Chief Justice, former head of Council of Presidential Advisers receive top National Day honours

SINGAPORE – Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and former chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) Eddie Teo will receive the Republic’s highest civilian honour for their years of service to the nation.

Both Menon, 62, and Teo, 79, will be accorded the Order of Temasek (With Distinction) at the 2026 National Day Awards.

They were among 7,491 individuals who are receiving National Day honours this year.

Menon, who will step down as head of the judiciary on Feb 26, 2027, has been in the role for 14 years since November 2012.

Under his leadership, he modernised the administration of justice, strengthened the institutional foundations of the courts and reinforced public confidence in the rule of law.

During his tenure, the judiciary underwent significant transformation, including digitalisation, the establishment of the Appellate Division of the High Court and the creation of the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Menon also spearheaded a therapeutic justice approach in the Family Justice Courts and Youth Courts, and established the Singapore Judicial College to improve judicial education.

In a statement, Menon said he was deeply grateful to be conferred the award, describing his time leading the judiciary as the “greatest privilege and honour” of his professional life.

“Throughout its history as a nation, Singapore has remained steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law,” he said. “The development of a world-class legal system has been the work of many hands.”

He added that the Government’s commitment to the rule of law has been a defining feature of Singapore’s governance since independence, laying the foundation for the opportunities the nation enjoys today.

Menon also expressed his appreciation for the judges, court officers, staff and members of the legal profession who have dedicated themselves to upholding the justice system.

“This award therefore honours all who have worked tirelessly to strengthen the judiciary and sustain public confidence in the administration of justice,” he said, noting that the recognition is especially meaningful as it coincides with the bicentennial of Singapore’s legal and judicial system.

Teo told The Straits Times that receiving the honour was a “great privilege” and meant a lot to know that his decades in public service were appreciated.

He retired in 2018 as chief of the Public Service Commission after close to five decades in the public service, during which he held pivotal leadership roles.

Later that year, he was appointed to the CPA and became its chairman, a role he held till June 2026.

A President’s Scholar who began his career in 1970 with the Ministry of Defence’s Security and Intelligence Division, Teo became its director at age 31, leading the agency from 1979 to 1994.

He went on to serve as permanent secretary for defence from 1994 to 2000, and permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office from 1998 to 2005.

During his tenure as PSC chairman from 2008 to 2018, Teo broadened the diversity of the commission by bringing on board members from varied professional backgrounds, spanning academia, law and social work.

Reflecting on his career, Teo singled out his first 20 years in service as the highlight, where he had the opportunity to learn directly from Singapore’s pioneer leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee, and former president S R Nathan.

“Together, they inspired me to give of my best to serve the nation and people of Singapore,” he said.

Teo also highlighted his time at the helm of the CPA as particularly memorable, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when the Government drew about $40 billion – the largest amount ever – from the country’s past reserves.

Then-President Halimah Yacob and the CPA had thorough discussions before approval was given for the withdrawal.

Singapore was then able to steady its economy, protect businesses and preserve employment without incurring heavy public debt, noted Teo.

Looking ahead, Teo expressed optimism about the future of the public service, pointing to its core values of integrity, meritocracy, incorruptibility and excellence.

“I hope my 56 years of public service will help prove to those considering a public service career that working for the Government is worthwhile and interesting, even though it may not make one as wealthy as someone who succeeds in the private sector,” he added.

The next highest honour accorded at this year’s awards was the Distinguished Service Order, given to five individuals for their contributions across public transport, aviation, the arts, community cohesion and labour relations.

Land Transport Authority (LTA) chairman Alan Chan, 73, was recognised for his leadership in advancing Singapore’s land transport system, according to his citation.

Since his appointment in 2016, Chan has worked closely with public transport operators to boost rail reliability – measured by mean kilometres between failures. The figure improved from 393,000 in 2017 to two million in 2026.

Under his watch, LTA delivered major infrastructure projects including the Thomson-East Coast Line and the Singapore Rail Test Centre, while accelerating electric vehicle adoption. Chan has also served on the Public Service Commission since 2010.

Former Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) chairman Edmund Cheng, 73, was honoured for his contributions to the aviation sector, rehabilitation of ex-offenders and the arts.

As CAAS chairman from 2018, Cheng led the aviation hub through the Covid-19 pandemic to a strong recovery, culminating in record passenger and air cargo volumes in 2025.

Cheng also championed second chances for ex-offenders as chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Fund and advocated for the local arts as chairman of the Singapore Art Museum and former chair of the National Arts Council.

Master potter Iskandar Jalil, 86, was recognised for his six-decade career transforming contemporary ceramics in Singapore into a recognised artistic discipline, his citation said.

Known for his signature “Iskandar blue” glaze, his tactile works span everyday vessels to major public installations at Tanjong Pagar MRT station and Changi Airport Terminal 2.

Over his career, he established pottery collectives at the Malay Heritage Centre and Jalan Bahar Clay Studios, founded the Temasek Potters ceramics studio at Temasek Polytechnic, and earned international accolades including Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun in 2015.

Religious Rehabilitation Group co-founder and co-chairman Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan, 66, was described in his citation as a steadfast leader in guiding the religious scholar fraternity.

He has also helped to build community resilience against extremist ideologies for over two decades, and pioneered religious counselling manuals to rehabilitate extremists.

He was also president of the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association or Pergas.

During the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict, he was a “voice of moderation and reason”, providing balanced religious guidance and upholding social harmony, his citation said.

Former Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) chairman Bob Tan, 74, was accorded the award for over three decades of public service spanning tourism, labour relations and public transport.

As SDC chairman from 2019 to 2026, Tan oversaw the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, led the island’s recovery through Covid-19 and the June 2024 oil spill, and championed disability inclusion.

Tan also made significant contributions to tripartism through the Singapore National Employers Federation and NTUC, steered SBS Transit Ltd through the pandemic as its chairman, and served 21 years as chairman of the Institute of Technical Education.

A full list of the 2026 National Day Award recipients is available at the Prime Minister’s Office website: https://www.pmo.gov.sg/national-awards/