Kampung Culture,

@HEART
SINGAPORE
Kampung
Culture,
21st Century Style
INSIDE PAGES:
Remembering
Lee Kuan Yew
Building Bridges,
Cementing Ties
ISSUE 2 • 2015
1
2
Welcome Note
We take a look at how a revival of the
kampung spirit may be the key to change
in our society (Kampung Culture, 21st
Century-Style, p23). This kampung spirit is
also evident in our increasing involvement in
our neighbourhoods, even if it’s just bonding
over shared interests (With a Little Help
from my Friends, p19).
Young people are getting more involved, too.
We admire the many (Young Entrepreneurs
with a Social Conscience, p15), who
passionately strive to make the world a
better place while running a business.
Whether at home or abroad, Singaporeans
endeavour to foster a communal Singapore
spirit far away from home (Spreading the
Love for Singapore Abroad, p3).
Legacy
Everywhere in Singapore, we see a
thriving and modern metropolis — one
that its citizens are proud of. If we
stepped back in time 50 years ago,
would we have been able to envision
how Singapore would turn out? Would
we have the imagination and foresight
to shape Singapore’s future? Most
importantly, would we have been
able to make that vision a reality? It’s
certainly some food for thought.
This year we celebrate Singapore’s
50th anniversary. And yet, amidst
the yearlong celebration of jubilee,
we mourn the passing of Singapore’s
founding prime minister Mr Lee Kuan
Yew, the man who was a driving force
behind much of the nation’s progress,
at 91 years old. As the country
matures, we look back (50 Cheers for
50 Years, p29) and are grateful for the
May 2015
drive and the determination of Mr
Lee and the pioneer generation that
led the country in its formative years.
Mr Lee was not only admired here,
he was also held as an example of
what a good leader should aspire to
be (Remembering Lee Kuan Yew,
p7). These leaders remember Mr Lee
fondly because he spearheaded many
of Singapore’s friendships within
the community of nations (Building
Bridges, Cementing Ties, p11).
And yet, Mr Lee’s contributions
would not have amounted to much
if he did not have the raw material
to begin with. Singaporeans’ true
grit and our willingness to buckle
down and work, as a people and as
a community are exemplified in the
stories we have for this issue.
We also take a look at places that connect
us with one other (Bridges to Prosperity,
p35) as well as the gathering places that
define our neighbourhoods (To Market,
To Market, p39). These geographical
spaces have done their part in shaping
Singaporeans’ sense of community.
We stand on the shoulders of giants. Our
forebears have built the first 50 years through
sheer determination and great faith. Now it’s
our turn to step up and continue to build on
this living legacy.
CONTENTS
03. ON THE WORLD MAP
Spreading the Love from Singapore
05. URBAN EXPLORER
Under the Radar
07. TRIBUTE
Remembering Lee Kuan Yew
11. GLOBAL CITY LIFE
Building Bridges, Cementing Ties
15. YOUTHSPEAK
Young Entrepreneurs with
a Social Conscience
19. URBAN LIVING
With a Little Help from My Friends
23. COVER PROFILE
Kampung Culture,
21st Century Style
29. FLASHBACK /
FAST FORWARD
50 Cheers for 50 Years
35. HIDDEN GEMS
Bridges to Prosperity
– The Singapore Global Network
PHOTO CREDITS: acf.chefs; albyantoniazzi; arif nurhakim;
Bernard Oh; Bettr Barista; chooyutshing; filmmovement.
com; Green Issues by Agy; Housing and Development
Board (HDB); JohnDeweySchool; lambdamugames.com;
luyeeteoh; Nanyang Technological University; Okinawa
Marines; oldhometown; Prabal Gurung Fall 2014; Salvatore
Tessitore; Singapore General Hospital; Singapore Press
Holdings Ltd; Singapore Tourism Board; Singapore Police
Force (SPF); Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games;
SockFoon; TPCGE2011; wallacefsk; wikimedia commons
(ASEAN and UN flag on pg 8); williamcho; Singapore
Women’s Everest Team; ystan
39. FOODIE PARADISE
To Market, To Market
Singapore@Heart
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On The World Map
Spreading the Love
from Singapore
SINGAPORE COMMUNITY
DAY 2015
Location: Silicon Valley,
United States of America
On 28 February 2015, attendees of
Singapore Community Day received
a Singapore-inspired door gift,
which included Khong Guan biscuits
and tissue packets printed with
the word “chope”, a local slang term
commonly used to describe the act
of reserving tables. The organisers,
SingaporeConnect and a group of
student volunteers, brought a wide
array of local food and traditional
games for guests to sample and have
fun. At the SG50 Wishing Wall,
guests wrote personal birthday wishes
for Singapore. Rounding out the
afternoon were performances of
popular National Day and folk songs.
Here are some examples of
Singaporean groups who make
a difference overseas, be it in
charity work, or by bringing
some Singaporean culture to
those living far from home.
SINGAPORE: INSIDE OUT
Locations: Various
As part of Singapore’s Golden Jubilee
celebrations, the Singapore Tourism
Board has organised a travelling
showcase of homegrown contemporary
art that starts from April 2015 in Beijing,
moves to London, then New York City
and ends in Singapore. Creative pieces
from the fields of architecture, design,
fashion, film, food and beverage, music,
literary, performing and visual arts will
be on display. It is set to be an immersive
and multisensory experience that will
highlight Singapore’s creative community
on the world stage.
SINGAPORE DAY 2015
Location: Shanghai, China
An impressive 5,000 Singaporeans
converged in Century Park in Shanghai
on 11 April for Singapore Day 2015.
Participants enjoyed authentic
Singaporean hawker food, such as laksa
and bak kut teh, and performances by local
celebrities like Dick Lee and Ng Ling Kai.
There was also a special marquee set up
for them to write notes in memory of the
late Lee Kuan Yew.
May 2015
TREK FOR HOPE 2015
Location: Sagada and Manila,
Philippines
This annual hiking and charity trip has been
organised by the Singapore Adventurous
Nature Lovers meet up group since 2013. For
a recent trip from 18 to 23 March 2015, each
team member contributed S$130 to purchase
basic necessities and food to be distributed
to the impoverished residents at New Smokey
Mountain in the Philippines. Trek For Hope
also works with a Singaporean couple, Ivan and
Maureen Ho, who run Oikos Helping Hand,
a non-profit organisation that helps poor
communities in the Philippines.
CHAP GOH MEH TET GALA
DINNER 2015
Location: Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
This formal dinner on 7 March 2015
brought together Singaporeans and
Malaysians living in Vietnam to celebrate
Chinese New Year. It was organised by
the Malaysian Business Chamber and
Singapore Business Group. The sevencourse dinner included dishes commonly
eaten in Singapore and Malaysia to usher
in prosperity and wealth, such as yusheng, a
raw fish salad. Guests were also treated to
lion and dragon dance performances.
SINGAPORE SPEAKER
SERIES
Locations: Various
This series aims to foster a greater
interaction between distinguished
Singapore-based leaders and overseas
Singaporeans, especially the larger
communities in London, New York,
Beijing and Melbourne. The speeches,
given by prominent leaders in the
private and public sectors, serve to
keep overseas Singaporeans in touch
with industry trends and developments
in Singapore. This series will inform
them about business and employment
opportunities back home. The most
recent event took place in London
on 7 November 2014, with Professor
Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-atLarge at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs speaking about socio-political
issues and Singapore’s global
competitive standing.
