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Sir stamford raffles helped Singapore develop in 9 months . He was interested in Singapore when he arrived in Singapore .

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Far from settling the discussion, however, it merely provoked a storm in a teacup. Dr Julia King, head of the Institute of Physics, said the secret was to keep the water temperature at 98ºC. Putting the milk in first was a cultural quirk that "has nothing to do with taste", she said.

And there's the chinaware. As Friday's Doodle illustrates, tea cups come in all shapes, colours, and sizes, while some are very particular about the tea pot.

One such expert is architect Philip Miller, who accumulated 2,000 porcelain pots - despite never actually drinking tea himself. The collection, which is the largest from a single owner to ever be sold at auction, is expected to fetch up to £40,000 when it goes under the hammer this month.

Is drinking tea good for you?

It is also claimed that tea has several health benefits. Researchers have found that moderate consumption of tea can reduce your chance of death from a heart attack by at least a fifth. Tea is also a natural source of fluoride that can help protect against tooth decay and gum disease.

In the Netherlands - where school children as young as four are already served tea as a lunch time drink - official health guidelines were released last year encouraging adults to consume regular cups of tea.

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The history of tea in Britain: Google celebrates the cuppa with a Doodle

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Far from settling the discussion, however, it merely provoked a storm in a teacup. Dr Julia King, head of the Institute of Physics, said the secret was to keep the water temperature at 98ºC. Putting the milk in first was a cultural quirk that "has nothing to do with taste", she said.

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By Lim Tin Seng

Thanks to land reclamation, the tiny red dot has broadened its shores substantially. Lim Tin Seng discovers just how much Singapore has grown since colonial times.

Boat Quay: The First Reclamation Project
Many people think of land reclamation in Singapore as a fairly recent phenomenon, but in actual fact the earliest reclamation project took place in colonial times. When Stamford Raffles landed at the mouth of the Singapore River in January 1819, the lay of the land was vastly different from what we see today. The river was flanked by mangrove swamps and mosquito-infested jungle, and what is now Telok Ayer Street and Beach Road were coastal areas that hugged the sea.

First Reclamation at Telok Ayer: Redrawing the Coastline
In the late 1800s, Collyer Quay was further expanded when the Telok Ayer Reclamation Scheme was commissioned. Carried out between 1879 and 1897, it altered the shoreline of Telok Ayer by extending it seaward with a 42-acre tract. The aim was to create new land so that thoroughfares, including Cecil Street, Robinson Road and Raffles Quay, could be built to link the commercial district and the new port at Tanjong Pagar via Telok Ayer. Previously, these two areas were cut off by the hills of Mount Wallich, Mount Palmer and Mount Erskine, making the movement of goods between the port and town cumbersome.

To salvage the project, engineers reinforced the foundations of the seawall and allowed it to settle for the next 10 years. Thereafter, the unclaimed area would be converted into a tidal basin for anchoring small vessels with the gap in the seawall serving as an entrance. Construction resumed in 1930 and was completed in 1932. By then, the cost of the project had ballooned from 2.5 to 15 million Straits dollars.

Other Reclamation Projects by HDB
While the east coast was being reclaimed, the HDB simultaneously carried out reclamation projects elsewhere on the island. In 1963, the reclamation of Kallang Basin began, with some 400 hectares of its swampland filled using earth taken from Toa Payoh. Completed in 1971, the site was used for public housing and industrial development. Next, the HDB reclaimed a stretch along Singapore's west coast between 1976 and 1978 to create 89 hectares of land for the development of Clementi New Town. Along with it, the West Coast Highway was constructed to link Jurong with the eastern part of the island. The fill materials for this project were excavated from Clementi.

Between 1972 and 1979, some 61 acres of foreshore along Pasir Panjang were reclaimed by the PSA. This was part of a larger effort to move lighter cargo operations from Telok Ayer Basin, Rochor River and Kallang River to a new wharf with warehousing and berthing facilities for lighters and coastal vessels. A decade later, PSA announced additional reclamation works at Pasir Panjang to construct a new container terminal. The first two phases were carried out from 1993 to 1999. In June 2015, reclamation works under the final two phases were launched and are slated for completion by the end of 2017.
Notes
MPA also undertook the first reclamation of Pulau Tekong (formerly known as Pulau Tekong Besar). Carried out between 1981 and 1985, it reclaimed 540 hectares of foreshore using fill materials from Changi and imported from neighbouring countries. The enlarged island was subsequently used by the Ministry of Defence as a training site for the military. In 2000, another reclamation effort to enlarge Pulau Tekong by a further 3,310 hectares was approved. Overseen by the HDB, it involved merging the smaller Pulau Tekong Kechil island with Pulau Tekong.

The Future
It is certain that land-scarce Singapore will press ahead with reclamation to meet the demands of its growing population in the foreseeable future. In the 2013 Land Use Plan, the Ministry of National Development has noted that there is a need to provide an additional 5,600 hectares of land by 2030. This is to accommodate the expected increase in population, rising from the present 5.7 million to between 6.5 and 6.9 million.

Land Reclamation: How Does it Work?
The proposed site for reclamation is first investigated to determine seabed conditions, availability of fill materials as well as the shape and alignment of the reclaimed area. Environmental studies are then carried out to assess the impact on water quality, water level, tidal flow, sedimentation and marine life. Work proper begins with the erection of containment dykes made of sand and rock around the perimeter of the area to be reclaimed. Materials such as cut-hill soil, sand and clay are then transported from other sites to fill the enclosed area. The newly reclaimed land must be allowed to settle naturally over time before any structures can be built. In most cases, however, the process is speeded up with soil improvement methods.

