the lives of 10 Singaporeans, seven of whom were TKPS Primary Six students and two others were teachers in the school. Last month, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat was asked in Parliament whether any special awards would be handed out to teachers, trainers or guides for their acts of bravery when the Sabah earthquake struck on June 5.

The minister replied that these individuals who demonstrated “selfless acts and devotion to duty” will be honoured in a “manner that is befitting of their courage and sacrifices”.

Among the medal winners was adventure guide Mohamad Amin Mohamad Nor, 29, from Camp Challenge.

He shrugged off the accolade, saying he was simply doing his duty. He said: “As the trip leader, I had to ensure the safety of the participants. How I see it, lives are being entrusted to me.”

He added: “My thoughts return back to that day, I lost 10 lives under my care. I believe it’s something I’ll remember forever.”

Another recipient was Mr Mohamed Faizal Abdul Salam, a PE teacher from TKPS who survived the tragedy. The 28-year-old had shielded his students from the large boulders that rolled down the mountain that day.

Speaking to TODAY, he thanked his friends, colleagues and the Ministry of Education for their unwavering support. Mr Mohamed Faizal added: “It made the moving on process much easier, as we know we have a support system to fall back on. We’re very thankful for it.”

Posthumous medals were awarded to Mr Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed and Mr Terrence Sebastian Loo Jian Liang, who were TKPS teachers, former Camp Challenge instructor Muhammad Daanish Amran, as well as Mountain Torq trainers Ricky Masirin and Valerian Joannes.

Other National Day Awards given out were the Distinguished Service Order, Meritorious Service Medal, Public Administration Medal, Efficiency Medal and Long Service Medal.

A full list of this year’s National Day Award recipients can be found at www.pmo.gov.sg/national-day-awards