Kudos to The Man Who Valued the Importance of Clean Air in Singapore 

This has been a sombre week for all Singaporeans as it marks the passing of one of our greatest leaders in Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He had been a visionary leader whom I dearly respect, as without his guidance, Singapore will never be able to achieve the present level of development. With his team of dedicated ministers, Mr Lee solved many major problems ranging from housing to environmental issues. 

Mr Lee Kuan Yew was instrumental in the establishment of the early anti-pollution legislation act in Singapore. In 1970, Singapore was in the midst of rapid industrialisation and such was his belief in the importance of a clean and safe environment in Singapore, he placed the Anti-Pollution Unit (APU) in his Prime Minister Office and gave strong political backing in the anti-pollution initiative. 

From the book 'The Singapore Water Story: Sustainable Development in an Urban City State', it is mentioned that it was due to the swift implementation of effective anti-pollution law, Singapore was able to avert environmental degradation that most developing countries are experiencing from having lax environmental legislations in a bid to attract industrial investments. This can be largely accredited to Mr Lee's emphasis in creating a clean and healthy   environment which help to enact The Clean Air Act in 1971 shortly after the establishment of the APU. The Clean Air Act was an important piece of legislation that empowered Singapore authorities to take effective measures against polluting industries. It was Mr Lee's foresight that allowed Singapore to excel in the balancing of economic growth with its associated environmental consequences.

I hereby sincerely thank Mr Lee Kuan Yew for his momentous contributions in building Singapore from a third world country into such a liveable and green city that many Singaporean generations will cherish and enjoy. His lifelong dedication in serving the nation will definitely help to inspire more future leaders and every Singaporean will never forget this great man. Stay tuned as I will discuss more about Singapore's Clean Air Act in the next post.