Since the first reclamation project carried out in 1822, fill materials have traditionally comprised soil excavated from inland hills and sand dredged from surrounding seabeds. By the mid-1980s, however, these resources began to run out and Singapore had to import sand from neighbouring countries. This soon became a problem when the cost of foreign sand skyrocketed from less than $20 per sq m in the 1970s to $200 per sq m in the 90s. The situation hit crisis levels when Malaysia and Indonesia banned the export of sand to Singapore in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

Although Singapore had to turn to other countries for sand, it recently developed a more sustainable method that has reduced the amount of sand needed for reclamation works. Called empoldering, it has since been successfully deployed by the HDB for the on-going reclamation of Pulau Tekong.

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Land From Sand: Singapore's Reclamation Story | BiblioAsia

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By Lim Tin Seng Thanks to land reclamation, the tiny red dot has broadened its shores substantially. Lim Tin Seng discovers just how much Singapore has grown since colonial times. Boat Quay: The First Reclamation Project Many people think of land reclamation in Singapore as a fairly recent phenomenon, but in actual fact the earliest reclamation project took place in colonial times.

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Land reclamation is the idea of getting new land. It is usually done in coastal areas. Sometimes it is also done in areas like rivers and lakes. Usually, there is a natural process which fills such areas with sand, dirt and other materials. Land reclamation uses the same process, which is sped up.

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http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Singapore/sub5_7a/entry-3710.html

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CHINESE, MALAYS AND INDIANS IN EARLY SINGAPORE | Facts and Details

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Just as the European merchant community used Chinese middlemen in conducting their business, the Straits government relied on prominent Chinese businessmen to act as go-betweens with the Chinese community. In the early years, the Baba Chinese, who usually spoke English, served in this capacity.

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-08-12_114422.html

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The Tamils make up the largest segment of the South Indian community in Singapore. Originating from the present-day state of Tamil Nadu in South India as well as northern Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), many Tamils came to Singapore during the 19th century as labourers and traders.

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http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/article/national-anthem

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National Anthem - Majulah Singapura - Archives Online

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Proclamation of Singapore - Articles by our Archivists - Archives Online - National Archives of Singapore

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http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/where-malay-royalty-once-lived-and-worshipped

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You can say this was a "glam" kampung, given that it used to be where Malay royalty lived, but Kampong Glam, also called Kampong Gelam, is probably named after a tree.

Still, Kampong Glam stands as a glamorous attraction today, with its Middle Eastern eateries and trendy fashion shops.

Beyond these modern additions, sitting grandly in the heart of the enclave are two historic monuments - the Istana Kampong Gelam and the Masjid Sultan.

The Istana Kampong Gelam was the palace of Sultan Hussein Shah, the 19th-century ruler of the Johor Sultanate which Singapore was part of, while the Masjid Sultan next door had been constructed shortly after upon his request.

The two grand buildings serve as a reminder of the Malay royalty who once ruled the area.

The Sultan's original residence was a timber structure built on stilts in the traditional Malay style.

According to the National Heritage Board's (NHB) Preservation of Sites and Monuments division, the present two-storey brick-and-mortar structure was completed in 1843 and commissioned by his son and heir Tengku Mohammed Ali.

The building's design reflects both classical European and traditional Malay architecture.

The round arches at the entrance porch showcase the European design influence, while its layout corresponds to Malay Limas house typology, where the main entrance leading to the main house is connected to an annexe where the kitchen would traditionally be located.

Meanwhile, the Masjid Sultan, or the Sultan's Mosque, was originally a single-storey brick structure built in the 1820s.

Almost a century later, it was in need of repairs and a new mosque was planned. Irish architect Denis Santry from local architectural firm Swan and Maclaren was commissioned for the rebuilding project spanning 1924 to 1928.

He designed it in an Indo-Saracenic style, which offers a mix of traditional Indian and Islamic elements.

The mosque features two gold onion domes, and the base of each dome is adorned with glass bottle ends collected from poor Muslims as donations.

These monuments are key in telling the larger story of early Singapore, said Ms Suhaili Osman, assistant curator of the Malay Heritage Centre, which now occupies Sultan Hussein's former palace.

For instance, porcelain plates dug up from the compound of the Istana Kampong Gelam bear the insignia of ceramic producers from Asia and Europe such as J. & G. Meakin of England. This reflects how the area near the Kallang Basin had thrived as an emporium, with goods from across the globe, in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Chinese, Jawi and Dutch East India Company coins, also unearthed during two archaeological surveys in the early 2000s, further underscore the cosmopolitan nature of Kampong Glam as well as its economic importance.

Ms Suhaili said the artefacts "prove that there are more layers to Singapore's story beyond the traditional narrative of its early beginnings as a sleepy fishing village".

According to heritage conservation expert Johannes Widodo, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore, the Kampong Glam compound was laid out based on Hindu and Buddhist mandala symbol principles.

The mosque and royal graveyard in Jalan Kubor functioned as its crown and the palace was its body, while a market town and old settlement stood as its feet.

The Istana Kampong Gelam palace compound itself was allotted to Sultan Hussein, after he and Temenggong Abdul Rahman signed a treaty with Sir Stamford Raffles for the British East India Company to set up a trading post here on Feb 6, 1819.

But to diminish the power of the royals, the British sliced up the area, with Victoria Street and North and South Bridge roads cutting through the place.

In 1999, the Government announced that the Istana Kampong Gelam would be conserved.

Some 79 beneficiaries and tenants, including Mr Tengku Shawal, the seventh-generation descendant of Sultan Hussein, were awarded a total of $350,000 a year for 30 years.

The former palace was restored after its residents moved out and it was turned into the Malay Heritage Centre in 2005.

The centre, which is managed by NHB in partnership with the Malay Heritage Foundation, houses six permanent galleries.

Mr Harneis Hadir, general manager at the Malay Heritage Centre, said it aims to provide all communities that go through its doors "a holistic and well-rounded cultural experience".

He said visitors can look forward to the annual Malay CultureFest and a special exhibition on the Bugis community this year.

The Masjid Sultan, meanwhile, took home the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Architectural Heritage Award last year for its $4.6 million restoration, which included a fresh coat of paint for its golden domes and the addition of elderly- friendly facilities such as a glass lift.

