TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Together Against RSV
  • SG60
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

SG60 List: From President’s Bodyguard to Heartland Hero

3 min read
SG60 List: From President’s Bodyguard to Heartland Hero

Lim Hwee Yi’s early career was anything but ordinary. After graduating from Temasek Polytechnic in 2018, she joined the Singapore Police Force in 2019 and was hand‑picked for the elite Police Security Command, serving as a personal bodyguard to Presidents Halimah Yacob and Tharman Shanmugaratnam. In 2022, she even accompanied Madam Halimah to the UK to attend the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

Yet in May 2024, after five years of protecting national leaders, she made a bold decision: to leave the force and return to her family’s roots by taking over Botak Cantonese Porridge, her parents’ humble hawker stall in Tampines and Punggol.

A Ladle in Place of a Gun

Trading in her uniform for an apron, Lim embraced the daily grind of hawker life with humility and dedication. She learned the craft from her father—once a hotel chef—who’s been perfecting Cantonese-style congee for years with simple, affordable ingredients. Today, Lim oversees two outlets and plans to expand further while maintaining the same warmth and authenticity her parents built.

Kindness Served One Bowl at a Time

Inspired by a note from an elderly patron—“your free porridge warmed both my heart and my stomach”—Lim partnered with Give.Asia. Starting June 2025, her stalls now offer 500 free bowls of porridge monthly to holders of CHAS Blue or Orange cards, no questions. The redemption process is simple: flash the card, dine in, and enjoy a nourishing meal without shame or stigma.

The initiative quietly reaches out to elderly residents living alone, job seekers, and struggling families, making a real SG60 impact through consistent, compassionate service.

Skills from Service, Spirit from Family

Lim’s background in security has shaped her discipline and composure. She credits her ability to adapt under pressure—whether handling a crowd of diners or busy morning prep—to her years in uniform. Meanwhile, her cult-following, friendly personality built bridges between her two worlds. With plans to open a third outlet and mentor young hawkers, Lim is also on a mission to sustain the hawker tradition with pride and purpose.

SG60 Reflection: Quiet Strength, Bold Kindness

As part of Singapore’s 60th-anniversary celebration, Lim Hwee Yi represents a new kind of hero, one whose service reaches beyond uniforms and prestige into everyday acts of compassion. Her journey embodies SG60’s mission: to ignite 1 million acts of kindness across communities.

From the Parade Grounds to the Heartland, Lim’s story reminds us that true nation-building happens when generosity meets grit, and a single bowl of porridge can warm many hearts.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Gio Adriano

  • Home
  • /
  • SG60
  • /
  • SG60 List: From President’s Bodyguard to Heartland Hero
Share:
  • SG60 PROMOS You Can’t Miss: The Ultimate Guide to Singapore’s 60th Birthday Deals

    SG60 PROMOS You Can’t Miss: The Ultimate Guide to Singapore’s 60th Birthday Deals

  • SG60 List: Singaporeans Keep Hearts Beating Through myResponder Heroism

    SG60 List: Singaporeans Keep Hearts Beating Through myResponder Heroism

  • SG60 List: Rekha Shows Kindness Through Free Ramadan Meals as a Young Hawker

    SG60 List: Rekha Shows Kindness Through Free Ramadan Meals as a Young Hawker

  • SG60 PROMOS You Can’t Miss: The Ultimate Guide to Singapore’s 60th Birthday Deals

    SG60 PROMOS You Can’t Miss: The Ultimate Guide to Singapore’s 60th Birthday Deals

  • SG60 List: Singaporeans Keep Hearts Beating Through myResponder Heroism

    SG60 List: Singaporeans Keep Hearts Beating Through myResponder Heroism

  • SG60 List: Rekha Shows Kindness Through Free Ramadan Meals as a Young Hawker

    SG60 List: Rekha Shows Kindness Through Free Ramadan Meals as a Young Hawker

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
  • Family Occasions
  • Lifestyle
  • Normal Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
  • Trying To Conceive
  • News
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it