Keeping Singapore clean and safe, and enabling community action (How Singapore became the cleanest and safest city! Definitely worth a read!)

1 Mr Chairman, creating a Clean, Green and Resilient Shared Future for Singapore is a collective effort.

2 During our Forward SG engagements, Singaporeans acknowledged that the whole society needs to work together to ensure that Singapore remains a clean, green and safe home.

3 Our education efforts and campaigns over the years have paid off, and Singaporeans are generally civic-minded. However, we continue to observe some persistent issues, that require us to go beyond just public education.

4 Public hygiene remains a top priority for MSE. Ms Rahayu, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Murali Pillai have asked about MSE’s efforts to enhance cleanliness. Minister Fu announced earlier that MSE will designate 2024 as the Year of Public Hygiene. This year, we will be working more closely with the community and ramping up our efforts to address persistent pain points, such as littering hotspots and dirty public toilets. The pandemic may be over, but Singapore needs a clean environment to be well-prepared to tackle future public health threats.

5 Based on our cleanliness surveys, many still believe that the responsibility to keep Singapore clean lies with the Government and our “army of cleaners”. Our cleaners are already busy cleaning up natural litter, such as fallen leaves, and accidental litter, such as spillages. Let us not add to their heavy workload with intentional litter by leaving or throwing our litter for them to clean up after us.

6 To tackle ongoing and persistent issues, we adopt a multi-pronged approach. Legislation and enforcement are critical to help us tackle the inconsiderate behaviour of a small number of people who are not as socially responsible, and to shape social norms for the wider population.

7 Ms Nadia Samdin asked about the Tray Return Initiative. This was launched in 2013 to encourage diners to return their trays after their meals. However, the Tray and Crockery Return Rate remained low despite public education efforts. By commencing enforcement in September 2021, we managed to cement new social norms and increase the return rate from 35% to over 90% today.

8 To Ms Nadia’s query, tray return is a key measure that helps tackle bird nuisance issues at hawker centres. NEA currently works with stakeholders such as Hawkers’ Associations and cleaning contractors to clear used crockery promptly and implement proper food waste management. NEA, together with the Town Councils, has also implemented anti-bird measures such as netting at tray return racks. Bird control efforts are also carried out where necessary.

9 To Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s query, we similarly use both public education and enforcement to curb high-rise littering. While we continue to educate the public on the dangers of high-rise littering, offenders, including first-timers, are sent to court and receive stiffer financial penalties and Corrective Work Orders (CWOs).

10 In July 2023, we introduced the statutory presumption provision for littering from residential flats to hold the registered owners or tenants responsible. We also encourage residents to follow guidelines by HDB or Town Councils on proper placement of objects in open spaces. Any cases of potential killer litter will be referred to the police for investigation.

11 The number of feedback on ground littering from 2022 to 2023 has increased about 15% compared to the two years before the pandemic. To tackle littering hotspots, we will adopt a more targeted approach.

12 NEA will increase the frequency and scale of anti-littering enforcement blitzes, targeting hotspots that have higher offence rates and public feedback reports. This year, we plan to conduct around five times as many blitzes compared to 2023. These blitzes will be more visible by deploying uniformed officers to patrol these hotspots and putting up standees on the number of enforcement actions taken. We will also deploy non-uniformed officers to catch litterbugs.

13 Recalcitrant littering offenders will carry out CWO at high footfall areas like transport nodes, town centres and city locations. An average of around 500 CWOs are issued to offenders each year. They wear pink and yellow vests that clearly state ‘Corrective Work Order’ while picking up litter.

14 Furthermore, we will quadruple the deployment of CCTVs at hotspots, which include HDB estates. This will improve NEA’s remote surveillance capabilities, facilitate efficient deployment of resources by enabling investigations into public hygiene offences, as well as deter would-be offenders.

15 However, even if someone is caught on camera, we are unable to follow up with enforcement action if we cannot identify the person. NEA will work with community stakeholders to identify these offenders. If there are still no leads, NEA will explore putting up images of these offenders at the places where they had littered to seek the wider community’s assistance in identifying them.

16 We hope that this will invoke collective community ownership to keep the common spaces clean, and also deter potential litterbugs.

17 Public toilets remain a bugbear of many Singaporeans. We have stepped up our enforcement efforts on unhygienic public toilets, including at food establishments. Since April 2020, first time offenders who fail to keep public toilets in their premises clean and in good working condition, are fined up to $400 instead of getting a warning letter. Implicated retail food businesses would also incur demerit points, and some have resulted in the suspension of licences.