The mosque won in the restoration category which honours work done to sensitively repair and restore heritage buildings.

The chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Mohamed Patail, 65, said the restored monument has attracted both worshippers and tourists far and wide.

On the congregants, he said: "They feel a sense of belonging to the mosque, which is one of the oldest in Singapore. They also come here for a nice family outing - pray at a historically significant mosque, walk around the enclave and then eat at one of the nasi padang stalls."

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Where Malay royalty once lived and worshipped

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You can say this was a "glam" kampung, given that it used to be where Malay royalty lived, but Kampong Glam, also called Kampong Gelam, is probably named after a tree. Still, Kampong Glam stands as a glamorous attraction today, with its Middle Eastern eateries and trendy fashion shops.

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http://www.chinatown.sg/index.php?fx=soc-stories-page&

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Like all great things, Chinatown had a humble beginning. Following Singapore's founding, migrants looking to make their fortune in Singapore began arriving in droves.

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http://www.nhb.gov.sg/what-we-do/our-work/community-engagement/education/resources/national-symbols

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Discover the origins of Singapore's National Symbols, as well as the significance of each National Symbol and the guidelines for its use.

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https://roots.sg/learn/stories/founding-of-modern-singapore/story

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This is a fragment from an inscribed sandstone known as the 'Singapore Stone'. It is the earliest writing found in Singapore and was discovered at the mouth of the Singapore River, near present-day Fullerton Hotel. In 1843, it was blown up during public works. Scholars have different views of the date and language of the script, ranging from 10th to 13th century and possibly Sumatran or old Javanese. (c. 10th-14th century. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

Founding of Modern Singapore
The history of Modern Singapore began in the early 19 th century with the arrival of the British East Indies and Sir Stamford Raffles. While Singapore had long existed in the centuries prior to the British arrival - as a settlement under various names such as Singapura and Temasek - it was the signing of the 1819 treaty that signalled the founding of Modern Singapore.
James Marianne painted this 1828 view from Government Hill, which shows the entrance to the river and the bustling harbour. The Governor's House can be seen on the extreme right, and on its left, is the flagstaff that signalled the arrival of mail vessels. (c. 1828. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

Three figureheads from the East India Company played crucial roles in the founding and early establishment of Modern Singapore. They were namely Sir Stamford Raffles, the recognised founder of Modern Singapore, William Farquhar and John Crawfurd, the first two Residents of Singapore.

This portrait of Stamford Raffles was painted after his return to England from Java, where he had been Lieutenant-Governor. (c. 1817. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

This 1827 print depicts the second Resident of Singapore, John Crawfurd, arresting the merchant John Morgan, by Isaac Robert Cruikshank, the social caricaturist and book illustrator. (c. 1827. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

Raffles, then Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen, was searching for a new British base for the British East India Company in the region in 1818. He subsequently found the island of Singapore, which was located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and near the Straits of Malacca. Several factors contributed to his earmarking of the island as the site of the British base. Singapore possessed a natural harbour, fresh water supplies and a timber supply for ship repair. Most importantly, unlike other islands in the region, Singapore was not occupied by the Dutch.

Raffles' expedition officially landed in Singapore on 29 January 1819, although he landed at the southern outskirts on St John's Island a day before. The symbolic landing site today by the Singapore River behind Parliament House has been marked with a status of Raffles, although there is alternative version of his first landing via Rochor River.
The statue of Stamford Raffles was unveiled on 27 June 1887 by Sir Frederick Weld, Governor of the Straits Settlements, as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria's reign. Originally located at the Padang, as seen on this postcard, the statue was relocated to near Victoria Memorial Hall. (c. 1905. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

Raffles found a Malay settlement at the mouth of the river, which was then headed by a Temenggong (governor) for the Sultan of Johor, Tengku Abdul Rahman. The settlement was nominally ruled by the Sultan of Johor. The area was under the charge of the Dutch and Bugis, who would never agree to a British base in Singapore. The British and the Temenggong came to a draft agreement on 30 January 1819. With the Temenggong's help, the exiled Tengku Hussein, Tengku Abdul Rahman's older brother, was brought to Singapore from the Riau Islands on 1 February 1819.

The British offered to recognise Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan of Johor with a yearly payment, in return for the right for the British East India Company to establish a trading post in Singapore. This agreement was put to pen with a formal treaty on 6 February 1819. The signing of the treaty was attended by British representatives, Malay dignitaries and members from the local settlements. On this day, the British flag was formally hoisted on the island, and Modern Singapore was born.

After the treaty was signed, Raffles left Major William Farquhar to assume the role of Resident and Commandant in Singapore, the highest ranked East India Company representative on the island.
This silver epergne was presented to William Farquhar, the first British Resident of Singapore. It was a parting gift from the Chinese community when he left the island in 1823. Such epergnes decorated the dinner tables of well-to-do families in England and signifies Farquhar's popularity with the Asian communities in Singapore in the 1820s. (c.1824. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

Explore RelatedHeritage Trail

This trail takes you through the meandering, bustling streets of Kampong Glam's conserved area, covering Arab Street, Beach Road, Jalan Sultan and Victoria Street. Start at the Malay Heritage Centre, formerly the residence of Malay sultans and their families, and follow the trail thereafter to find out what life used to be like in Kampong Glam, from its culture and communities to its trades and crafts.

