Good policies do not emerge on their own and require a strong public service working closely with political leaders, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.Speaking at the Administrative Service Dinner 2026 on Tuesday (April 21) at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, SM Lee said a high-quality public service is needed to develop and implement policies effectively, alongside ministers who are familiar with policy issues to provide both political input and guidance.He stressed that while civil servants must remain apolitical, this does not mean being neutral about policy direction. «You cannot be indifferent as to whether ultimately a policy is decided upon or its opposite,» he said, adding that civil servants must have conviction in the policies they help develop and implement. SM Lee noted that Singapore's system also depends on the stability and consistency in policy direction, which has allowed the civil service and political leadership to develop a close yet proper working relationship over time. Read more