SINGAPORE - The National Orchid Garden has Mr Syed Yusof Alsagoff to thank for its existence. The associate breeder at National Parks Board (NParks) sat on the first NParks board and helped develop the garden.
"Mr Yusof is better known as Mr Orchid," said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong at the ministry's annual get-together on Friday, where he gave out 49 awards to our partners, stakeholders and pioneer staff.
Mr Yusof was given the Dedicated Service Award for his 25 years of service, during which he trained staff in orchid breeding and also contributed to the inscription of the Singapore Botanic Gardens as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Other award winners include Dr Ling Kai Huat, a senior specialist in aquaculture at the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, who was given the Ministry of National Development Medallion for his contributions to Singapore's ornamental fish industry.
In his speech, Mr Wong thanked attendees for helping to shape Singapore.
"MND work covers a broad remit, from urban planning to public housing; from parks to animals, from property market to real estate, from architects to engineers, from construction to food security. It is quite a broad range of work, but underpinning all these areas is a common goal - because it is ultimately about building an inclusive and endearing home; building a sustainable and thriving future for Singapore," said the minister.