It was however the 1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance that sought to transfer the power from the Sultan to the British. Negotiated and drafted by the second Resident of Singapore, John Crawfurd, who replaced Farquhar, the treaty ensured that the EIC would have full authority over the administration of Singapore. In return, the Sultan and Temenggong would receive allowances and were allowed to live on land (notably Kampong Glam) set aside for them in Singapore. The 1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance was signed on 2 August 1824 and replaced the 1819 Singapore Treaty.
This print (lithograph) shows Kampong Glam and the Padang as viewed from Prinsep Hill. Kampong Glam was reserved by Stamford Raffles for the Sultan and built in 1831 by 200 convicts in eight months. (c. 1840. Image from National Museum of Singapore)
The original structure of Masjid Sultan was built between 1824 and 1826 under the patronage of Sultan Hussein. Funds for the project came from the East India Company as part of the treaty arrangements that allowed the setting up of a British trading post in Singapore. (c. Mid-20th century. Image from National Museum of Singapore)

The Arabs, Bugis, Indians and Peranakan Chinese and other traders across the archipelago made Singapore their trading port of choice, because of its ideal port location and that they were seeking to circumvent Dutch trading restrictions on other ports. Trade and commerce would transform Modern Singapore dramatically and turn the island into the centre of commercial activity in the archipelago. Raffles and the British East India Company's vision to make Singapore a free trading port brought spectacular success to the settlement.

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The history of Modern Singapore began in the early 19th century with the arrival of the British East Indies and Sir Stamford Raffles. While Singapore had long existed in the centuries prior to the British arrival - as a settlement under various names such as Singapura and Temasek - it was the signing of the 1819 treaty that signalled the founding of Modern Singapore.

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http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/Interactives/2017/09/singapore-presidential-election-2017-past-presidents-timeline/index.html

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Madam Halimah Yacob, 63, is set to become Singapore's first female President. Here's a look back at the history of the presidential system and the men who had held the highest office in the land.

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https://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/

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https://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/overview.html#tab-1

https://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/about_us/history/milestones.html

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When the SAF first started in the 1960s, the most urgent focus for what we now call the 1st Generation SAF was to provide for Singapore's basic defence. The 2nd Generation SAF, from the early 80s to late 90s, saw the upgrading and modernising of our Army, Navy and Air Force.

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/events/b125c943-1be5-4f98-99e1-68586e83de29

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The Singapore Army was established by the Singapore Army Act as a full-time army responsible for the nation's defence. The Singapore Army Bill was passed in parliament on 23 December 1965. Republic of Singapore.

Prior to the formation of the army, the responsibility of defending Singapore fell solely on the British forces stationed on the island as well as two battalions of regular soldiers and volunteers from the Singapore Volunteer Corps (SVC). The two regular battalions were the First Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) and the Second Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR), formed in 1957 and 1963 respectively.

The basis for the establishment of the Singapore Army was to ensure that Singapore was equipped to conduct its own defence preparations and to reduce its reliance on the British. To build up the nation's defence force, one of the government's most urgent tasks was to secure command over the battalions. When Singapore was part of Malaysia, 1 SIR and 2 SIR were placed under the command of the Fourth Federal Infantry Brigade of the Malaysian Army in Singapore. Hence when Singapore separated from Malaysia on 9 August 1965, many of the men, particularly those from 2 SIR, were in the midst of being deployed to different parts of Malaysia, including Sabah, to defend Malaysia against Indonesia's Konfrontasi (or Confrontation; 1963-1966) campaign targeted against the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. It was only in January 1966 that Singapore gained complete control of its battalions when 2 SIR returned from its tour of duty in Sabah and was placed under the command of the Singapore government. The Ministry of Interior and Defence (now known as Ministry of Defence) quickly took concrete steps to build up the foundation of the SAF. These include improving facilities at the 1 SIR and 2 SIR training camps in Ulu Pandan; holding recruitment drives to attract new cadets; adopting a structured system for training, salaries and uniforms; and instilling better discipline in the armed forces.

Besides these initial steps, the Ministry of Interior and Defence also planned for the long-term development of the capabilities of the Singapore Army by establishing the volunteer-based People's Defence Force in December 1965 to replace the SVC, setting up the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI) in June 1966 to train new officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and introducing compulsory national service (NS) for all able-bodied young men aged 18 years and above. The NS scheme had a profound effect on the army as Operationally Ready National Servicemen, better known as NSmen, formed the majority of the soldiers serving in the battalions.

By 1970, the Singapore Army had grown in strength, with the formation of the first artillery battalion (20 SAB) in June 1967, two new battalions (3 SIR and 4 SIR) in August 1967, the first armour battalion (41 SAR) in November 1968 and the first commando battalion (1 Cdo Bn) in December 1969. During this period, the army also gained its air and sea elements with the establishment of the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force in January 1966 and the Singapore Air Defence Command in September 1968, which became the Republic of Singapore Navy and Republic of Singapore Air Force respectively on 1 April 1975.

The Singapore Armed Forces Act came into force on 15 June 1972 to establish the Singapore Armed Forces, thereby unifying the land, air and sea elements.

