Ng Hak Hai

Pioneering a Cleaner Singapore

“You wouldn’t want your guests to enter your home when it’s messy, so why would you not want to leave the same impression for our tourists?” This is the philosophy of Ng Hak Hai, a 64-year-old product manager and Chairman of Nee Soon Clean and Green Community.

Driven by his passion to keep his community safe and healthy, Hak Hai advocates for a cleaner Singapore by encouraging residents to be more conscious of their environment. He believes that littering is not only an eyesore but also creates breeding grounds for pests.

^{Hak Hai (on the platform) with the volunteers from Nee Soon Clean and Green Community in 2016.}

Hak Hai takes great pride in his estate, where the community actively participates in clean-up activities in both their local neighbourhood and beyond, including places such as Sungai Buloh and East Coast Park etc. He recalls how volunteers from all walks of life, such as healthcare workers and students, came together to contribute to the cause. “It is important to instil a civic-minded mentality from a young age so that they can make cleanliness part of their daily lives, helping to maintain a clean Singapore,” he shares.

Before the introduction of SG Clean Day, where cleaners cease sweeping in selected open areas in participating premises, the Nee Soon community had initiated a No Cleaner Day on every 1 May. This not only gave cleaners a well-deserved break but also instils ownership in residents to keep common spaces clean.

As we celebrate SG60, Hak Hai hopes more Singaporeans will take pride in our environment and take active steps to maintain a cleaner and more hygienic environment.