PM Lee was his usual jovial self, says President Tony Tan

PM Lee Hsien Loong has been given a clean bill of health after he faltered while giving his National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 21). ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was "his usual jovial self" on Monday (Aug 22) afternoon, said President Tony Tan Keng Yam on Facebook after a conversation between the two.

The update came a day after Mr Lee suffered a near-fainting spell during the National Day Rally.

Mr Lee was giving his English speech at ITE College Central when he faltered and had to be helped off the stage at around 9.20pm on Sunday (Aug 21).

"PM had a busy schedule recently, and the preparation for NDR took a toll on him," Dr Tan wrote in his Facebook post. "On behalf of all Singaporeans, I wish PM well."

The episode of lightheadedness was attributed to Mr Lee's long, hot night on his feet. He had previously been delivering speeches in Malay and Mandarin.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced earlier on Monday (Aug 22) morning that after the rally, Mr Lee went to the Singapore General Hospital for a battery of medical tests.

Mr Lee was given a clean bill of health and his night finally ended around 1.30am.

Dr Balakrishnan described the incident as a "vasovagal episode". A vasovagal response results from an abnormal circulatory reflex resulting in abnormal relaxation of the body's blood vessels. A person usually faints during such a reaction.

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