References
1. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1965, December 30). People's Defence Force Bill(Vol. 1, col. 767). Singapore: Govt. Printer. Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN; Republic of Singapore. Government Gazette. Acts Supplement. (1965, December 31). The Singapore Army 1965 (Act 13 of 1965, p. 154). Singapore: [s.n.]. Call no.: RSING 348.5957 SGGAS.
2. Singapore. Parliament. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report. (1965, December 23). Singapore Army Bill(Vol. 1, cols. 542-543). Singapore: Govt. Printer. Call no.: RSING 328.5957 SIN; Dr Goh: If it isn't for the British bases in Singapore... (1965, December 24). The Straits Times, p. 22. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3. Chiang, M. (1990). Fighting fit: Singapore Armed Forces (p. 36). Singapore: Times Editions. Call no.: RSING 355.0095957 CHI.
4. Chiang, 1990, p. 36.
5. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 23 Dec 1965, cols. 542-543.
6. Ministry of Interior and Defence. (1969). Our security, 1819-1969: Nation-building through service in the armed forces and the police (p. 21). Singapore: Govt. Print. Off. Call no.: RSING 355.22 SIN.
7. Yeo, J. (1963, March 3). Defence: The big switch has begun. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Choo, M., et al. (Eds.) (1981). The Singapore Armed Forces (pp. 40-42). Singapore: Public Affairs Dept., Ministry of Defence. Call no.: RSING 355.0095957 SIN.
9. Teo, A. (1999, April). Pioneering spirit of 2 SIR. This Month in History, 3(4). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from Ministry of Defence website: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/content/dam/imindef_media_library/imindef2012/about_us/history/birth_of_saf/v03n04_history/Apr1999.pdf
10. Ministry of Interior and Defence, 1969, p. 21.
11. S'pore to improve her army camps. (1965, September 15). The Straits Times, p. 15. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Ministry of Interior and Defence, 1969, p. 22; 500 apply to join up as cadet officers. (1966, April 5). The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 23 Dec 1965, cols. 543-544.
12. Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, 30 Dec 1965, cols. 767-769; Ministry of Interior and Defence, 1969, p. 21; Chiang, M. (1997). SAF and 30 years of national service (pp. 28-29). Singapore: Armour Publishing. Call no.: RSING 355.22 CHI.
13. Ministry of Interior and Defence, 1969, pp. 21-22; Reservists to be known as NSmen. (1993, December 7). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
14. Chiang, 1997, pp. 77-79.
15. Chiang, 1997, pp. 84-91; Liew, D. (2006, January). The early years of the RSN. This Month in History, 10(1). Retrieved March 12, 2015, from Ministry of Defence website: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/content/dam/imindef_media_library/imindef2012/about_us/history/birth_of_saf/v10n01_history/TMIHJan2006.pdf
16. Government Gazette. Acts Supplement. (1972, April 7). The Singapore Armed Forces Act, 1972 (Act 7 of 1972, p. 148). Singapore: [s.n.]. Call no.: RSING 348.5957 SGGAS; Singapore. Government Gazette. (1965, October 1). The Singapore Armed Forces Act, 1972 (G.N. 1777, p. 2083). Singapore: [s.n.]. Call no.: RSING 959.57 SGG.

The information in this article is valid as at March 2015 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Further Readings

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The Singapore Army is established - Singapore History

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The Singapore Army was established by the Singapore Army Act as a full-time army responsible for the nation's defence. The Singapore Army Bill was passed in parliament on 23 December 1965. Republic of Singapore.

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https://www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/sports-education/history-of-singapore-sports

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The history of sports in Singapore began in the 19th Century, when the Colonials turned to sports as a way to pass time as they waited for news from back home in the United Kingdom.

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http://singapore-river.com/docs/history.html

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Frederick Francis

Age: 55
Occupation: Senior Lecturer, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Maritime Academy

Back in 1997, Frederick and his friends took part in the inaugural Singapore River Raft Race (SRRR), one of the first activities in the river following the government's Clean Rivers Campaign. He continued to be involved in the race until it moved to Marina Barrage and stopped eventually. To Frederick, his memories have come full circle as this will be the second time after 20 years that he will witness a race happening in the Singapore River.

Frederick preserved about a dozen wooden native boats. One is the bum boat that once plied the Singapore River. The bumboat was displayed at Pasir Panjang and is now kept in Tuas. While one can view photos, touching the real thing is much more appreciated. Frederick hopes to get land to set up a Maritime Silkroad Heritage Centre. Therefore, it would be important to have 'real' exhibits which the public can see and feel.

As a young boy, Frederick enjoyed going down to the river to see the bum boats discharging their goods and the coolies carry the loads on their backs at Boat quay. His other memories of the river include taking the bum boats (water taxi) out to visit or join passenger liners like the SS Esmeralda and the Chitral which he sailed with his family to ports in Hong Kong and Penang.

James Seah

Age: 68
Occupation: Retiree

James Seah has preserved a unique Singapore River memory on behalf of his family. In 1983, James' father departed from Quemoy, China to travel to Singapore and took his first step on the island when he alighted at the river. As a bookkeeper for an import and export business, James' father would often bring him to watch the coolies work along the river.

A resident of Bukit Ho Swee, James and his family had to relocate after the fire . However he recalls how there used to be a stream leading from Bukit Ho Swee to the Singapore River. While the stream has been replaced with land, an overhead waterpipe still remains where boats used to pass under. He fondly refers to it as "Kiao Ku Kio" (Hunchback Bridge)

James witnessed the changes of the Singapore River over the decades, which were once cluttered with bumboats and tongkangs. After the clean-up of river by the PUB, he often brought his family to the Singapore River during the weekends to share fond, nostalgic memories with them.

At 68 years old, says that he says that he sees how the changes at the Singapore River has helped developed a better life for Singaporeans. Today, he embraced technology and recounts his stories and memories on his personal blog, "Blog To Express".

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The Singapore River precinct, with three distinctive quays - Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay - is the historic heart of the city and the foundation upon which Singapore has been built. Its diverse offerings and welcoming ambience are a draw for both locals and visitors.

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http://graphics.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/2015/slider/microsite/#central-clarkequay

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Singapore Slider: Then & Now | The Straits Times

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Singapore Slider: Then & Now | The Straits Times

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See how places in Singapore have changed over the years with photos from the Straits Times archives #sg50

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_148_2005-02-02.html

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Singapore River (historical overview) | Infopedia

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The Singapore River is located within the island's Central Region. The 3.2-kilometre-long waterway - from its mouth to Kim Seng Bridge - has been the lifeline of Singapore for almost 200 years. Proof of its ancient beginnings lies in the Singapore Stone, which was discovered at the river mouth in 1819 with undecipherable inscriptions.

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https://remembersingapore.org/2012/05/11/from-villages-to-flats-part-2/

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The history of the public housing in Singapore is largely divided into two sections: The Singapore Improvement Trust's (SIT) period and the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) era. Two minor players that had also contributed in the building of public housing were Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) Private Limited.

The percentage of the local population living in public housing was raised from 9% in 1959 to 23% in 1965. Since 1985, at least 80% of the Singaporeans live in HDB flats.

For decades, kampong and flats actually co-existed on this island. Today, the kampong days were long gone, cherished by many older generations, while most of the younger generations have their childhoods spent in HDB flats, playgrounds and other facilities that are common in a typical new town.

