A Recognition of Commitment to Coastal Protection
SINGAPORE: Mr. Chia Way Seng, a seasoned hydraulic engineer, has dedicated the past two decades to developing solutions for protecting Singapore’s coastline from rising sea levels. Recently, his significant contributions were recognized when he was conferred the title of Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau by Dutch royalty on April 27, joining a select group of 3,500 global recipients of this prestigious honor.
Reflecting on the day he was knighted, Mr. Chia described the event as a complete surprise. “My nominator had cleverly convinced me that I was attending a seminar where he would be the keynote speaker,” he shared, revealing that his supervisors and colleagues were already aware of the award.
It wasn’t until the Dutch ambassador to Singapore announced the recognition for an engineer that Mr. Chia understood the true nature of the gathering. “I never imagined I would receive a knighthood; I thought it would just be a letter of appreciation,” he admitted. “It was a tremendous honor to go on stage and have the medal pinned on me.”
The Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated long-term meritorious service to society. Mr. Chia was recognized for his efforts in promoting awareness of the polder technique. Professor Emeritus Kees d’Angremond, who nominated him, noted that Mr. Chia has played a crucial role in bridging cultural gaps between the Dutch and Singaporean water sectors. “He not only facilitated the acceptance of the polder concept in Singapore but also resolved potential misunderstandings among all parties involved.”
Polders are large areas of reclaimed land protected from the sea by dikes and channels. They are extensively used in the Netherlands, where approximately a third of the land lies below sea level, transforming flood-prone areas into usable land. This technique is one of the strategies Singapore is exploring to address the challenges posed by rising sea levels due to climate change.
Singapore has partnered with the Netherlands to design and construct a polder, leveraging the Dutch experience and adapting it to the tropical context of Singapore. Mr. Chia is currently an adviser to the coastal engineering team overseeing the construction of a polder in Pulau Tekong, which will feature a 10 km-long dyke and encompass 810 hectares of reclaimed land.
Announced in 2016, the Pulau Tekong project aims to provide Singapore with valuable experience in developing polders, serving as a means of coastal protection and resilience against rising sea levels. As of April, the project is over halfway completed, with an expected completion date in late 2024.
In an interview with CNA on July 5, Mr. Chia expressed his gratitude for the recognition and hopes it will inspire more young people to pursue careers in engineering. His long-standing career has involved personal sacrifices, including leaving his family when his son was just two months old to further his studies in the Netherlands in 1999. Despite these challenges, Mr. Chia has no regrets about his chosen profession.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding,” he stated. “As engineers, we plan and construct tangible projects that can be seen and experienced. Knowing that people benefit from what we create—be it a cycling track or a building—is truly fulfilling.”
