'It is part of the duty of civil servants to be sensitive to challenges faced by Singaporeans, especially in difficult times like these. The leadership of the Civil Service - the Permanent Secretaries - must exemplify this sensitivity.

'This is vital for Government to be able to formulate and implement policies effectively. So Mr Tan's comments were clearly ill-judged, and were quite inappropriate, particularly because of his leadership position.

'My colleagues and I feel very bad about this episode, because it stands in contrast to the values and ethos of the Service, and if left unaddressed, can undermine the confidence and trust essential for us to do a good job. It is a setback for the Service, but it is also a reminder of what our duty is, and where our duty lies - to do better for Singapore and for Singaporeans.

'Civil servants should remember the values of the Singapore Public Service: 'Integrity, Service, Excellence'. Our first duty is to serve Singapore and Singaporeans, and we should always conduct ourselves with decorum and humility. Everything takes its marking from this.'