Here's a look at some of the most iconic old flats (more than 30 years old) built by SIT and HDB from the 1920s to the 1980s.
Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT)
In the early 20th century, the British colonial government began to tackle the housing issues in Singapore, mainly due to overcrowding, poor hygienic and living conditions in shophouses, villages and squatter settlements. The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) was proposed in 1920, before the bill was finally passed seven years later. The newly set up entity took on its first project in the creation of Tiong Bahru Estate in the thirties.

Singapore's population grew exponentially after the Second World War, and the ineffectiveness of SIT was exposed when its supply of housing could not meet the demand. In three decades, SIT could only manage to build 32,000 units. Eventually it was dissolved in 1959, replaced by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) which was established in 1960.

After conducting survey around the Downtown Core of Singapore, the Municipal Council expressed shock at conditions of the slums found in the city. Three areas were identified by SIT to have the worst conditions, including Lorong Brunei (now defunct) between Queen Street and Victoria Street, Albert Street and Lorong Krian (now defunct) near Rochor Road, and Sago Street in Chinatown.

Due to insufficient funds, the plans to clear up the slums and provide alternative housing to resettle the squatters were not successful.

After almost a decade of the removal of the villages and the exhumation of graves, the first flats were finally built at Tiong Bahru in 1936. Tiong Bahru became SIT's first completed project, and the flats were later known as the pre-war flats, with reference to the Second World War. Numbered from 55 to 82, these blocks were mostly three to five storeys tall, thus the neighbourhood was given a common name called gor lau (five-storey) by the local Chinese. Due to the threat of war, the flats were designed with thick walls and underground bunkers. The block of 78 at Guan Chuan Street still processes the only remaining public air raid shelter in Singapore.

The pre-war flats were given privatisation status from 1965 to 1967 by the government, at a price range of $10,000 to $32,000 for the two-roomed units and a five-roomed units respectively. In 2003, they were placed under the conservation list.

Under the Jackson Plan of 1822, an area in what is Chinatown today was allocated for the early Chinese to settle. By the early 20th century, the shophouses in Chinatown were plagued by over-congestion, crime and hygienic issues.

In order to solve the housing needs at Chinatown, SIT built several public flats at New Bridge Road, Trengganu Street and Banda Street starting from 1938. These flats, known fondly as fay kay lou (飞机楼; literally means aeroplane building in Cantonese) due to their resemblance to Kallang Airport's control tower, were demolished in 1975 and replaced by Kreta Ayer Centre.

The SIT flats along Smith Street had brought horrendous memories to the locals as they were used by the Kempetai, Imperial Japanese Army's military police, as their sub-headquarters in the city area during the Second World War.

Beside the flats, SIT also built rows of four-storey shophouses along New Bridge Road and Cross Street that are conserved till this day.

In the development of Balestier estate, SIT built a series of white single-storey flats near Lorong Limau. Called Artisan Dwellings, the name of these flats was derived from the United Kingdom's The Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act. The act, passed in 1875, was to allow the Municipal Council the power to demolish slums.

The invitation for tenders for the construction of SIT Flats in Bugis were released in 1947. The four-storey blocks were completed in the late 1940s, located between Albert Street and Cheng Yan Place. The flats lasted until the eighties before their demolition, and its site was replaced by Bugis Village. Part of Albert Street was renamed New Bugis Street, which is now an inner road inside the shopping mall.

1948 to 1951 - Tiong Bahru (Post-War)

Another set of flats at Tiong Bahru was built after the Second World War, in the period of 1948 to 1951. Equipped with large round staircases, these flats were largely modeled after new towns in Britain, and designed with Art Deco and international style.

After 1973, the post-war flats, numbered between 17 and 50, were sold to residents as regulated HDB flats.

After the Second World War, SIT also built a number of flats and shophouses at Kampong Java, near present-day Newton Circus. Today, the estate had become defunct and replaced by high-rise condominiums. The SIT flats used to be situated along Kampong Java Road, Norfolk Road and Winstedt Road.

Located at Upper Bukit Timah (beside present-day Hillview District), Princess Elizabeth Estate was named after then-Princess Elizabeth in 1950 to commemorate her royal wedding. SIT developed this estate with a mixture of single-storey, three-storey and seven-storey flats, fitted with electricity and water supplies. A total of 24 blocks were built, sufficient for some 1,200 residents.

Princess Elizabeth Estate had ceased to exist after the mid-nineties. The only remnants of this estate today are Elizabeth Drive and Princess Elizabeth Primary School, which has since moved to Bukit Batok after the estate was demolished.

There was another Princess Elizabeth Estate built by SIT at Race Course Road, Farrer Park. The twin estates often gave rise to confusion because of their similarity in the names: One was called Princess Elizabeth Park (Upper Bukit Timah), while the other was known as Princess Elizabeth Flats (Farrer Park).

Princess Elizabeth Flats were demolished in 1978, to be replaced by what is known as Pek Kio now.

The three nine-storey SIT flats along Upper Pickering Street were built in 1951 and situated just opposite the popular Hong Lim Park. One of the blocks was used by SIT as one of its offices.

The original design included another curved block at the back of the three flats (at Upper Hokien Street) but the plan never materialised. Its site is now occupied by Hong Lim Complex.

The flats would, however, become infamous as the suicide flats (similar to Forfar House mentioned below). 20 people had jumped off the buildings in five years after its completion. The last two blocks were demolished in 2003.

In the early fifties, SIT embarked on a housing project at Little India, building many two-storey flats between Gloucester Road and Race Course Road. Some of these flats lasted until the eighties.

Another set of flats was built at Kolam Ayer, at the end of Bendemeer Road.

Besides flats, SIT also built small housing estate with uniquely designed houses. A fine example was the "Dutch's Corner" in the Serangoon district. Seventeen houses styled like little Dutch cottages had lined up along Dorset Road for more than 30 years before they were demolished in 1973.

