Singapore Sweep

November 23, 1959

Taking the first steps to a clean and green city, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew set an example by sweeping the street as part of a week-long campaign to clean up the city in the lead up to National Loyalty Week. Also known as Gerakkan Pembersehan Bandar Raya Singapura, the campaign was launched on Nov 23, 1959, where Mr Lee said in his speech that he wanted to use the campaign as a starting point to turn Singapore into one of the cleanest and healthiest cities in Asia. Campaigns like this continued regularly until October 1, 1968, with the launch of the first Keep Singapore Clean campaign.