The Singapore Prize is an award given to people who make a positive impact on society, and have demonstrated the value of altruism. The winner receives S$50,000, a trophy and an inscription on a plaque. The prize is supported by the Government of Singapore and awarded by the Singapore Academy of Social Sciences. It is named after former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who was instrumental in building Singapore into the prosperous, developed country it is today.
The prize is designed to reward outstanding works by Singapore authors in the areas of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s books published in Singapore in 2024. The book-length works can be written in any of the four official languages – Chinese, English, Malay or Tamil. Nominations are to be submitted by the end of June 2024 and will be judged by a panel comprising five (5) members appointed by the President of NUS.
This year’s Singapore Literature Prize will have 12 top prizes, including one for works of fiction and nonfiction, each with a prize amount of up to $10,000. In addition, there will be a Children’s Category with two top prizes and a Readers’ Choice award where readers vote for their favourite work.
Among the winners is a memoir by a Singaporean journalist, who has been in the profession for over three decades. Known by her pen name Ning Cai, the author recounts her career in the media industry with frank and honest insights. She has also been the subject of many investigative reports and is a renowned public speaker.
Ning’s story is a familiar Singaporean narrative of success. She scored high marks in her school-leaving exams and received a government scholarship to university. She then worked in a well-paying job, and her salary allowed her to have a comfortable life with good savings. But she has not forgotten where she came from, and she said accomplishment to her is more than the money she earns or the status she holds.
Also among the winners is a novel which tells of a Singaporean’s experiences during the darkest days of the colonial era, and the struggles he faced in his quest to find meaning in his existence. The author, Liew Siow-yan, a writer and academic from NUS, won the Best Literary Work – Non-Fiction category. Liew wore a sharp, green suit for the ceremony, matching that of the event’s host Hannah Waddingham, who appeared in a sparkling black ball gown. He said he felt honoured to be a part of the prestigious awards programme, which was established in 1995. The award is backed by Enterprise 50 and recognises leading local, privately held companies that have contributed to economic development both locally and internationally. A total of 10 media veterans were inducted into the Singapore Media Industry Hall of Fame at the ceremony as well. They include Bob Ng, executive editor of The Straits Times, and Sia Cheong Yew, former associate editor and night editor.