Built before the independence of Singapore, the three-storey and four-storey flats at Tanglin Halt, only seven of them left currently, are the renmants of the SIT low-rise flats in Queenstown. A couple of these flats are now leased to yo:HA Commonwealth as hostels for exchange students of the National University of Singapore.

1953 to 1958 - Silat Avenue

In the fifties, 15 blocks of SIT flats and a Silat Community Centre were built at Silat Avenue to accommodate the residents from the nearby Kampong Silat.

The community centre and two front blocks were torn down in the late nineties, while the remaining 13 blocks enjoyed the peaceful environment of Kampong Bahru for another decade before they were listed for en-bloc in 2007.

By 2012, most of the blocks were vacated, and expected to make way for new buildings in another couple of years.

The district of Margaret Drive was formerly known as Duchess Estate, which was one of the five neighbourhoods in Queenstown planned by SIT. The development of this district began in 1954, and was only fully completed in 1970, years after HDB took over, where it built a library, cinemas, hawker centres, wet markets and shops.

The red-bricked flats, 15-storey tall, were different from the previous low-rise housing projects by SIT. Most of these flats were demolished by end of 2011 to make way for the redevelopment of Queenstown.
1954 to 1958 - Kim Keat, Toa Payoh
In 1954, SIT celebrated the completion of their 10,000th unit at Kim Keat, otherwise known as the Temple Estate. The white three-storey flats stood side-by-side with the brown attap houses of the kampong that already existed in that region.

The success of the low-rise flats prompted SIT to build more flats, taller at nine-storey, at Kim Keat four years later in 1958.

SIT flats at Guillemard Road were built to accommodate the illegal squatters living at the reclaimed land around Beach Road. The attap houses were demolished due to the construction of the Merdeka Bridge over Kallang Basin.

Before being dissolved, SIT managed to built a number of SIT flats at Redhill Close by 1955. Consisting a total of 21 pinkish seven-storey blocks designed with trapezoid roofs and curved-top facades, these flats will be torn down in a few years' time due to the SERS program.

The district of Strathmore and Dawson were formerly well-known as the Princess (Margaret) Estate, named after Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister. In 1956, the little estate made history when the tallest residential flat in Singapore was completed. The iconic 14-storey block was numbered 39 and named Forfar House, after a small Scottish town where Queen Elizabeth's mother once lived. It was also popularly called chup si lau, or 14-storey, by the local Chinese.

Forfar House was surrounded by low-rise SIT flats otherwise known as si lau chu (four-storey house) or lam po lay (blue glass). This was due to the flats being only four storeys tall and fitted with blue windows. Princess Estate was the only neighbourhood in Queenstown fully completed by the SIT.

Aesthetically pleasant, Forfar House, however, had an unwanted reputation of being a suicide block, thus its other not-so-pleasant nickname was tiao lau (literally means "jumping from a high-rise building" in Hokkien). Many suicide victims ended their life from the highest storeys of this flat. After 1995, Forfar House was placed on the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) list and was subsequently demolished. In 2005, the 40-storey towers of Forfar Heights were built in place of the site where Forfar House once stood on, becoming the new landmark of Strathmore and Dawson.

By the late fifties, SIT had been providing public housing for some thirty years, even though it was not up to the expectation. In 1957, it had extended its plan to as far as Bukit Panjang. Single-storey houses were built, and like many other SIT estates, there were metal railings fixed outside the houses for clothes-drying purposes.

Datoka is a small peaceful neighbourhood located near the old Kallang Airport. Its name was derived from the United States' transport airplane Datoka DC-3, which was being used intensively during the Second World War. In 1958, SIT built 14 block of brick-walled flats, not more than 10-storey tall, in this little housing estate that last until today.

The sleepy neighbourhood at Stirling Road might not be prominent, but it has an important place in the history of Singapore's public housing as it marked the transition of the SIT era to HDB era.

When SIT developed the satellite town of Queenstown, it built three blocks at Stirling Road, numbered 45, 48 and 49. They were only half finished when SIT was dissolved, and the task was handed over to HDB. The seven-storey flats were considered the first ever flats built by HDB when they were completed in 1960.

The successful model of the SIT flats at Kim Keat was duplicated at Aljunied, where it was one of SIT's last housing projects before its handing over to HDB.
Housing and Development Board (HDB)
In its first decade of operation, HDB raised the percentage of Singapore's population living in public housing from 9% to 32%, supplying more than 100,000 units. The early projects in HDB's second five-year plan (1960-1965) covered Telok Blangah, Rochor, Henderson, Outram, MacPherson, Serangoon and the Kallang Basin. The United Nations (UN) experts were invited to advice on the country's urban renewal plan, which was targeted to accommodate a population of 4 million people. After Queenstown which was partially a SIT project, Toa Payoh became the first new town to be fully completed by HDB in 1968.

The efficiency of HDB was led by Lim Kim San (1916-2006), HDB's first chairman (1960-1963) and Singapore's Minister for National Development (1963-1965), who was credited for his massive contribution to the public housing. The role to lead HDB as the new public housing provider was deemed a difficult one, but Lim Kim San volunteered for the position and did not get paid for his three years at HDB.

Shortly after his appointment in 1960, Lim Kim San silenced his critics by successfully completing 10,000 units within a year and resettling the victims of the Bukit Ho Swee Fire. In 1964, Lim Kim San also introduced the home ownership scheme, which the low income families could use a portion of their Central Provident Fund (CPF) to buy a flat.

One of the oldest housing estates in Singapore, Tanglin Halt has a common name known among the local Chinese as chup lau, which was derived from the ten-storey flats built here. The other estate with the same nickname of chup lau is at Circuit Road.

The blocks of flats were built by HDB between 1960 and 1967, and are now selected for the SERS program. Chup lau coexists with the low-rise SIT flats in the same neighbourhood (mentioned above), but unlike its preserved cousins, the fifty-plus-year-old ten-storey blocks will be likely to be demolished in 2013.

