A prolonged pause, a collective gasp and an uncomfortable silence in the auditorium – this was the moment that left those watching the National Day Rally on Sunday night (Aug 21) in shock.
For the first time, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 64, stumbled during a live broadcast of his rally speech and had to be supported by several ministers. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen and Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng, who were seated in the first row, rushed to Mr Lee’s aid on stage.
During the 30-minute suspension of his speech, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed at 10.28pm on Sunday that Mr Lee did not have a stroke and that he was just dehydrated from standing too long.
On social media, a flurry of well-wishers for Mr Lee began to pour in after many quickly expressed their concern on Facebook and Twitter.
Facebook user Raymond Lim said: “To rest is to prepare for a longer journey ahead. Hope our medical team can fix the blip.”
Dear PM @leehsienloong, none of us would mind if you just went home to rest and posted your #NDRsg speech online. Your health is important.
— Mr Miyagi (@miyagi) August 21, 2016
On Twitter, user mezza001 posted a video with a message to Mr Lee to “get well and healthy”.
A message for PM Lee Hsien Loong – get well & healthy https://t.co/smGxQylvpQ
— Mezza (@mezza001) August 22, 2016
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, also posted a tweet to Mr Lee after the incident. He said: “Heard that you’re not feeling well. I hope you’re all right. Get well soon.”
Mr Lee subsequently replied to his tweet on Monday morning (Aug 22) saying: “Thanks for your good wishes. My doctors tell me I should be OK. – LHL”
Mr Lee’s wife, Ho Ching, responded to well-wishers by thanking them in a Facebook post update. She said: “Thank you all for your good wishes and kind prayers. Wishing all of you good health too.”
Singapore’s ministers also wrote well-wishers to Mr Lee.
Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on his Facebook page: “PM gave everyone a scare this evening and had to take a break… but he eventually cameback to a standing ovation, looking good, and ended his speech on an uplifting note on our future as Singaporeans. He’s got real mental strength.”
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, whose ministerial duties will resume as announced last night, also said on Facebook: “I hope PM will take some rest. He has been checking up on me in the last few weeks, advising me to take care after my stroke. My sincerest hope is that he will also be kind to himself when it comes to his health.”
Workers’ Party member and former non-constituency Member of Parliament Gerald Giam told The Straits Times: “My wife, children and I said a prayer together for him minutes after his speech was disrupted. I am relieved to know from a PMO update that his condition is “not serious”.”
When the rally resumed at 10.40pm, the audience at the ITE College Central auditorium and those watching at home could finally heave a sigh of relief after Mr Lee returned smiling one hour after the scare.
The Straits Times, Twitter screengrabs
Mr Lee, who received a standing ovation before addressing the audience, even jokingly said: “The last time I did this, I was on the parade square in Safti (the military’s officer training institute) and fainted.
“I’ve never had so many doctors look at me all at once. They think I’m all right, but I’m going to have a full check-up after this.”
On Monday, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced in a Facebook post that all was normal after Mr Lee went to SGH for more tests.
“We then went to SGH for more tests – which were all normal before calling it a night around 1:30 AM,” he wrote.
Timeline of events
8pm: PM Lee begins his English speech.
9.18pm: He takes ill. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen rushes to his aid, along with Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. Mr Lee is led backstage. He waves to the audience as he leaves.
9.22pm: The National Day Rally is suspended.
9.30pm: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announces a 30-minute break on Mr Lee’s Twitter. On Mr Lee’s Facebook, PMO says Mr Lee took ill while speaking. A medical team attending to him has assessed that his condition is not serious.
9.51pm: DPM Teo announces that Mr Lee will resume his speech.”PM Lee says please enjoy the reception,”he adds.
10.19pm: Guests are asked to take their seats.
10.22pm: PMO issues another statement saying Mr Lee was unsteady because of “prolonged standing, heat and dehydration”. It adds that his heart is fine and he did not have a stroke.
10:40pm: Mr Lee reappears to a standing ovation.
stephluo@sph.com.sg
