Forum: Effort and discipline needed to maintain Singapore’s high standards of public hygiene
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We thank Mr Henry Koh Chiew Phor for his encouraging letter “ Singapore’s cleanliness not just a result of policy, but a reflection of its people
The Public Hygiene Council (PHC) agrees that Singapore’s cleanliness is a result of decades of hard work and sustained effort in building a culture of civic responsibility. As Mr Koh rightly noted, this reflects our values as a society that prioritises order, respect and pride in our shared environment.
In our milestone SG60 year, PHC has introduced key initiatives to strengthen this culture of shared responsibility. Our recently launched SpongeBob SquarePants-themed CleanPod demonstrates how pop culture can make environmental stewardship fun and engaging. This – along with other PHC CleanPods launched in 2025 – adds to our growing base of community resources that make it easier to care for our shared spaces.
Recognising that civic habits must be nurtured from a young age, PHC has also enhanced our Buddy Clean Workshop for primary school pupils by including a new clean toilet component this year. The workshop educates children on the importance of keeping the school environment and public spaces clean.
Our inaugural Asean U.N.I.T.E celebration exemplified how Singapore’s public cleanliness culture transcends nationalities, bringing together diverse communities residing in Singapore, while promoting environmental stewardship through clean and sustainable practices.
Together with Mr Koh, we believe that continuous effort and discipline are required to maintain Singapore’s high standards of public hygiene and cleanliness. We encourage everyone to uphold the civic pride that keeps our city shining, for ourselves and for our future generations.
Andrew Khng
Chairman
Public Hygiene Council