Singapore@Heart
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Urban Explorer
These bird singing
corners give hobbyists
a chance to show
off their song bird’s
melodic prowess while
they mingle with fellow
enthusiasts
Pending
• Block 440, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
• Block 154, Serangoon North Avenue 1
• Kebun Bahru Birdsinging Club near
block 159, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5
• Block 112, Bukit Purmei
• Ting Heang Kopitiam, Tiong Bahru
The old Changi
Hospital is one of
the sites investigated
by the SGHC for
paranormal activity
Singapore Heritage Society
This non-profit, non-government
organisation is dedicated to the
preservation and promotion of
Singapore’s history and identity.
It organises talks and exhibitions
to create awareness for the
conservation of Singapore’s
heritage sites, such as Bukit Brown
Cemetery and Chinatown.
www.singaporeheritage.org
their blog on where to go and
what to look out for on your own
spooky expeditions.
www.sghccrew.blogspot.sg
Refashion – Upcycling Our Clothes
Under the Radar
These small groups are doing all they can to preserve
what they are passionate about. Why not experience
some of these activities in your free time?
Bird-singing Clubs
Proud songbird owners gather as
early as 6am every day to have a chat
with fellow enthusiasts while they
listen to their delicate pets sing in
their birdcages. The birds are prized
possessions, some kept in ornate
wooden cages with jade or ceramic
May 2015
drinking bowls. As keeping songbirds
is a pastime favoured mainly by
elderly men, its dwindling popularity
among younger locals may spell the
end for this hobby in a few decades.
To enjoy the euphonious chirps of
these prized songbirds, visit any of
these spots:
Chinatown’s preserved shophouses provide a
colourful backdrop as tourists shop for bargains
Refashion is a social group that
shares tips and runs workshops on
upcycling old clothes. This includes
how to repair them, make them last
longer, and how to combine different
garments to create a fresh new outfit!
The environmentally conscious minds
behind this group are Agatha Lee, an
eco-designer cum blogger at Green
Issues by Agy, and Raye Padit, a
sustainable fashion designer.
www.meetup.com/RefashionUpcycling/
Singapore Ghost Hunting Club
Singaporeans have long been
intrigued by the paranormal, so much
so that some have formed small
groups to investigate of famously
haunted locations on their own. One
such group is the Singapore Ghost
Hunting Club (SGHC), whom you
can join on their regular ghost hunts,
complete with recording equipment.
Alternatively, you can get ideas from
A workshop run by Refashion on
how to upcycle clothes at home
Singapore@Heart
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Tribute
Remembering
Lee Kuan Yew
16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015
“Many aspects of our lives bear
Mr Lee’s imprint — be it our HDB
estates, our gardens, or the SAF.
Without his remarkable foresight
and relentless pursuit of Singapore’s
development, the Singapore that
we know today would not exist.
Singapore was his passion and he
continued serving Singapore till the
last days of his life.”
— DR TONY TAN KENG YAM,
President, Singapore
Photo courtesy of Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
“Mr Lee imbued Singapore
with his personal traits. He
built Singapore to be clean and
corruption-free. His home was
spartan. His habits were frugal….
He imparted these values to
the government.”
“To Singaporeans, he was our first
Prime Minister, our leader who
fought for our Independence, the
man who turned Singapore from
Third World to First, our national
father. For me, he would always
be my teacher.”
— LEE HSIEN LOONG, Prime Minister
— GOH CHOK TONG, Emeritus Senior Minister
May 2015
“Lee Kuan Yew made Singapore to
last. He led a team, not a one-man
show. He groomed new leaders.
He built clean government, and
a culture of telling it straight
— telling people the problems,
and finding a way to fix them.
Most fundamentally, he built
a multiracial nation that has
endured — still being deepened,
and a rarity internationally.”
“I vividly recall the first time I
came close to him around 1967. I
was assigned to take notes for him.
I approached him in awe, but he
surprised me, beyond expectations.
He approached me, with almost
brotherly attention, and correcting
my necktie, said ‘Nathan, you must
remember you are no longer in the
Labour Movement’. It is a moment,
I cherish.”
— S R NATHAN, former President, Singapore
“He was a great statesman,
parliamentarian and a master of
public policy. No one else had
shaped modern Singapore more
than Lee Kuan Yew, since he
became Prime Minister in 1959. He
was a man for all seasons.”
— CHIAM SEE TONG, Secretary-General,
Singapore People’s Party, former Member of
Parliament
— THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM,
Minister of Finance
Singapore@Heart
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Tribute
“To survive we must have a global
vision, attract foreign investments
and become part of the international
market.… With outstanding wisdom
and courage, [Mr Lee Kuan Yew]
traversed among the big countries
and promoted Singapore’s values to
them and the potential benefits that
Singapore can provide.
He had won the respect of the
leaders of these major powers.
Without his efforts, our economy
could not have been successful and
Singapore could not have achieved
its status and its living space today.”
“Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a true
fighter for our workers.… Because
of his care and concern for the
people, countless workers have
benefitted from fair treatment,
higher wages and better conditions
at the workplace. It is because of
him that we, as a people, can lay
claim to better jobs, better lives and
brighter futures ahead.”
— TONY BLAIR, former Prime Minister, UK
“Personally, he was a source
of inspiration for me. His
achievements and thoughts give
me confidence in the possibility of
India’s own transformation.”
— NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister, India
— NAJIB RAZAK, Prime Minister, Malaysia
— DIANA CHIA, President, National Trades Union
Congress (NTUC), and Lim Swee Say, SecretaryGeneral, NTUC
“Lee Kuan Yew was a great man.
And he was a close personal friend,
a fact that I consider one of the
great blessings of my life. A world
needing to distill order from
incipient chaos will miss
his leadership.”
“Lee Kuan Yew was a legendary
figure in Asia, widely respected
for his strong leadership and
statesmanship. During his three
decades in office, he helped
Singapore to transition from a
developing country to one of the
most developed in the world,
transforming it into a thriving
international business hub.
As Singapore marks its 50th
anniversary of independence this
year, its founding father will be
remembered as one of the most
inspiring Asian leaders.”
— HENRY A. KISSINGER, former Secretary of
State, USA
— BAN KI-MOON,
Secretary-General, United Nations
— LOW THIA KHIANG, Secretary-General,
Worker’s Party, Member of Parliament
“He was — in a world where
politicians aren’t always of the first
rank and where politics doesn’t
always produce great leaders — he
was a great leader, and beyond
doubt one of the most significant
and impressive leaders of the late
20th century.”
“Mr Lee also was a man who helped
shape Southeast Asia as a region
of peace and prosperity. He will
go down as a great man of history,
whose vision and leadership helped
make this world a better place.”
“I consider Mr Lee Kuan Yew a
personal close friend, and I know
he is a true friend of Indonesia.
I have always benefitted from my
conversations with him. He is wise,
and his knowledge of international
affairs was boundless.”
— SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO,
former President, Indonesia
Sources: The Straits Times; Prime Minister’s Office (PMO); Channel NewsAsia; Today Online; The Washington Post; Press
Information Bureau, Government of India; United Nations
May 2015
Singapore@Heart
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Global City Life
Building Bridges,
Cementing Ties
Singapore’s good standing in the international community is a
result of forging close connections with fellow nations and making
significant contributions to the world.
– Victoria Cheong
sovereignty, and establishing good
relations with other countries. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was set up in
1965, with S. Rajaratnam as Singapore’s
first Foreign Minister.
Under S. Rajaratnam’s guidance, Singapore
swiftly made its presence known, starting
with membership in the United Nations
(UN). Singapore then joined several other
intergovernmental organisations — the
Commonwealth, the International Maritime
Organisation, International Monetary Fund
and World Bank. Singapore’s participation
in such organisations has been invaluable
for deepening foreign relations
and enhancing intergovernmental
cooperation for a fledging nation.
