'Words fail us because we can't understand': PM Lee on River Valley High tragic incident

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (July 20) expressed his shock at an incident at River Valley High School on Monday that resulted in the death of a 13-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old student being charged with murder.

The accused is being remanded for psychiatric assessment and had attempted suicide in 2019, investigations showed.

In a Facebook post, Mr Lee also noted that schools are not just about good academic performance but also “about helping kids to grow into happy and well-adjusted persons”. He urged school staff members and students across Singapore to tell the principal or school counsellors if they know of a student “who seems troubled or under stress”.

“Like all of us, I was shocked by yesterday’s tragic incident at River Valley High School. We cannot make sense of what happened. Words fail us because we cannot understand,” Mr Lee wrote.

“We are overwhelmed imagining what the victim’s family are going through. Yesterday morning, they sent off their 13-year-old son to school. Suddenly, without any warning, he is no more.’’

He said that his heart goes out to the family of the 13-year-old and “I would like them to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them”.

“The teachers and students of RVHS (River Valley High School) are also in shock. We will help you walk through this dark valley and come to terms with what has happened.”

Mr Lee noted that the police are still investigating this case, to find out the motivations behind the incident and if something could have been done to avert it.

“Let us wait for them to complete their work. Let us not worsen the trauma and grief of the affected families with speculation and rumour.” 

Mr Lee’s Facebook post followed comments on the incident by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, as well as other Cabinet ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and Education, and Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development.

Mr Desmond Lee is also Member of Parliament for West Coast Group Representation Constituency, which includes Boon Lay, where the school is located.

“The Boon Lay community has reached out to (River Valley High School) to offer any assistance that the school may require,” he wrote on Facebook on Monday.

In his Facebook post, PM Lee noted that beyond the schools, “the pandemic has been tough on everyone”.

He said that Singaporeans should remember that “if sometimes things seem too much to bear”, help is always available. He then provided the following resources:

• National Care Hotline: 1800 202 6868

• Fei Yue's Live Chat Counselling Service: ec2.sg

• TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252

More resources: go.gov.sg/22qlar