Where did you go, my Singapore of old?

Our second blog features a letter written by one of our avid members, Vincent Paul Carthigasu to the Straits Times. This letter appeared in the Straits Times on 24 February 2009.

I am a 45 year old Singaporean much in love with my country which I am proud to call home. Over the years, I have visited a few other beautiful countries, but I cannot see myself living anywhere else but in Singapore.

However, as much as I call Singapore my home, there is nothing of it I can connect to when I try to look back in memory.

A few weeks ago, I decided to drive my parents around to revisit places to try to recapture the fond memories of our earlier years. There was almost no place familiar left to go. Almost everything has been eradicated. It was a sad morning.

I am sure, to the zealots of change and development, this means nothing at all, and others may say people like me are like a broken record (nostalgia) that gets stuck and play the same thing over and over, but I feel it is very sad.

The little we have left is also about to go: the last kampong in Buangkok, the New Seventh Storey Hotel and so on. Who needs the kampong in Buangkok when there is the shiny plastic version in Geylang Serai, right? After all, it is clean, safe and pristine.

With reference to last Monday’s letter by Ms Lisa Healey-Cunico, “Let Singapore shape itself naturally”, I fully agree that Singapore has lost much of its soul. It truly seems that we have an unquenchable to wipe out and develop anything and everything.

Alternatively, if a place is deemed worthy of heritage, redevelopment sets in with the original tenants, who contributed to the colour of the place, removed because of high rent and commercialisation.

Maybe I am just getting old, but I would like to be able to visit places with nothing added but a few coats of paint over the years.

I resort to flea markets for photocopy pictures sold at three for $10. I used these to share old stories with my parents and daughters. That is all there is. Needless to say, one of my favourite haunts is Sungei Road. I am certain it is already in someone’s plans for eradication.

I appeal to whoever can make a difference, please leave some things as they are.

I love you Singapore, but I fear I do not remember.

(Reynold Pereira: Sadly Vince's prediction about Sungei Road has come true. It has been confirmed that it will have to make way for the Sungei Road MRT station which is due to open in 2017.)