The cornerstones of Singapore’s foreign
policy were quickly set. Singapore would
make friends with all who wanted to be
friends; stand by those who support it in
times of need; strive to maintain peace
and security in and around Southeast
Asia and the Asia Pacific; and work
to maintain a free and open market
economy, being ready to trade with any
state for mutual benefit.
Creating Avenues for Exchange
Although strategically located in the
heart of Southeast Asia, as a little island
surrounded by many larger countries,
Singapore could very well have remained
a small fry in a big pond. Instead, our
country has won much respect not just in
the region, but in the wider international
community as well. Currently, Singapore
maintains diplomatic relations with more
than 180 countries.
May 2015
How was that achieved? Through years of
diplomacy, and pragmatic and forwardthinking foreign policy implemented right
from the start when Singapore attained
independence in 1965.
Being a small nation state deprived of
natural resources, Singapore’s survival
hinged on gaining world recognition
for its newly found independence and
A firm advocate of regional and
international cooperation, Singapore
looked into creating more cooperative
links between regions. Singapore is a
founding member of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
and has been an active member of the
Commonwealth. As part of the UN,
Singapore established the Forum of
Small States to rally fellow countries of
small populations in solidarity. In 1998,
then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
initiated the Forum for East Asia–Latin
America Cooperation to form official ties
between the two regions.
Apart from its involvement in
international organisations, Singapore
relies on cultural diplomacy to foster
goodwill with other countries, playing
host to visiting officials and leaders, and
paying high-level state visits in return.
At the same time, Singapore promotes
mutual understanding through
knowledge exchange. For instance,
Singapore’s ministries and government
agencies create opportunities for
information sharing and collaboration
with their foreign counterparts
through various Memorandums of
Understanding (MOUs). Singapore
also hosts the Asia-Europe Foundation
(ASEF), which fosters greater
understanding between Asia and
Europe through intellectual, cultural
and personal interactions. To date,
ASEF has implemented over 650
projects, bringing together more than
17,000 people from both regions.
Protecting One Another
Peace and security form the bedrock of
a country’s survival. Even as it develops
and prospers, Singapore maintains a
strong defence force and strengthens
its bilateral and multilateral defence
relations, not taking for granted our
current stability and regional peace.
To enforce regional security, Singapore
established the Five-Power Defence
Agreements with Malaysia, Australia,
New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Singapore also enhances maritime
security in the Strait of Malacca through
initiatives such as the Malacca Strait
Patrols. On top of that, Singapore
maintains strong and friendly ties with
defence establishments and armed forces
around the world through joint military
exercises and peacekeeping missions.
Singapore@Heart
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Global City Life
Since 2000,
the SAF has
participated
in the US-led
multilateral
exercise Cobra
Gold, which
is designed
to promote
interoperability
and multinational
cooperation
Singapore also actively contributes
to international security. It joined the
International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL), the world’s largest anti-crime
body, to enhance cooperation between
law enforcement agencies and provide
assistance in preventing and fighting
transnational crime. The INTERPOL Global
Complex for Innovation (IGCI), officially
opened in Singapore on April 2015,
houses a state-of-the-art research and
development facility for the identification
of crimes and criminals, innovative training,
operational support and partnerships in
crime-fighting.
Since 1989, Singapore has participated in
the UN’s peacekeeping and humanitarian
operations. When disaster strikes, the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is quick to
lend a helping hand. More than 1,500 SAF
personnel were deployed to Thailand and
Indonesia to provide relief assistance for
the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. When
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing
in 2014, the SAF joined international
search efforts to locate the plane.
Strengthening Trade
As an open economy, Singapore has
long known that close international
May 2015
some of the larger-scale projects that
enjoyed extensive support from both the
Singapore and Chinese governments.
developing countries under the SCP’s
Third Country Training Programme
(TCTP) framework.
Paying It Forward
The TCTP allows nations to pool
expertise, share resources and tap upon
one another’s networks to provide better
technical assistance for a larger pool
of developing countries. For instance,
Singapore signed a TCTP MOU with the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
in 1998 to provide technical assistance
to IMO member countries on issues of
maritime safety and marine pollution.
During its early years of independence,
Singapore benefitted much from the
support of friendly countries who lent
their expertise in various aspects of
nation building. It is therefore a natural
step for Singapore to share insights
gained over the years to help fellow
nations achieve their goals.
connections are essential for global
trade, and set out to build economic
links internationally.
As a founding member of the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation, Singapore helps
to advance and promote economic
growth and cooperation in the region. It
also supports technical assistance and
cooperation as well as human resource
enhancement of developing economies
to strengthen the infrastructure for a
vibrant regional economy.
Upon becoming a member of the
World Trade Organization in 1995,
Singapore made inroads in driving
trade liberalisation by encouraging
member countries to reduce trade
barriers. On its end, Singapore has
inked many multilateral trade
negotiations and bilateral free trade
agreements with regional and global
partners since 1999.
The International Tech Park in Bangalore
was one fruitful result of SingaporeIndia partnership. The China-Singapore
Suzhou Industrial Park, Singapore-Sino
Tianjin Eco-city, and Sino-Singapore
Guangzhou Knowledge City are just
The Singapore Cooperation Programme
(SCP) was thus established in 1992, for
Singapore to share its developmental
experience and expertise, with other
developing countries. In lieu of providing
direct financial assistance, Singapore
collaborates with other countries
and international organisations to
provide technical knowledge to and
sponsor training programmes for other
For the past 50 years, Singapore has
worked hard on multiple fronts to maintain
good relationships with fellow nations,
while promoting cooperation throughout
the region and beyond. Through such
conscious capacity-building efforts,
Singapore has established a reputation as
a respectable and responsible member of
the international community.
PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE
As a member of many intergovernmental organisations, Singapore does its
part to render aid to other nations, and serve the wider community through
these organisations.
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Singapore has pledged funds
to the Initiative for ASEAN
Integration (IAI), which
Singapore launched in 2000 to
enhance capacity-building efforts
in less developed countries in the region.
Through ASEAN, Singapore has also
worked with Indonesia on preventing and
countering the forest fires that contribute
to the trans-boundary haze problem
affecting the region.
United Nations (UN)
Apart from participating in UN
peacekeeping missions, Singapore
takes on additional responsibilities
to support the UN. For instance,
Singapore served on the UN Security
Council in 2001 and 2002. Singapore
also partnered with the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) in cohosting the 2007 and 2008 Global Business
Summit for the Environment, and working
with neighbouring countries to make their
buildings green and reduce carbon emissions.
Singapore@Heart
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Youthspeak
It’s a wide world out there for
social enterprises, and many young
entrepreneurs have set themselves up
for a tough road ahead — getting their
businesses off the ground and earning
a profit while also helping out those
in need. Challenges notwithstanding,
these brave future tycoons know
what they’re up against and relish the
challenge of making their business
profitable and socially responsible.
A boy receiving a new pair of shoes,
thanks to the efforts of Soüle Apparels
We spoke to young entrepreneurs, mostly
in their twenties, on their inspiration,
experiences, and challenges in starting
and running their respective ventures.
Inspired by Travel
For some, the motivation came from
eye-opening overseas trips, where they
encountered people trapped in the
vicious cycle of poverty.
Young
Entrepreneurs
With a Social
Conscience
May 2015
Who says you can’t
turn a profit and
help the community
at the same time?
Here are some young
trailblazers with
thriving businesses
that help communities
in need.