18 Enforcement can only go so far so I agree with Ms Poh Li San and Ms Rahayu that users and the community need to be involved as well. We will continue to collaborate closely with our partners from the people and private sectors to address the problem of dirty public toilets holistically.

19 We will form a Public Toilets Taskforce to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets. Mr Andrew Khng, Chairman of the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) and I will co-chair this taskforce.

20 The taskforce will tap on the expertise of public sector agencies, town councils, premises managers, academia and trade and industry associations. The taskforce will one, examine measures for adoption of good public toilet designs; two, promote responsible use of public toilets; three, advocate responsibility amongst premises owners for toilet cleanliness and maintenance; and four, strengthen community partnership to promote cleanliness. The focus will be on toilets that consistently fare poorly in cleanliness surveys, such as those at coffeeshops and hawker centres.

21 We will incorporate new technology to improve the efficiency of our cleaning and vector control operations.

22 First, we will trial the use of thermal imaging cameras for rat surveillance. NEA will share relevant footage and data with premises operators so that they can conduct targeted interventions to eliminate potential rat nesting grounds.

23 Second, we will explore the use of artificial intelligence-powered video analytics to supplement performance audits of contracted cleaning companies. This will be more productive than manual inspections in detecting cleaning lapses.

24 Many Singaporeans we engaged during the Forward SG conversations agreed that we cannot just rely on cleaners and cleaning technology to keep Singapore clean. Hence, MSE will further strengthen our partnerships with the community.

25 The PHC will launch the latest edition of the “Keep Singapore Clean” campaign next month to galvanise Singaporeans to do our part to uphold higher standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Last year, the PHC organised a workshop with residents and other community partners to brainstorm anti-littering interventions. As a follow-up, to realise one of the ideas, the PHC partnered with Nanyang Polytechnic to develop a Smart Bin prototype, which was subsequently tested within the neighbourhood and now will be scaled up.

26 NEA is also working together with residents from 21 private estates, such as Jalan Wajek in Bukit Timah, in an interesting initiative. Residents park their vehicles on just one side of the road on specified days to facilitate mechanical road sweepers cleaning the other side of the road. This achieved 50 to 80% of time savings compared to manual labour. NEA would like to double the number of private estates involved in this initiative. We look forward to more of such support from residents as we transition to using cleaning technology.

27 To reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke, we currently prohibit smoking at more than 49,000 premises. Last month, NEA adjusted the Orchard Road No-Smoking Zone (ORNSZ) to include additional areas where smokers congregate. To Mr Louis Ng’s question, NEA will continue to monitor the situation and consult relevant stakeholders, before considering extension of non-smoking areas.

28 To Mr Gan’s query, indeed, smoking is prohibited at all covered areas including buildings and retail food establishments, smokers may congregate in adjacent spaces, where smoking is not prohibited. Stakeholders interested in setting up Designated Smoking Points (DSP) can refer to guidelines on NEA’s website, and seek NEA’s advice if needed. These should be at least 5m away from the premises boundary, and direct smokers away from the general public. The proliferation of DSPs needs to be carefully considered and balanced against the risk of inadvertently normalising smoking.

29 Mr Ng also asked about second-hand smoke within homes. In addition to working with other government agencies and the community to issue joint advisories, we will continue to encourage smokers to practise greater social responsibility and facilitate conversations between neighbours. Based on NEA’s data from 2018 to 2022, about 95% of feedback providers did not give further feedback on smoking in homes within a year after advisories were issued. We remain open to innovative and practical solutions to reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke.

Absolutely true. Singapore is responsible government doing what government should do. They are both responsible and accountable. Just once for a change I wish someone in this country, let alone this gooberment would step up to the plate and say, "Yes, that is my job and I will take care of this and report back to you with results." Dream on, in what universe? Not this shell of a nation.

The only push backs are from miscreants, anarchists, libertarians and assorted misguided individuals who are very confused about living with others responsibly and respectfully.

It’s the same... and they have added some incredible architecture. They have also developed a beautiful area called Marina Bay that has some incredible gardens and buildings.

If you get a chance, go back.

The ‘disaster’ we have here, wasn’t here a few decades ago. And we didn’t have caning then, either.

I think you are confusing some things here and assuming that only corporal punishment, instead of maintaining sensible laws and regulations, can solve the problems we have.

That’s the kind of screwy, reactionary ‘thinking’ that leads to things like the rise of Nazism and Communist revolutions.

Frankly, you scare me.

And if you let that small number of people persist in their bad behavior they encourage others to follow their example.

