WELCOME ADDRESS BY MR HO CHEE KIT, PRESIDENT OF THE RESTROOM ASSOCIATION (SINGAPORE) (RAS) AT THE LOO (LET’S OBSERVE OURSELVES) AWARDS CEREMONY ON WORLD TOILET DAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2018, 10.00AM, AT LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
A very good morning to:
Our Guest of Honour Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources
LOO (Let’s Observe Ourselves) Awards recipients, partners, supporters and distinguished guests
Today on World Toilet Day, let me begin by congratulating all award recipients, for your strong commitment to upholding the quality toilet standards in Singapore. I warmly welcome everyone to the 10th LOO Awards, as the Restroom Association (Singapore) or RAS commemorates its 20th anniversary this year. Mr Jack Sim founded the RAS in 1998 and handed over the reins to Ms Tan Puay Hoon in 2007. With former RAS President Ms Tan stepping down, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my deepest appreciation to her, for selflessly helming the RAS. I strongly believe her exemplary contributions will remain an inspiration to everyone. I’m honoured to be part of the leadership renewal to mark the 20th anniversary of RAS. I hope everyone will continue to show your strong support as we continue to forge stronger ties and partnerships in many years to come.
In April, RAS marked its 20th anniversary, with the accreditation of the first six-star restrooms at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Four months later in August, RAS continued its commemoration with the launch of its Happy Toilets @ Preschools Booklet and Handbook for children and teachers. And today, with the launch of the Public Toilet Cleanliness Campaign, we will be working closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA), owners and operators, on public outreach roadshows, to encourage everyone to observe the four key behaviours namely, keeping the toilet seat clean, flushing the toilet thoroughly, keeping the floor dry and binning all litter.
Later after the Campaign launch, the 4th edition of the Guide to Better Public Toilet Design and Maintenance will also be launched. As RAS’ Secretary in 2013, I joined Guest of Honour Ms Grace Fu, who was then the Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, on stage as she launched the 3rd edition of the Guide. Today, it is with great honour, I will be later joining Guest of Honour Dr Amy Khor as she launches the 4th edition Guide. Also, similar to 2013, a seminar will be held in the afternoon today to share about the Guide.
The Guide would not have been published without the support from our partners from the public, private and people sectors. Government agencies namely the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), NEA and PUB, together with the Environmental Management Association of Singapore and World Toilet Organization, actively contributed to the Guide. Private companies namely 3M Singapore, Adsec Systems, Aqua Tech, Convergent Smart Technologies, Infinergy Systems Solutions and VISO also contributed to a new section about the adoption of smart technology in toilets. I hope with this latest Guide, owners, operators and cleaning service providers will benefit from the guide and adopt smart technology in their toilets.
As I conclude, I wish to once again thank Guest of Honour Dr Amy Khor, our LOO Awards judging panel from NEA and Public Hygiene Council, award recipients, venue partner Lifelong Learning Institute, supporters and distinguished guests. Owing to your support, the award ceremony and seminar can be successfully organised this year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of RAS. I look forward to your continued support. Let’s work together towards a smart nation with smart toilets.
Thank you.