– Allie Tan
Twenty-four-year-old Justine Lee,
founder of Soüle Apparels, says his faith
compelled him “…to find a need and
meet it, find a hurt and heal it.” He found
this “need” during a humanitarian trip
to China, where he saw families who
couldn’t afford shoes. Thus, he started
Soüle Apparels at the tender age of 17
with some friends. The young company
believes in a “Sole for every soul”,
where sales from their store go towards
providing shoes for disaster victims and
the poor. Soüle Apparels also employs
delinquent youths being rehabilitated in
the Singapore Boys’ Hostel, and provide
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
consulting services.
For Zhihan Lee, 29, co-founder and CEO
of BagoSphere, the turning point was in
rural India, where he observed a social
enterprise that trained uneducated
youths to do basic business process
The Founders of BagoSphere: (from left)
Zhihan Lee, Ivan Lau and Ellwyn Tan
outsourcing (BPO) work. “At that
point, I had enough of being inspired. I
wanted to get my hands dirty,” he tells
us. BagoSphere started in Bago City,
Philippines, as his co-founders Ellwyn
Tan and Ivan Lau had led numerous
volunteer projects there. The company
runs a two-month training programme
with an affordable tuition-financing
scheme for rural youths, who then go on
to have better careers in the burgeoning
Philippine BPO industry.
Overcoming Obstacles
The leaders of these startup social
enterprises faced many initial
challenges, and continue to encounter a
barrage of obstacles that crop up every
day. For example, one of the challenges
Justine encountered when starting
Soüle Apparels was getting support for
their cause. “We had many suppliers
rejecting us, and many closed doors.
We had to be thick-skinned to keep
persevering,” he shares.
For student-led Gourmet Guru,
regular changes in leadership hamper
operations during transition periods.
Gourmet Guru is a cooking academy
that was originally set up by Diana
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Youthspeak
Through Gone
Adventurin’s
“Comfort One
Rinse” project,
cheap water
filtrations were
created to help
Vietnamese
flood victims
in 2014
Yusoff whose aunt was strapped
for cash but could not sacrifice her
responsibilities as a housewife for a
full-time job. From there, Diana devised
a way to enable low-income Malay
homemakers in Singapore to conduct
cooking classes to supplement their
income. It is now headed by Mohamed
Farouq, 21, who admits he is “still
adjusting to the rigours of [this project]
and is still learning the ropes”. He also
shares concerns in securing constant
assignments for the homemakers.
For Jacqui Hocking, 25, co-founder and
creative director of Gone Adventurin,
manpower was an issue — she had a
hard time recruiting those whose vision
aligned with hers, which connects
companies, communities and consumers
to tackle social and environmental issues
through videos, social media platforms
and campaigns. Gone Adventurin works
with clients in their CSR efforts, creating
unique projects that benefit needy
communities, while encouraging the
wider audience to do the same.
All Worth It in the End
When times get tough, it is passion
and positive feedback that keep these
May 2015
young entrepreneurs going. Zhihan
finds his hard work and sacrifice
worthwhile when he hears of the deep
impact BagoSphere has made in its
students’ lives. “To think that I had some
part to play in [their] transformation, I
feel really happy. And all my stress, lack
of sleep and problems melt away,” he
shares. For Soüle Apparels’ Justine, it is
not the profits, but rather the number
of lives he has touched that is priority.
“True success isn’t measured by what
you can get, but by what you can give,”
he shares.
others to first ensure financial stability
and consider how much they are willing
to sacrifice for the enterprise.
Despite their achievements, these
young entrepreneurs feel that they
still have a long way to go. Mohamed
dreams of a fully equipped cooking
academy for Gourmet Guru to hold
regular classes in, while Justine hopes
to expand Soüle Apparel’s CSR
consulting client base. They all have
ambitious targets in expanding their
companies to reach out to more people.
For these business owners with a
social vision, success doesn’t just mean
profits; what counts are the people they
have helped along the way.
FOR PROFITS AND PEOPLE
Here are other innovative social enterprises making waves in Singapore.
Saught by Pamela Yeo, Ng Sook Zhen and
Adeline Heng
Saught advocates freedom from war, fear and poverty.
They sell jewellery handcrafted by Cambodian artisans,
made from redeemed artillery shells. Designs are by
Temasek Polytechnic’s School of Design, while the metal
comes from Goldenwest Humanitarian Foundation and
Cambodia Mine Action Centre. saught.com.sg
Gone Adventurin helped YWAM Medical
Ships Australia purchase a new ship, to
provide medical care in Papua New Guinea
Sometimes the passion they find
working with like-minded individuals can
also rub off on them. “I was encouraged
by National Geographic’s mission to
‘inspire people to care about the planet,’
while working with them,” Jacqui says.
This drives her to work harder to further
Gone Adventurin’s efforts.
What’s Next?
Our interviewees were unanimous
in encouraging aspiring social
entrepreneurs to join their ranks. Justine
encourages people to take a leap of faith
and live with no regrets. “Think about
what you really want to do and just go for
it,” he advises. On the other hand, Zhihan
takes a more pragmatic approach, urging
Bettr Barista Coffee Academy by
Pamela Chng
This social enterprise runs a six-month programme
that trains marginalised women and youth-at-risk in
barista skills and life management. It offers international
certifications from both the Specialty Coffee Association
in America and Europe, giving them high chances of
employment in the coffee industry. www.bettrbarista.com
PlayMoolah by Audrey Tan and Lee Min Xuan
PlayMoolah teaches kids financial literacy and encourages
a healthy relationship with money from a young age
through programmes and games such as Coin Catcher,
Moolah Talks and Moolah It. They have also developed
WhyMoolah for young adults. www.playmoolah.com
Interested in learning more about these social enterprises? Find out more here:
Soüle Apparels by Justine Lee soule.com.sg • BagoSphere by Zhihan Lee, Ellwyn Tan and Ivan Lau
www.bagosphere.com • Gourmet Guru by Diana Yusoff www.gourmetguruacademy.com • Gone
Adventurin by Jacqui Hocking and Ashwin Subramaniam www.goneadventurin.com
Singapore@Heart
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20
Urban Living
Efforts such as the Good
Neighbours Project (GNP)
were launched to encourage
neighbourliness among residents
and to recognise the positive
effects good neighbours have
on their communities. Member of
Parliament Dr Maliki Osman has
also reinvigorated the concept of a
kampung kepala (village head) in his
former constituency in Admiralty
to form a strong support system
for all members of the community.
A greater sense of trust and
interdependency among neighbours
is fostered through mutual
understanding of one another and
knowing that a community leader is
looking out for everyone.
Bonding with the Community
With a Little
Help from My
Friends
“Distant water will not quench a fire nearby,” so says a
Chinese proverb. When you need urgent help or a listening
ear, sometimes the best person to turn to is your neighbour.
We celebrate good neighbours, and explore why reigniting the
kampung (village) spirit is important.
– Allie Tan
May 2015
Housing & Development Board
(HDB), Singapore Kindness
Movement (SKM) and People’s
Association (PA) came together
to organise the GNP in 2014 which
aims to bond neighbours through
ground-up initiatives proposed by
the residents themselves.
Some of the most successful
projects are simple and appeal to
what most residents are interested
in. For example, the most popular
project in 2014, “Healthy Lifestyle @
My Kaki Corner”, brought together
250 residents of Tampines Arcadia
to raise awareness on healthrelated matters and share healthy
lifestyle tips and food. In another
project, “Garden Harvest for the
Community”, Xinmin Primary School
students and gardeners from Wu
Wo Yuan, a community gardening
initiative, distributed homegrown
vegetables at a senior citizens
Xinmin Primary School students
help out with the community
garden harvest
corner near the school and promoted
bonding among residents in the
neighbourhood through gardening.
