Speech by Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing, at Keep Singapore Clean 2026 Launch on 19 April 2026

A very good morning all of you, ladies and gentlemen.

Let me first remind everybody of the carefully chosen title. This was told to me by one of the council members, and it has always stuck in my mind. It says, “Keep Singapore Clean”. It is not “Keep Singapore Cleaned”. And it is a subtle but very important distinction, because keeping Singapore clean is what we do – it is a state of mind. Keeping Singapore cleaned seems like someone else’s responsibility and an afterthought. Today, we are not talking about remedial action. We are talking about proactive action.

Let me congratulate the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) and thank you for your 15 years of hard work. I also want to thank everyone here, for us to acknowledge your efforts. Having said that, we are not going to stop here, because I hope the message will not stop here. I hope each and every one of us is an ambassador, and we will go forth within our circle of influence to also spread this message.

Singapore’s Journey Towards Cleanliness

Singapore’s journey towards becoming one of the cleanest cities in the world did not happen by chance. It was the result of deliberate and strategic efforts championed by many of our founding leaders, including Mr Lee Kuan Yew. From the early days of nation building, our founding leaders understood that cleanliness was not just about aesthetics. It was also about creating an environment that reflected discipline, order and pride in our shared spaces. We believe that a clean Singapore would not only improve the quality of life for our people, but also signal to the world that we are a nation that takes pride in our surroundings and our work.

Today, we continue to uphold these principles, recognising that cleanliness is more than just a physical state. In fact, it is also a reflection of our state of mind, the kind of people and society we are and the aspirations we hold for the future.

What a Clean Singapore Represents

A clean Singapore speaks volumes about our values and character. It tells the world that we are stewards of our environment, meticulous in our actions and responsible for our own future.

We are stewards. As stewards, we understand that the spaces we inhabit are not ours alone. We are caretakers of what we have inherited, and it is our duty to ensure that we pass on a better Singapore to the next generation, which is why we must never define success by how well we do for ourselves in this generation alone. Instead, we define success by how we enable the next generation to do even better than us. Keeping Singapore clean is a tangible way of demonstrating this stewardship. It shows that we value what we have and are committed to preserving it and enhancing it for those who come after us. This is about leaving behind something better than what we have found, and it is not just about maintaining our physical cleanliness. It is about cultivating a mindset of care and responsibility that permeates all aspects of our life.

Second, it shows people that we are meticulous and we get things done. Singapore’s reputation as a clean and well-organised city has shaped how the world perceives us. Investors and visitors alike see in our cleanliness a reflection of our meticulousness and ability to deliver on our promises. When we say we will keep our city clean, we do it, not just for today, but consistently over the years. This reliability and attention to detail are hallmarks of Singapore’s success, and they reinforce our standing as a trusted partner on the global stage. I remember once Mr Lee Kuan Yew asked us, “What will people think of us if we cannot even keep our house clean? Who will have the confidence to invest in us? Who will have the confidence to trust us to deliver on what we promise?”

Third, this is also about how we are responsible for ourselves and our future. Ultimately, keeping Singapore clean is about taking ownership. If we break it, we own it. If we dirty it, we own it. This is a principle of accountability that is fundamental to who we are as a people. It reminds us that every action that we take has consequences, and that we each have a role to play in shaping the future that we want to see. Whether it is disposing of waste responsibly, reducing our environmental or carbon footprint, or educating the next generation about the importance of cleanliness, every effort counts, every one of us matters, and every bit that we put in will contribute to the larger goal of inspiring the next generation that comes after us to do even better than us.

Our Commitment Moving Forward

As we gather today, this is not just a celebration of what we have achieved, nor is it just a commemoration of what we have done. Instead, every year, when we gather here, is to reaffirm our commitment to the next generation, our commitment to each other as fellow Singaporeans, of what we stand for, the kind of values that we have and the kind of values that we want to pass on to the next generation – that all of us are stewards, that all of us want to pass on a better Singapore to the next generation, that through our collective actions, we will inspire others to trust in us, we will inspire the next generation to carry on the important work of building a better Singapore for generations to come.

Conclusion

On that note, once again, I like to thank all of you for your presence today. More importantly, I want to thank all of you for all your hard work behind the scenes. All of you have made a contribution in different ways, but all of that is adding up to our overall efforts. Thank you very much and have a good weekend.