Lim Kim San

Lim died at approximately 5:30pm Singapore Standard Time (UTC+08:00) on 20 July 2006 at his home after prolonged illness. He was cremated at Mandai Crematorium. As a mark of respect for Lim's contributions to the country, State flags at all Government buildings were flown at half-mast on the day of his funeral.

Lim was known for his organising and planning abilities. He forgo 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 years of this crash program, over 2000 units were built, more than what was built in the previous decade.

Lim was also Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers between 1992 and 2003.

In 1988, Lim was appointed Executive Chairman of the Board of Singapore Press Holdings, but only accepted on the condition that he was given executive powers. He restructured the company and upgraded the printing presses with full color capabilities and a new press centre.

After retiring from politics in 1980, Lim remained active in public life for the rest of his life. Lim served as Chairman of the Port of Singapore Authority between 1979 and 1994. Under his stewardship, Singapore had become the busiest port in the world.

Thereafter, he returned to the Cabinet and served as Minister for Environment between 1972 and 1975 and again between 1979 and 1981, Minister for Communications between 1975 and 1978, and Minister for National Development between 1978 and 1979.

After Singapore's independence in 1965, Lim served as Minister for Finance between 1965 and 1967 and Minister for Interior and Defence between 1967 and 1970 before he was appointed Chairman of the Public Utilities Board to oversee the development of new water reservoirs, where he served between 1971 and 1978.

In the first Five Year Housing Program, HDB achieved its goal of completing 5,000 units of housing by 1965. The largest project at that time was Queenstown, a satellite town of more than 17,500 flats capable of housing close to 22,000 people. The new neighborhood was built as a self-contained entity, with all amenities and shops built along with the houses, so people would not need to travel to other areas for basic necessities, thereby lowering traffic congestion. This philosophy—which was ultimately extended with the concept of regional centre, is generally accredited by many to have significantly contributed to the lower rate of congestion and burden on the central business district than before.

In August 1965, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his community leadership.

Lim contested in Cairnhill as a PAP candidate during the 1963 general election and won 7,749 out of the 11,659 votes. He was subsequently appointed Minister for National Development.

In June 1962, Lim was awarded the Order of Temasek (First Class), Singapore's highest civilian honour.

In May 1961, the Bukit Ho Swee Fire broke out and some 16,000 people became homeless. Under Lim's guidance, the relocation and reconstruction of the lost housing was completed in just over four years, and 1200 housing flats were made available to those who lost their homes in the fire.

In 1960, Lim was appointed Chairman of the Housing Development Board. Due to a rapidly increasing population, more than 400,000 people were either living in over-crowded conditions in ramshackle “shophouse” buildings or in squatter settlements with substandard living conditions. At this time, Lim was appointed to the Housing Development Board (HDB).

In 1959, Lim was a member of the Public Service Commission and later became the deputy Chairman.

Lim married Pang Gek Kim ​in 1939 and they had five children. Pang died in 1994.

Lim Kim San DUT (Chinese: 林金山; pinyin: Lín Jīnshān; 30 November 1916 – 20 July 2006) was a Singaporean politician who served as a Cabinet minister between 1965 and 1981. He was credited for leading a successful public housing programme in the country during the early 1960s, which eased the acute housing shortage problem at that time.

Born in 1916 in Singapore, Lim was the eldest of six children. He was educated at Oldham Hall School and Anglo-Chinese School before graduating from Raffles College in 1939 with a Diploma in Arts in economics.