Successful projects under the GNP are
planning to enhance their programmes
and get more residents involved. These
activities are a platform for residents
to mingle with more neighbours and to
share interests and skills.
Bringing Back the Community
Spirit
Having good neighbours you can
rely on and trust can be a huge
help, especially in times of difficulty.
However, a good support system
between neighbours also needs to be
consistently maintained and monitored.
After its launch more than five years
ago, Dr Maliki’s concept of a kepala in
each block of flats or residential clusters
has since created a self-sufficient and
autonomous social support system
reminiscent of that in the old kampung
days. Today, many districts and private
estates have adopted this model.
The kepala’s role is to watch out for the
residents under their charge, promote
Singapore@Heart
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22
Urban Living
Residents
of Tampines
Arcadia
gather
to share
healthy
lifestyle tips
SHOWING HOW IT’S DONE
Here are some words of wisdom
from a few Good Neighbour Award
recipients. These individuals show
how small acts of kindness and
generosity towards your neighbours
can have a big impact:
Community events also provide
opportunities for kepalas, like
Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen
who oversees the Bishan-Toa
Payoh GRC, to bond with the
residents under their charge
“Having a connected
community helps to buffer
us from crises and stresses,
whether they’re happening
at the individual or the
national level. What makes
a nation strong is how far
its citizens go to support
one another.”
social cohesion within the neighbourhood
and acquire community resources to
assist vulnerable residents. The position is
voluntary, but a kepala should ideally be
an active member in their neighbourhood,
such as a grassroots leader.
Under this model, the kepala is more
likely to understand the individual
needs of residents and is able to give
an appropriate amount of support
May 2015
to them. “They’re not just leaders.
Kepalas are great depositories of
information about the profiles of
his community members — what
people’s strengths and weaknesses
are, and what resources each member
can provide,” Dr Maliki explains
in an interview with SALT Online,
a publication under the National
Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre. For
example, some neighbourhoods have
created a community directory which
compiles demographic details, such as
which families have young infants, and
who the elderly residents or members
with disabilities are, so that they can
easily be identified for assistance in
times of emergency.
The success of this model can be
attributed to its focus on bringing
together and enabling smaller groups
of people under a common aim. As Dr
Maliki tells SALT Online, this sense of
community and shared responsibility
used to be the norm in the kampungs
of the past, but given our current
urban lifestyle, it is too easy to distance
ourselves from our neighbours.
Therefore, he felt the need to “make a
conscious decision to inject leadership
into the community”, and formalised
the role of a kepala.
Making our neighbourhoods
friendlier and safer will take the
effort of both community leaders
and individuals. The GNP facilitates
ground-up initiatives to encourage
bonding among neighbours, and
the kepala concept can help needy
and isolated residents. However, all
these efforts would not work without
individuals making the choice to be
friendly and supportive neighbours.
The merits of having a neighbourhood
built on friendship and mutual trust
cannot be understated. In the words
of Dr Maliki, “Having a connected
community helps to buffer us from
crises and stresses, whether they’re
happening at the individual or the
national level. What makes a nation
strong is how far its citizens go to
support one another.”
Information and photos for Good Neighbours Project
courtesy of the Housing & Development Board
“As neighbours, everyone
benefits from helping one
another. Everyone will reap
benefits if everyone is as
caring as the next person.”
— Mr Chiu Chee, who
ferries his wheelchairbound neighbour to and
from the bus stop for her
weekly physiotherapy
lessons
“It’s a blessing to be in a
position to give. If I can play
my part by extending some
help to those who need it,
and make life a bit easier for
them, why hold back?”
— Mrs Pang-Chua Soon
Hong, who collects
pre-loved items and
distributes them to
neighbours who might
need them
“A smile can change many
things. Just by smiling at
our neighbours and talking
to them, we can improve
relationships.”
— Miss Ashwini
Thennarasu, who
volunteers regularly at
community events, and is
always caring and friendly
towards her neighbours
Text and photos courtesy of the Housing &
Development Board
Singapore@Heart
23
24
Cover Profile
GUI Founder Tay Lai
Hock with two young
volunteers maintaining
the kampung compound
Kampung Culture,
21st Century Style
At Ground-Up Initiative’s (GUI’s) compound at Bottle Tree Park,
volunteers are invited to get closer to nature through farming, making
mud bricks and maintaining their kampung grounds.
– Allie Tan
F
ar from initial impressions, GUI
is not just a place for volunteers
to try their hand at farming, or a
conservation area tucked away
in Bottle Tree Park. This social
enterprise actually aims to grow
a better Singapore, by promoting
a 21st century kampung culture.
GUI’s work promotes rootedness
in one’s community. The GUI team
believes that while Singapore has
flourished economically, Singaporeans
have become more isolated and less
caring towards one other. “There is no
physical poverty here in Singapore,
but there is emotional, mental and
spiritual poverty,” reflects Tay Lai
Hock, GUI’s founder. “Many people
who come [to GUI] become happier
and better human beings.” In bringing
back aspects of kampung living,
including manual work, participants
become more appreciative of their
May 2015
natural environment and are imbued
with the philosophy and kampung
spirit adopted by GUI’s core members.
Why a Kampung?
After four years of globetrotting,
Lai Hock had come across
communities where people always
seemed happy and contented. He
tried to figure out why Singaporeans,
in his view, are generally unhappy. If
living standards and developmental
indicators are any measures for
quality of life, Singaporeans should
be happier as a whole. Lai Hock was
concerned that this unhappiness
would only worsen as the population
expanded, in view of the increasing
pressure on limited resources, which
threaten the future of Singapore’s
social climate.
So, are there any solutions to make
Singaporeans, as a whole, happier?
Singapore@Heart
25
26
Cover Profile
“A sustainable future needs a culture. This
is what makes a nation resilient. So what is
Singapore’s culture? Is it something we are
proud of?”
— TAY LAI HOCK, GUI Founder
GUI has become a popular choice
for community Involvement
Programmes (CIP) in schools.
Probably, as Lai Hock reasoned,
kampung living is helpful in achieving
that happiness.
out altogether. While modernisation
confers many advantages, it did
lessen the kampung spirit.
Firstly, bring back the kampung spirit.
GUI’s idea for a 21st century kampung
culture stemmed from the realisation
that for most Singaporeans, ancestral
roots were in a village community, be
it Malay, Chinese or Indian. Most older
Singaporeans are familiar with the
close-knit ties and community spirit
characteristic of village life.
Lai Hock himself grew up in a small
residential estate called Kampung
Arang and he remembers the days
when he was close to his neighbours
and front doors in the village were left
wide open. He hopes to regain this
kampung spirit even as the country
continues to progress. That is, to
recapture this sense of community
and sustainable living from the
past without abandoning modern
comforts and efficiencies such as our
technological connectivity.
Back in the day, Singapore was
made up of kampungs — a Malay
term for village, and an umbrella
term for neighbourhoods with a
communal mentality. The residents
knew each other, helped each
other out, worked, lived and played
together. As Singapore grew and
modernised, traditional kampungs
were either incorporated into bigger
districts or were phased
May 2015
While we welcome the resurgence
of kampung sprit, we must find its
relevance in 21st century urban
Singapore. As Lai Hock explains,
“Not all aspects of the old kampungs
were good. This will be a 21st century
kampung, which will embrace
technology, and be open-minded
and inclusive.”
and the steel-and-glass façade of
21st century Singapore?
