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Synopsis :

At the opening of the 'Keep Singapore Clean Campaign' Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew notes that this gathering formally marks a bid for healthier and more wholesome social conditions in Singapore. The Ministry of Health has geared itself for the campaign and its follow-up by increasing the capacity of cleansing and health services to meet the needs of higher densities of population. There are today more housing estates and more domestic waste from greater consumption of preserved or packaged foods. Also, the number of hawkers has increased. The Prime Minister says that everyone at home, school or work must make the effort to see that waste, rubbish and litter go into proper bins for regular collection by cleansing workers. While people like to have a clean home, clean kitchen, clean food and healthy children, their responsibility often stops at the doorstep. This campaign marks the raising of social targets to inculcate new habits among the young in schools as well as adults. Singapore has become one home and one garden for everyone and the way any neighbour soils his home and breeds flies and mosquitoes becomes the personal business of others. With more pressure against anti-social behaviour of unthinking and incorrigible individuals, people should realise that roads should not be littered, drains are not dumping grounds for refuse and public parks are their own gardens and must be kept clean for everyone's enjoyment. Similarly, lifts, staircases and passageways must become extensions of the home and should be kept clean. New laws have been passed to assist in inculcating good habits. Mr Lee says that there is no hallmark of success that is more meaningful than achieving Singapore's position as the cleanest and greenest city in South Asia. It requires organisation to keep the community clean especially when the population density is over 8,500 per square mile. Every month, three to four hundred people think so well about life in Singapore that they pay a few hundred dollars each to gain illegal entry and pass off as Singapore residents. Over 90 percent are caught within a few days of arrival. A small number are here for a few weeks before being found out and repatriated. They are a cause of concern because they come in without proper preventive health measures that can sometimes result in the outbreak of cholera, dysentery, typhoid and other infectious diseases. There is a need to maintain high public health standards, be vigilant and nip epidemics in the bud. The message to keep Singapore clean has been allowed to percolate for several months and in future, discipline will be enforced on those who do not respond to social persuasion. Establishing better conditions of community living will result in a more pleasant life for all. This will help to keep the morale high, sickness rates low and create social conditions for higher economic growth in industries and tourism. It will also contribute to the public good. The Prime Minister then addresses the gathering in Malay and Hokkien.