FORMER senior Cabinet minister S. Dhanabalan was presented with the nation's highest honour last night for his contributions to the country.
The Temasek Holdings chairman received the Order of Temasek (Second Class) from President S R Nathan at the Suntec City Ballroom.
Mr Dhanabalan, a long-time civil servant, politician and corporate leader, played a significant role in Singapore's development.
He was part of the team that started the Economic Development Board in 1961 to attract investments to Singapore and to create jobs.
From 1968 to 1978, he helped establish the Development Bank of Singapore - now DBS Bank - and played a pivotal role in its transformation into a full service international bank.
He entered politics in 1976, and from 1978 to 1994, held the Foreign Affairs, Culture, Community Development, National Development, and Trade and Industry portfolios.
Previous recipients of the Order of Temasek (First Class) include former president Wee Kim Wee, former chief justice Yong Pung How, and former ministers Lim Kim San, Hon Sui Sen, Goh Keng Swee and S. Rajaratnam.
The next three highest honours this year went to recipients of the Distinguished Service Order.
They are: Lee Foundation chairman Lee Seng Gee; Keppel Corporation executive chairman Lim Chee Onn and Neptune Orient Lines chairman Cheng Wai Keung.
Seven others received the Meritorious Service Medal. They included National Kidney Foundation chairman Gerard Ee; head of the Civil Service Peter Ho; and Lieutenant-General (NS) Ng Yat Chung, the former Chief of Defence Force.
They were among about 350 recipients of the National Day Awards who were honoured last night.
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