The next question is, how will the
21st century kampung play its role
in Singapore’s future? “A sustainable
future needs a culture. This is what
makes a nation resilient. So what is
Singapore’s culture? Is it something
we are proud of?” Lai Hock observes
that many Singaporeans are
uncertain when they try to answer
these questions. He compares this
uncertainty with the distinct culture
that has sprouted in GUI, a culture
that could epitomise what Singapore
seeks — “We’re hardworking, we don’t
believe in hierarchy, we aren’t afraid to
get our hands dirty, we are inclusive.”
Through activities such as farm
work, GUI tries to slowly and
conscientiously sow seeds of
positivity and graciousness in
Singaporeans. “We have to farm
our hearts. A lot of the time, because
of urbanisation, we forget to look
after our hearts,” Lai Hock says.
Moving into the future, he believes
Singapore can remain liveable only
if we do not discard such values in
the name of progress.
How to Build a Kampung
Just how does GUI hope to instil and
strengthen the kampung spirit in
young urban Singaporeans who are
more used to the fast-paced lifestyle
Through GUI’s flagship Balik
Kampung programme, volunteers
help to grow edible plants in the
GUI gardens, and maintain the
kampung compound. WOW
Kampung, the educational arm of GUI,
organises activities and programmes
to introduce all age groups to the
21st century kampung culture. The
Singapore@Heart
27
28
Cover Profile
This resonates with Tan Chia Chia,
39, who has been with GUI since it
was launched in 2008. Comparing
her volunteer experience in other
organisations, she finds GUI less taskoriented and more focused on shaping
the individual, where introspection
is as important as external action.
“We also look into our inner selves
and [think about] how our values are
aligned with one another. We want
to do good, but it’s also about being
conscious about ourselves.”
John Tay, 26, found sincerity and
warmth at GUI. After three years of
full-time contribution, his hope is that
“we will see another generation of
like-minded people take over and
run GUI.”
GUI staff and volunteers after a
morning of farming
Just One Earth programme connects
kindergarteners with nature, while
teaching eco-friendly habits and basic
recycling skills.
In addition, GUI has worked with
schools to create sustainable spaces
on campus. One example is the
4˚ Café in Nanyang Girl’s School,
which is decorated and furnished
using recycled materials.
These hands-on experiences are often
hard work, which draws attention to
the daily comforts we often take for
granted. They help people establish a
deeper connection and understanding
of nature, which also instils the desire
for a sustainable future.
A United Culture
Indeed, people who volunteer at
GUI have described the experience
as nothing short of life-changing
and life-affirming. Many of GUI’s
May 2015
core members moved from
regular volunteer stints to fulltime commitment, having found
reasons and special experiences
to make them stay.
“We have this space to be who
we are, and who we want to be,”
says Mei Chang, 45, who came to
GUI to try out farming. After five
years with the organisation, she
has become a much happier
person under GUI’s friendly and
open environment.
For Eugene Goh, 26, this open
organisational culture has helped
GUI grow and prosper. “It’s a
culture in which we first build trust
with one another, then we help
to sharpen one another,” he says.
He believes an experience in GUI
encourages internal reflection,
and helps participants become
better persons.
The experiences and sentiments
of these key players in GUI’s
development are embodied in its 5G
model, which stands for Gracious,
Green, Giving, Grounded and
Grateful. This model is designed to
remind members that these 5Gs
“connect better” than the fastest
4G mobile broadband Internet
connection. This encourages us to
take a step back from our runaway
urbanised lifestyles and technological
obsessions, and think about the
values that can make us, and those
around us, happier.
Growing the Kampung!
Although many doubted the
feasibility of GUI, its team of
loyal volunteers took action and
expanded their compound from 100
square metres to 26,000 square
metres today, which includes a
natural stream and several vegetable
gardens. For land-scarce Singapore,
such an expansion is no small feat.
There are plans to turn their
compound into a low carbon
footprint campus called Kampung
Kampus, to host educational
events and expand their farming
capabilities. GUI has been actively
promoting its culture to raise millions
of dollars in order to complete the
campus by 2016.
GUI could be the solution to
enhancing community spirit in
Singapore. “Nowadays a lot
of [national initiatives] are topdown,” Lai Hock relates, “But this
is ground-up — it’s the same spirit
that our forefathers had.” Indeed,
the tenacity and community spirit
displayed by early Singaporeans
have given us the modern comforts
we tend to take for granted today.
Community roots start from
the ground. GUI’s unique plan
to bring back the kampung spirit
in the 21st century through getting
close to nature, seems like a great
way to root this community spirit
in the context of a modern city,
helping to deepen Singaporeans’
graciousness and enhance
Singapore’s liveability.
GUI is in need of continual support to flourish. Volunteers are always welcome
in their Balik Kampung programme. Donations will go towards building the
Kampung Kampus. Visit www.groundupinitiative.org for more information.
Singapore@Heart
29
30
Flashback / Fast Forward
50 Cheers
for 50 Years
In our previous issue, we walked through
25 of our nation’s proudest achievements
in our 50-year history. We walk through
through another 25 in this second and
final instalment of the series while looking
forward to more cheers as we move into the
next 50 years.
2008
2010
As early as 2008, global
audiences have been
captivated by awardwinning games from
Singaporean developers
such as Touch Dimensions
and LambdaMu Games,
and popular animated
programmes created by
local production houses
such as Tiny Island
Productions.
Singapore hosted the
inaugural Summer
Youth Olympic Games in
2010, bringing together
about 3,600 young
sportspeople from all
over the world.
2011
Singapore made its first foray
into space, with the launch
of the locally built satellite
X-SAT in 2011. Three other
made-in-Singapore satellites
have since joined the X-SAT
in orbiting the Earth.
– Victoria Cheong
2008
Every September since
2008, racecars hit the
streets of Singapore in
the world’s first Formula 1
night race.
May 2015
2008
2009
Unveiled in 2008, the Marina Barrage
was hailed as an engineering feat: Not
only does it separate fresh water in the
Marina Basin from seawater to form a
reservoir, it also helps in flood control
and serves as a lifestyle attraction in
the city.
In 2009, the Singapore
Women’s Everest Team
was the country’s first
all-female expedition to
reach the peak of Mount
Everest, the world’s
highest mountain.
2010
In 2010, Singapore’s Marina Bay boasted a brand
new look — this waterfront business district
features vibrant “live-work-play” elements such as
the Marina Bay Residences, Marina Bay Financial
Centre, the Moshe Safdie-designed Marina Bay
Sands, and a 3.5km waterfront promenade.
Singapore@Heart
31
32
Flashback / Fast Forward
2012
2013
Opened to the public in 2012, Gardens by the
Bay showcases the beauty of flora from all over
the world, featuring the Cooled Conservatories
that won the World Building of the Year at the
World Architecture Festival 2012.
In 2013, Singaporean director
Anthony Chen’s film Ilo Ilo
won the Camera d’Or award
at the Cannes Film Festival.
2012
Singapore’s first Integrated
Resort, Resorts World Sentosa,
was completed in 2012, bringing
together world-class features such
as hotels, a casino, an aquarium,
a water park and the Universal
Studios Singapore theme park.
2014
Singapore may be small, but we’re highly
competitive — from a per capita gross domestic
product of less than $2,700 in 1965, we now
have one of the world’s highest at $71,318, as
at 2014.
2012
2013
Innovation flourishes in Singapore,
as our country nets high scores in IP
rights protection in the IMD World
Competitiveness Report 2011 and
the World Economic Forum’s Global
Competitiveness Report 2012.
