The BPHC design competition was launched on 11 June 2012 to commemorate the construction of the first hawker centre after 27 years. The NEA and the SIA co-organised the design competition for Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre and invited local architects to submit fresh ideas that could serve both the social and functional needs of the community. Special considerations were to be given to designs which proved attractive, practical and environmentally sustainable.

A good friend Mr Jamal bin Dhari passed away early this morning.

He was a very good man, who used to drive me to many functions when I was at MND 10 years ago. When I apologised for making him work such long hours, his reply conveyed much political wisdom.

He told me that we should always try our best to accept all invitations because people wanted to know their leaders personally.

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Speech delivered at the 10th anniversary of the National Environment Agency on 15 September 2012.

• We celebrate 10 years of NEA's partnership with all the stakeholders in our community to safeguard, nurture and cherish Singapore's environment. In fact, this common cause dates back much longer – and we also remember the pioneers who formed the Ministry of the Environment almost 40 years ago on 16 Sep 1972.
• During a recent trip to Tokyo, I asked to meet street cleaners. The diplomat who accompanied me told me this was not possible. She said there were no street cleaners. But when I looked out of the car, the street was spotless. She then recounted how she was scolded when she first arrived in Tokyo and tried to eat a sandwich as she strolled along the street. People stared at her, and told her pointedly not to mess up the street.
• This episode made me pause to think about our own city. We are a very densely populated city. We have made tremendous efforts over the past decades to make Singapore Clean and Green. We have had many campaigns, instituted heavy fines, stepped up enforcement and employed an army of cleaners.
• We have done reasonably well so far, but I want to offer one question for public discussion:

Singapore – A Clean or Cleaned city?

Carrie-Anne Ng Tian Ling, Nicholas Lim Jun Yong and Luigi Marshall Cham of Anderson Junior College made Singapoer proud by winning the Stockholm Junior Water Prize with their research project on using clay to remove pollutants from wastewater. They received their prize from Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the World Water Week in Stockholm on the 29th August 2012.

We are all very proud of you !

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The NUS Students’ Union invited me to the Union Forum on 17 August 2012 to share my reflections on life as an undergraduate.

This following is an edited transcript of an off-the-cuff speech. Razor TV video available

Mr Ang Yu Qian, President of the National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU)

Mr Soh Yi Da, President of the National University of Singapore Students’ Political Association (NUSPA)

Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,