[UPDATE (10:31PM): The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has sent out a tweet explaining PM Lee’s status]
Update: PM was feeling unsteady because of prolonged standing, heat and dehydration. His heart is fine and he did not have a stroke. #ndrsg
— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) August 21, 2016
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took ill while delivering his speech at the National Day Rally 2016. PM Lee appeared to have lost his balance at 9:20PM, more than an hour into the English segment of the rally. His condition has been declared as not serious at time of print, according to news sources such as The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia.
It was later clarified that he had been feeling faint.
#NDR2016 #ndrsg pic.twitter.com/tJrBoLZqYP
— Ernest Low (@lowernest) August 21, 2016
The National Day Rally 2016 was suspended minutes after the incident, with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) declaring a 30-minute break via PM Lee’s Twitter account.
Dear all, we will be taking a 30 minute break. – PMO Team #ndrsg
— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) August 21, 2016
PMO Statement: PM Lee took ill while speaking at #ndrsg. Medical team is attending to him now. They assess his condition is not serious.
— leehsienloong (@leehsienloong) August 21, 2016
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced at 9:50PM that PM Lee will be returning to the stage to “greet the guests and complete his speech”.
Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam later clarified to reporters that PM Lee Hsien Loong is “alright” and was feeling “a little faint” during his speech.
"PM is alright, he was feeling a little faint" DPM Tharman #NDR2016 https://t.co/t6JiKBfIGI pic.twitter.com/kRCf237uPR
— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) August 21, 2016
Singaporeans have taken to Twitter to express their well-wishes towards PM Lee Hsien Loong.
https://twitter.com/JimJohnHill/status/767355567404752897
Thoughts and prayers with PM Lee #ndrsg #NDR2016
— He Ting Ru (@HeTingru) August 21, 2016
Scary for PM to be taken ill, live on national tv #ndrsg . No one should speak for 3 hours straight… 😨
— boonwee 본의 (@waterKHOOler) August 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/nkl_ng/status/767356275143221250
https://twitter.com/NXYNXY/status/767353652575023108
May not agree with your policies, but do take care. #NDRSG
— Han Siang WONG (@speedknight) August 21, 2016
#prayforPMLee #ndrsg get well soon pm!
— itsme (@e56145571687450) August 21, 2016
The National Day Rally is an annual speech made by the Prime Minister detailing Singapore’s plans for growth in the coming year ahead and beyond. It is usually a marathon event, lasting for more than three hours with speeches in Mandarin, Malay and English.
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