A team of scientists
at the Singapore Eye
Research Institute
and A*STAR’s
Genome Institute
of Singapore
scored a world first
in identifying the
genes behind cornea
blindness in 2013.
2012
2012
Singaporean designers like Ashley Isham
and Prabal Gurung are making waves in
fashion — the Duchess of Cambridge,
Kate Middleton, gave her royal approval
by wearing outfits by Prabal Gurung
and Singapore brand Raoul during her
Diamond Jubilee tour to Singapore in 2012.
May 2015
Singapore is top of the
class for education — with
a literacy rate of more than
96 per cent, and primary and
secondary school students
scoring high in various global
education assessments
like the Programme for
International Student
Assessment problemsolving test in 2012.
2014
Decades of planning and
cultivation have earned
Singapore the reputation
of a “City in a Garden”,
as almost 50 per cent of
Singapore is greenery,
comprising nature reserves,
parks, gardens, and trees.
Singapore@Heart
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34
Flashback / Fast Forward
2014
2014
Singapore is more than a nation
of foodies — we boast some of
the best chefs, too! Since 1986,
Singapore’s national culinary
team has emerged victorious
in various international culinary
competitions such as the 2014
Expogast Culinary World Cup.
According to Bloomberg,
Singapore has one of the
most efficient healthcare
systems in the world in its
2014 ranking and one of
the healthiest populations
in its 2012 survey.
2015
2014
The Economist Intelligent Unit’s
Safe Cities Index 2015 lists
Singapore as one of the safest
countries to live in, having one of
the lowest crime rates in the world,
thanks to the constant vigilance of
the Singapore Police Force.
Singapore’s well-loved National
Stadium re-opened in 2014,
and has since hosted many
big-name international acts and
exciting sporting events such as
the Asean Football Federation
Suzuki Cup 2014.
2014
Singapore is home to not one, but two
of the world’s largest aquariums! The
River Safari, which has over 6,000
freshwater creatures, officially opened
in 2014, while the S.E.A. Aquarium,
which has more than 100,000 marine
animals, opened in 2012.
May 2015
2015
2014
2015
The Singapore Garden Festival won
the 2014 International Garden Tourism
Achievement of the Year award at the
Gardens Without Limits Conference in
France in 2014.
Singaporeans know how to party — just
take it from popular nightspot Zouk,
which ranks among the top 10 in DJ
Mag’s Top 100 Clubs in the World from
2010 to 2015.
Singapore hits
the big 5-0 on
9 August 2015,
but celebrations
are year round
for one and all —
community makan
(eating) events,
roadshows, heritage
trails, exhibitions,
talent showcases,
and more!
2015
Singapore’s reputation as a
regional arts hub grows by leaps
and bounds as it welcomes French
private art museum Pinacothèque
de Paris and the National Gallery
Singapore’s opening in 2015.
Singapore@Heart
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36
Hidden Gems
Bridges to
Prosperity
Once a place where
trade fluorished,
vibrant Clarke Quay
is now a popular
entertainment and
dining hotspot
The Singapore River and her
bridges play important roles in
the country’s history and progress.
While they used to be crucial
for merchants, traders and
immigrant settlers to do business,
these bridges now primarily serve
as great community spaces and
tourist attractions. Let’s take a
step back in time to explore some
of these landmarks, tracing their
past to the present.
–W
ong Casandra
Arguably the most famous river in
Singapore, the Singapore River spans
approximately 3.2 kilometres from
the sea to Kim Seng Road. Once
the waterway of fervent economic
activity, it is said that the river has
its humble beginnings recorded with
indecipherable inscriptions on a certain
ancient Singapore Stone, a relic found
in 1819 at the mouth of the river.
In 1823, the first quay was built on
today’s Boat Quay, and attracted
businesses from all over the world
to set up operations; soon, offices,
warehouses, jetties, rice mills and
May 2015
sawmills crowded around the
Singapore River. With the steady
growth of trade into the 1860s,
progress along the riverbanks
gradually snaked upriver towards
what we now know as Clarke
Quay and Robertson Quay. With
its strategic location and growing
reputation as a free port, Singapore
very quickly flourished with human
traffic, bumboats and trading
establishments.
Early settlers naturally made this
vibrant waterway their workplace and
home, setting up communities on the
banks of the river.
Heavy industrialisation in the 1930s
led to years of heavy trade activity
that left the river severely polluted.
In September 1983, the Government
initiated a large-scale River Clean-Up
Campaign to upgrade the riverbanks,
clean the water and clear the river of
the dilapidated boats that littered
its waterways. The campaign took
a decade to see fruition, but was
a fitting tribute to the Singapore
River, transforming it into its
present incarnation.
As we take a stroll along the river,
the bridges that span the river as it
flows along are stoic witnesses of
Singapore’s remarkable journey from
port to nation.
Singapore@Heart
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38
Hidden Gems
Cavenagh Bridge
Elgin Bridge
the bridge in 1887. It was officially
opened by Governor Cecil Clementi
Smith on 18 April 1889. It was once a
popular gathering place for labourers
and boatmen who came to listen to
Teochew storytellers in the evenings.
Rebuilt in the early 1990s, it now
serves as a pedestrian bridge to the
Clarke Quay area.
Ord Bridge
Anderson Bridge
Cavenagh Bridge
Singapore’s oldest and only existing
suspension bridge, Cavenagh Bridge
was originally known as Edinburgh
Bridge, built to commemorate the
Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Singapore.
Assembled in 1868 across the
Singapore River by Indian convicts,
it was later renamed in honour of
Colonel Cavenagh, the last Governor
of the Straits Settlements appointed
by the British East India Company.
In its heyday, the bridge served as
an alternative mode of connection
between the Commercial Square
(Raffles Place) and the civic quarter.
Built in honour of Lord Elgin, then the
Governor General of India, the iron
bridge was later widened in the 1870s,
as business grew rapidly between the
Chinese community located on the
southern side and the Indian merchants
of High Street on the northern side of
the Singapore River.
Anderson Bridge
time. It was named after the Governor
of the Straits Settlements and High
Commissioner for the Federated
Malay States, Sir John Anderson.
Elgin Bridge
May 2015
Toddy Bridge back then (for the toddy
shops, traditional Indian food stalls
where alcoholic drinks made from sap of
palm trees were also served, in nearby
Pulau Saigon), Ord Bridge replaced a
much older structure in its place called
ABC Bridge, which connected north and
south Kampong Malacca, Fort Canning
and Pearl’s Hill.
Coleman Bridge
The first Elgin Bridge was demolished
on 24 December 1926 and later
replaced by its present concrete sibling.
Refurbished in the late 1980s, it now has
two underpasses, to facilitate pedestrian
traffic to South Bridge Road.
Restored in 1987, it now serves as a
pedestrian link between the cultural
district in the north bank and the
commercial district at the south bank.
Linking both North and South Bridge
roads across the Singapore River, Elgin
Bridge now stands where Singapore’s
first bridge was previously erected
in 1819. Then an unnamed wooden
footbridge, it underwent several
transformations and name changes —
from Presentment Bridge to Thomson’s
Bridge — before settling on its current
name in 1863.
This 70-metre long picturesque
bridge with the three steel arches
beside the imposing Fullerton Hotel
was built between 1908 and 1910 to
ease traffic on Cavenagh Bridge, the
main commercial thoroughfare at that
Designed and named after Singapore’s
first architect George Drumgoole
Coleman, the original structure was
completed in 1840, as a brick bridge
that connected Old Bridge Road to Hill
Street. It would be refurbished three
more times — as a timbre bridge in
1865, an iron structure in 1886 and as a
concrete bridge in 1990, as part of the
New Bridge Road Widening Scheme.
