Students R Hanah and Nur Isziadora had always dreamed of touring the Istana. Their wish came true after they boldly asked President Halimah Yacob duri
Students R Hanah and Nur Isziadora had always dreamed of touring the Istana. Their wish came true after they boldly asked President Halimah Yacob during her visit to Bukit Merah Secondary School in 2021 if they could visit the heritage site.
Isziadora, now in Secondary 4, recalled being star-struck when she met the President. “I was speechless, honestly, because I didn’t expect to meet Madam President,” she shared with AsiaOne. During the visit, President Halimah spoke about her life and duties as the head of state, and that’s when Hanah shyly made her request. “I found it very interesting, what she was telling us. So I just asked her, ‘Can you invite us to the Istana? I want to see what it’s like,'” Hanah explained.
After two years, the students finally got their wish. As part of President Halimah’s ongoing efforts to make the Istana more accessible to all Singaporeans, she hosted about 30 students from Bukit Merah Secondary School on April 5 for the launch of the newly enhanced Swan Pond.
Isziadora expressed her gratitude: “When I came to the Istana, I felt very honoured and thankful that [President Halimah] remembered us.” Hanah, now a Bukit Merah alumnus, was equally thrilled. “I’m mind blown by how expansive the estate is. I knew it was big, but I didn’t know it was this big,” she said in awe.
Their schoolmates Muhammad Irfan and Isabelle Thong were also amazed. Irfan, a Secondary 2 student, admitted, “I didn’t expect much, but after seeing the gardens, I was speechless. I don’t think I deserve to be here—it’s too much to take in.” Thong, a Secondary 4 student, was particularly impressed by the flora and fauna, noting, “There’s a stereotype that the Istana is just where the President works and holds meetings, but it’s so much more.”
Enhanced Swan Pond Officially Opened
On the same day, President Halimah officially opened the enhanced Swan Pond at the Istana. Originally built in 1968, the pond has been upgraded to provide a more conducive habitat for the native Lesser Whistling Ducks that reside there. New features include a viewing deck with natural edging and a garden stream with flowering, fragrant plants.
To commemorate the occasion, President Halimah planted a Cynometra Mannii tree, known for its distinctively notched leaf tips. She shared with a student that she hopes to spend more time in the garden, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted her walks around the estate. “If you want your 10,000 steps, you can just walk around,” she quipped.
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