For ages I have noted and said that, The attitude of the staff [citizens] is a reflection of the attitude of their management [leadership]. Look what we have now. Look where it has come from.

I have absolutely no problem with Corporal Punishment.

GOD created PAIN RECEPTORS in the human nervous system to correct stupid, harmful, destructive behavior in people.

10 lashes in the public square would put an end to a lot of problems in this country!

It’s true I have not personally been there but my GF from the Philippines has. It’s true I would appreciate the cleanliness and tidiness but I don’t want government to have so much power over personal liberties. I won’t live in an HOA either. I want to be able to work on my car in the driveway and leave things lying around for a few days. Apparently hasn’t affected home values too much — up by 250% in 9 years.

“That’s the kind of screwy, reactionary ‘thinking’ that leads to things like the rise of Nazism and Communist revolutions.”

OH, PLEASE, you’re such a drama queen! Use your head and common sense for a change, will you? (No probably not!)

“10 lashes in the public square would put an end to a lot of problems in this country!”

Yep, little or no recidivism, save a ton of money, and reduce crime a ton!

I was working there at the time. He defaced a Honda.

My memory was that it was a couple Mercedes Benz this punk spray-painted.

I looked it up - see below. It was A LOT more than just 1-2 cars! No wonder everyone I knew was pissed off - the kid and his friends went on a rampage. What an idiot Clinton was to get involved. What an embarrassment.

Caning of Michael Fay

Y'all are missing the point. Singapore is the ultimate Confucian city. I wish I had the time to go into all the details, but a "normal" Western republic, the kind America has tried to be when the leftists weren't ripping it to shreds, is based on Aristotle's Ethics and Politics for individual living and societal organization respectively. East Asian societies, when they have not been overcome by either fascism or communism, are based on Confucius' Analects and the Doctrine of the Mean. A Confucian society is a collection of interconnected hierarchies, where those who are superior take responsibility for those beneath them, those who are inferior accept the rules of those above them, and everyone in the group is loyal to the success of the group. There is no individual freedom, but the success of the society is predicated on the willingness of the members to follow their role and the duties the role requires. Singapore is the best example of this, but postwar Japan and South Korea come close, and Viet Nam is rediscovering its Confucian roots as the sway of communism becomes less and less--the one place where it isn't showing signs of returning is, ironically, China: it's turned from pure communist to authoritarian mercantilist, but that's a topic for another day.

I love all tbe ignoramus’ replies.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest per capita homogenous nations on earth.

It’s incredibly capitalist and yet despite the wealth similar to the Arabs-Singapore contributes virtually nothing to the advancement of mankind.

There is nothing in our lives that hails from Singapore but we want to be Singapore.

Why would that be the case?

Coming in second behind Japan in vo0luntary mask compliance and steeped in tradition. Singapore is an authoritarian nation where imagination, creativity and subsequent innovation otherwise known as applied intelligence take a back seat to repressive government.

The wealthy do all the drugs that they can afford while the poor live in shanty shacks on the water.

I’ve been to Singapore!!!!

By that I mean the Singapore that they want me to see.

We landed in Singapore about 11:30 PM From SF with a two hour stop in Tokyo. The hotel wanted us to pay for the night we were booked the next night. We checked our bags and walked around. They gave us a room at 10 AM wth no extra day charge,

We were there 3 nights and days and never saw a cop except at the airport.

My wife’s friend from Manilla works there and writes for Tye Financial news of Asia. We saw everything, it’s not a big place and took a bus tour to Malaysia

I recommend people put this on their list.

I recommend people put this on their list.

Back in 2005 I visited the World's Fair in Japan, outside of Osaka. (as you can guess from my FReepname, I've been connected to Japan most of my life) The one thing I remember most about the Singapore pavilion was the room where you were to experience the climate, which made Panama (where I taught in '99) feel like the Yukon. I would love to experience the city but I'm not sure I could handle the perpetual sauna.

“There is no individual freedom”

Bingo. They’re always missing the point.

and for it all of Asia combined creates 1/5th of the medical innovation of the US.

No individual freedom=no creativity, no imagination and no subsequent applied intelligence.

But hey we want to be Singapore!

The reality is the grass is always greener crowd don’t deserve their insane prosperous lifestyle afforded to them in this country.

"6 To tackle ongoing and persistent issues, we adopt a multi-pronged approach. Legislation and enforcement are critical to help us tackle the "inconsiderate behaviour of a small number of people" who are not as socially responsible, and to shape social norms for the wider population." What do you think?

I think there's no way the cities that would benefit from these policies are going to vote for politicians that will pass and enforce them.

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