Ord Bridge
Read Bridge
Read Bridge
Read Bridge was named after the
Scottish political and social activist
and businessman William Henry
Read, who laid the first cylinder for
Compared to the other bridges with
their graceful arches and steel beams,
Ord Bridge, with its rectangular steel
trusses, seems very plain. Constructed
in 1886, the bridge, along with the road
that used to run along it, is named after
Colonel Sir Harry St George Ord, who
served as the British Governor of the
Straits Settlements. Also known as
Coleman Bridge
Singapore@Heart
39
40
Foodie Paradise
PHOTO CREDIT: Koh Seow Chuan Colletion,
courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
To Market,
To Market
Wet markets are close to our hearts when it comes to
getting our fresh produce within the community.
Telok Ayer
Market’s
distinctive
octagonal
shape and
Victorian
style was
conceived
by British
architect
George
Coleman
– Victoria Cheong
For produce that’s fresh, cheap and
good, the wet market is where most
Singaporeans head to, as early as six
in the morning! The place is a hive of
activity: People haggling over prices
and shouting offers, punctuated by the
grinding and chopping of meats, while
the briny smell of seafood, the spicy scent
of curry powder and the perfume of
flowers waft in the air.
casual chat with fellow customers at
the butcher might yield a recipe or two.
As a regular patron at a vegetable stall,
you could get a good discount on your
purchases, and the stallholder might
just throw in a few chillies or sprigs of
spring onions for free! However, if you
come late, you’d be hard-pressed to get
your shopping done, as most stalls start
closing around noon.
There’s a strong sense of camaraderie
in the wet market. The friendly fruitseller is often happy to explain the
different fruits he has on display. A
Such is the fun and satisfaction of
shopping at the wet market, which is
found in almost every neighbourhood.
With Chinese, Malay and Indian stalls
May 2015
clustered next to each other, the wet
market lets the community gather and
mingle, regardless of race, language
and religion. How did this humble
establishment become such an integral
part of the heartlands, a symbol of
Singapore community?
Beginnings of the Wet Market
It all began in 1825, when Telok Ayer
Market, the earliest official market, was
built in Singapore. It extended over the
sea, so people could load and unload
goods directly onto boats. This market
was replaced by a newer one that was
later demolished in 1841, as it could not
keep up with the needs of the growing
Chinatown population.
To cater to the different settlements
located in various parts of the island,
other markets soon sprung up —
Ellenborough Market, Kandang Kerbau
Market, Tanjong Pagar Market, among
others. Of the early markets, only two
survive today: Lau Pa Sat, the successor
of Telok Ayer Market, is now a famous
hawker centre, and Kandang Kerbau
Market has evolved into its modern
iteration, Tekka Centre.
In the late 1950s and 60s, Singapore
underwent rapid urban renewal. Public
housing estates were developed to
deal with the housing shortage; in each
estate, there were covered wet markets
and food (hawker) centres. These
purpose-built facilities gave itinerant
street hawkers a clean place to do
business in, while ensuring residents
could get groceries and cooked meals
within their neighbourhoods.
What’s in a Wet Market
Today, there are over 100 wet markets
and food centres in Singapore,
Singapore@Heart
41
42
Foodie Paradise
Changing with the Times
Sundry shops in the wet
markets supply goods
such as spices, dried
shrimp and mushrooms
These days, wet markets are not just the
go-to place for locally farmed and caught
fish, and the usual meats, fruits and
vegetables from neighbouring countries.
In a nod to the evolving tastes and
diverse backgrounds of the population,
wet market stallholders have increased
the variety of their wares, introducing
produce that used to be only available
at gourmet grocers and higher-end
supermarkets, much to the delight of
home cooks and professional chefs alike.
mostly managed by the Ministry of
Environment and Water Resources,
Housing & Development Board and
Jurong Town Corporation.
The term “wet market” dates from
the 1970s, when the Singapore
government sought to differentiate the
neighbourhood market from the airconditioned supermarket. It was named
after its perpetually wet floors, from
melted ice used by the fishmongers to
keep their seafood fresh, as well as the
water that stall-holders sprayed over their
stalls to clean them.
Wet markets typically have two sections:
a “wet” segment with stalls selling fresh
produce, meat, fish and live seafood, and
a “dry” segment with stalls selling goods
such as rice, spices, beans, noodles, and
dried processed products. There may
also be stalls with prepared food and
ingredients like fishballs, curry pastes,
and roast meats.
In the past, one could get live poultry
freshly slaughtered at the wet markets, but
this was phased out during the early 1990s
for hygiene reasons. From 1999, it became
mandatory for meat sellers to store and
display their raw meats in chillers, instead
of keeping them out in the open.
May 2015
Seafood stalls
in the wet
section
“I love the [wet] markets because of
their versatility and I always bring
visiting chefs to these places,” chef
Emmanuel Stroobant of Saint Pierre
restaurant commented in a Today
newspaper report. He explained that
many younger stall owners bring in
quality imported products, and often
do so upon request as well.
As such, one can pick up some
tongue-searing Habañero peppers in
Tekka Market, pink Himalayan salt from
Tiong Bahru Market, or kale and fennel
from Marine Terrace Market, just to
name a few.
It’s not just the variety of goods on
offer that has changed. In 2011,
supermarket chain Sheng Siong
opened the first air-conditioned wet
market, Elias 1 Station Market, to
enhance the shopping experience.
While supermarkets and gourmet
marketplaces may promise a more
comfortable shopping environment, more
exotic produce, and greater convenience,
wet markets are here to stay. After all, not
only are they strongly rooted in Singapore’s
history, they occupy a special place in
Singaporeans’ hearts, representing fond
memories, shared experiences and close
personal relationships.
FROM MARKET TO PLATE
It’s a win-win situation when a wet market has an adjoining food centre —
the food stalls get the freshest ingredients supplied by the market stalls,
while customers can grab a bite just next door after shopping. At these
market/food centres well loved by locals and tourists alike, we suss out
some of the great bargains and interesting foodstuff available.
Tiong Bahru Market and
Food Centre
Originally a one-storey
affair built in 1950, it
was known as Seng Poh
Market. The new twostorey Tiong Bahru Market
now has wet market and
retail stalls on the ground
floor, and hawker stalls above.
Fresh finds: Fresh flowers,
affordable Australian and
New Zealand beef
Great grub: Lor mee (flat
yellow noodles in a thick
brown gravy) and chwee
kueh (steamed rice cakes
with fried radish bits)
Geylang Serai Market and
Food Centre
Once a simple structure
with a zinc roof in 1964,
it is the third largest
market and food centre
in Singapore, situated in
the heart of the Malay
community. Here, you’ll
find loads of Malay and
Indian-Muslim offerings.
Fresh finds: Ingredients for
traditional Malay dishes such
as ulam rajah (a Malay herb
that is often cooked in a spicy
chilli and shrimp paste)
Great grub: Nasi padang
(rice with Malay dishes)
and nasi biryani (Indian
spiced rice served with
chicken or beef curry)
Tekka Centre
This landmark in Little India,
established by the Municipal
Commission in 1915, had
the freshest meats, as it was
situated near the abattoir,
hence its original name of
Kandang Kerbau (“buffalo
pens” in Malay).
Fresh finds: Fresh sausages,
chicken parts, and vegetables
from Sri Lanka and India
Great grub: Braised duck
rice and chi kak kueh (black
steamed glutinous rice
cake, an increasingly
uncommon traditional
Teochew kueh, made using
chi kak leaves.)
Singapore@Heart
A publication of the
WWW.SGN.SG
May 2015