Taman Warisan - CHIJ Secondary

Sec 2 History Learning Journey: A visit to Taman Warisan Melayu (Malay Heritage Centre) During the afternoons of April 3rd, 4th and 5th 2013, students from Secondary 2 visited the newly-­‐
opened Malay Heritage Centre at Kampong Glam. The excited students arrived safely at their destination after a ride from school to the Heritage Centre. The above shows a picture of the palace before it was turned into the Malay Heritage Centre. The palace was not as glamorous as one imagined it to be -­‐-­‐ even in the past! The Taman Warisan Melayu was the former palace (Istana) of Sultan Hussein’s eldest grandson. The original Istana was constructed out of wood, and was later replaced by a concrete building following the treaty between Raffles and Sultan Hussein in 1819 (which gave the British permission to set up a trading outpost on the island). The building which clearly reflects a European bungalow style of architecture was constructed by Raffles’ architect, George Drumgoole Coleman, who was also responsible for the construction of the St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and the Caldwell House which was later purchased by Missionary, Father Jean-­‐Marie Beurel for a group of nuns to set up the CHIJ Convent at Victoria Street. Inside the heritage centre, the students were led into waiting area where they were briefed by their teacher before the docents took them on a guided tour inside the building. Inside the building, the students were briefed on the history of the former palace by Mr Wahab, an experienced docent at the centre. After the briefing, they were taken into the galleries to view the exhibits that represented the many aspects of the Malay community in Singapore. There was a gallery dedicated to Mr Yusof Bin Ishak, the first president of Singapore. The students saw his medals and other paraphernalia when he was the head of state. In the next room, the students learned about the occupation of the early Malay community in Singapore. Many of them were fishermen and boat builders. The gallery showed the many different types of boats that were built by them at that time. Besides the occupations of the early Malays in Singapore, the students also learned about the many different kinds of objects that were used daily by them. The final gallery at the lower level of the Taman Warisan housed artefacts from one of the most interesting aspects of the early Malay community in Singapore. The entertainment industry was experiencing its Golden Age at that time. The students were treated to a short black and white movie clip of P. Ramlee, a popular Malay movie actor and director in the 60s. The students also sat on the same hard seats that were found in the cinema back in the old days. For many, it was an experience that they would never forget. Apart from the movies, the students also saw and heard music played from old records. They learned about what their grandparents heard when they were teenagers in the early days of Singapore. Finally the students were taken to a small garden outside the building where they saw the one and only Gelam tree that remains in Kampong Glam. According to Mr Wahab, it was the Gelam tree plantation in the past that gave Kampong Glam its Historical name. He also explained to the students the many uses of the tree, which ranged from boat making to ointments for muscle aches and insect repellents. The Taman Warisan Melayu Learning Journey was an educational and fruitful one for all students. For the ethnic Chinese and Indian students, they learned about the rich culture of the Malay community of the past. For the Malay students, they fostered a better appreciation for the cultural heritage of their forefathers.