Ex-CAG chairman, late artist among recipients of National Day Awards
Water engineer Tan Gee Paw accorded highest accolade, the Order of Nila Utama
Seow Bei Yi
Senior Correspondent
Retired engineer Tan Gee Paw, who was key to cleaning up the highly polluted Singapore River and Kallang Basin in the 1970s and 1980s, has been accorded the Order of Nila Utama (With Distinction) – the highest accolade at this year’s National Day Awards.
The former chairman of PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, was among 6,005 people who received the National Day Awards on Sunday.
Tan, 78, was given the accolade for his work in environmental and water resource management over the decades.
“Mr Tan Gee Paw was instrumental in shaping, constructing and managing Singapore’s water infrastructure, pushing for continued development, and advocating the nation’s water
self-sufficiency and reliability,” said PUB in a statement.
His exceptional leadership and foresight not only enabled Singapore to overcome its water infrastructure challenges, but also allowed for the nation’s continued growth and development, it added.
Mr Tan was the PUB chairman from 2001 to 2017 and a key architect behind Singapore’s strategy of diversification and integration of its water sources, including the development of NEWater and desalination.
He also held other key posts, such as chairman of the Singapore Quality Award Governing Council and senior adviser with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, now known as the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
Among the other recipients of the National Day Awards was the late Cultural Medallion recipient and artist Chua Ek Kay, who was given the Meritorious Service Medal (Posthumous). Mr Chua, who died in 2008, was recognised for his contributions to Singapore’s artistic and cultural development. Another prominent recipient was Mr Liew Mun Leong, former chairman of Changi Airport Group (CAG), who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
He helmed CAG from its formation in June 2009 to March 2020 and was also part of its predecessor, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, before that. Mr Liew was recognised for contributions made during his time at CAG, from growing non-aeronautical revenue streams to steering the organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic, said the Ministry of Transport.
A total of 21 people received the Distinguished Service Order, while 88 were given the Meritorious Service Medal and 375 the Public Service Star.
For the full list, see the Government Gazette or go to the Prime Minister’s Office website.
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