Lim Kim San

Lim Kim San (born November 30, 1916) was credited for leading the successful public housing program in Singapore in early 1960s and easing the acute housing shortage problem at that time.

In 1960, due to rapidly increasing population, more than 400,000 people were living in over-crowded conditions in ramshackle “chophouse” buildings or in squatters which were often unsafe, un-sanitized and without any amenities. Lim Kim San was appointed the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and oversaw the massive construction of high-rise, low-cost apartments for the city.

Lim was known for his organizing and planning abilities. He forwent a detailed planning stage and instead chose a "rough and ready" approach to work fast using rough estimates of the housing requirement. In the first two year of this crash program, over 25,000 units were built, more than what was built in the previous decade. Standardized architectural designs were used. Lim made the important decision to use private contractors rather than employing construction workers directly. This reduced the burden of HDB which would then supervise these contractors to ensure standards. Overall cost was kept low by using a large pool of contractors and different sources of building materials.

He had the trust of the Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and worked closely with Goh Keng Swee the Minister for Finance. He was thus able to keep the housing program well-funded. Lim, who was an industrialist, also managed to cut through bureaucratic red tape and bypass rigid regulations that would otherwise hinder the housing program. He was described as a "mover and shaker".

In the first Five Year Housing Program, HDB achieved its goal of completing 51,000 units of low-cost housing by 1965. The largest project completed was Queenstown, a satellite town of more than 17,500 apartments housing close to 150,000 people. In this and other neighborhoods, the theme was to create a mostly self-sufficient neighbourhood or town to reduce the need to have to go out of the neighbourhood for routine needs. To suit this, amenities were provided including community centers, markets and shopping centers, health clinics, children’s playgrounds, sports facilities, and schools. This proposal (presently extended with the concept of a regional centre led by Lim Kim San, is generally accredited to have significantly contributed to the lower rate of congestion and burden on the central business district than before.

In May 1961, the Bukit Ho Swee Fire broke out and some 16,000 people became homeless. Lim directed their relocation and the reconstruction. In just over four years, over 8,000 low-cost flats were built on that site and those who lost their home were able to return.

In June 1962, Lim was awarded the State's highest honor, the Darjah Utama Temasek (Order of Temasek). In September 1963, he stood for election to the Singapore Legislative Assembly from the Cairnhill constituency, winning by a large majority 7,749 out of 11,659 votes cast. In October, he was appointed as Minister for National Development.

After Singapore's independence in 1965, Lim served as Minister of Finance for 2 years. Between 1971 and 1978, he was the chairman of the Public Utilities Board and saw to the development of new reservoirs. He then chaired the Port of Singapore Authority from 1979 to 1994.