The notorious Bukit Ho Swee Fire on 25 May 1961 destroyed thousands of attap houses at the squatter settlements of Bukit Ho Swee, leaving 15,000 people homeless. HDB, led by Lim Kim San, acted swiftly to build many low cost flats in just nine months, and 8,000 more units in the next four years, for the residents who had lost their homes. The remaining squatter settlement was destroyed in another fire in 1968. By then, Bukit Ho Swee estate had enough housing to accommodate the 3,000 homeless refugees.

The picture above shows the construction of 14 emergency flats used to house the residents in 1961. These low six-storey flats lasted for many years before they were eventually demolished to be replaced by the current batch of flats at Bukit Ho Swee.

The four blocks of low-rise two-room flats are the only public housing left at East Coast Road. They are built in 1962, just two years after the establishment of HDB. In 2011, three blocks of East Coast Road flats, numbered 1 to 3, were selected for the SERS program and are expected to be torn down after 2015.

1962 to 1964 - Commonwealth Close

Three blocks of 16-storey flats stand on a little hill at Commonwealth Close. When they were built between 1962 and 1964, the blocks were prominent enough to be given a dialect nickname of chup lark lau (16-storey).

Block 81, in particular, was the most "important" block as it was used to showcase the success of Queenstown, Singapore's first satellite town. Glamorous foreign visitors of the VIP flat included the United Kingdom's royalties Prince Philip and Princess Alexandra, United States Vice President Spiro Agnew and Akihito, the Emperor of Japan.

After the Second World War, Singapore's population surged but a large percentage was still concentrated in the city area. Under HDB's Urban Renewal Plan, many old shophouses were demolished in order for low-cost housing estates to be developed for the residents. Thus, even today, it is not uncommon to see HDB high-rise flats standing among other skyscrapers in a highly commercialised Central Business District (CBD).

The housing estates in the city area include Hong Lim Complex (Block 532-538), Chinatown Complex (Block 3-4, 333-335), Everton Park (Block 1-7), Tanjong Pagar Plaza (Block 1-8), Chin Swee Estate (Block 1-13, 32-34, 51-54), Waterloo Centre (Block 262-264), Bras Basah Complex (Block 232-233), Queen Street (Block 269-272), Rochor Centre (Block 1-4), Tekka Centre (Block 661-665), Kelantan Road (Block 25-31), Jalan Besar (Block 632-642) and Selegie House (Block 8-10).

Selegie House, in particular, was one of the tallest buildings in the early sixties. It was opened in 1963 during HDB's second five-year plan (1960-1965). The three blocks, one 20-storey tall and the other two 10-storey tall, shared 505 housing units, 39 shops and a restaurant. The total cost was $3.8 million and could house as many as 4,000 residents in its two-room, three-room and four-room formats. Selegie House was one of HDB's most successful low-cost flats, fitted with fast lifts, electricity, water and gas supplies. Phone lines and Rediffusion services were also installed. The units were mainly for rental, at a rate between $60 and $120 per month.

The iconic coloured flats of Rochor Centre, in bright striking colours of blue, green, red and yellow, were built by HDB in 1977. A popular place filled with shops selling ceremonial and religious items, beauty salons, hardware shops and a famous bak kut teh stall, the trademark flats, however, are scheduled to be torn down to make way for the construction of the new North-South Expressway in 2016.

Built in the early eighties, the two blocks of flats at the Bras Basah Complex, famous for its four storeys of shops selling books, art, music and literature, are one of HDB's last public housing projects in the city area. In 2010, a 25-storey resale four-room unit was sold to a Taiwanese couple for $650,000, smashing the record for price per square feet.

The now-defunct Cantonment Road Estate at Tanjong Pagar had as many as 334 units in its two blocks of flats that were completed in only nine months. It was torn down in the early 2000s and replaced by the Pinnacle@Duxton. Other housing estates at city that were demolished were Victoria Street Estate, Ellenbough Estate (replaced by Central and Clarke Quay MRT), Outram Park and the old Lavender Street Estate.

Toa Payoh is Singapore's second satellite town after Queenstown, and was solely developed by HDB. One of the new designs explored by HDB was the point block design, which had to be made up of three-room to five-room units in order to be economically viable in the construction cost. The unique Y-shaped block, 19-storey tall, was one of the first of its kind when it was completed in the early seventies.

The success of the Y-shaped point block paved way for the construction of more point blocks in Toa Payoh, and the height was increased to 25-storey.

The Mei Ling/Mei Chin estate of Queenstown was once a hilly area made up of farms, cemeteries and a large Hokkien village called Boh Beh Kang (No Tail River). The quiet neighbourhood scored two records for HDB in the seventies.

Blocks 160 and 161 were Singapore's first point blocks built in 1970, while block 168A, completed in 1973, was the first residential flat to be specially designed. Unlike other rectangular blocks, it was styled with curvatures in a symmetrical way, thus a nickname of "Butterfly Block" was bestowed to it.

In its fourth five-year plan between 1971 and 1975, HDB used the classic slab block design (three- to four-room units for blocks, and five-room units for point blocks) to duplicate for the new towns of Ang Mo Kio, Clementi and Bedok, targeted at the rising number of low-middle income families. A typical three-room unit cost as little as $10,000 in the early eighties.

Before the upgrading, the lifts in these 30-plus flats do not stop at every levels. Like the long common corridors that link different columns together, the lifts are only available at intervals of three to five storeys.

Each unit has a two-step doorway that leads to the common corridor, and windows made up of tempered glass and aluminum panes.

Void decks were added to the designs of HDB flats since 1970s. At the void decks, it is common to find facilities such as table tennis table, stone benches and round tables engraved with Chinese chess or international chess formats. As the estate ages, elderly corners are also set up in the void decks.

While the mama shops operate at the void decks, the likes of provision shops, barbers, hair salons, clinics and kopitiam are allocated on the ground floors of HDB blocks for their businesses. Heavily subsidised by HDB in the rental fees, these shops provide great convenience to the residents.

The cluster of blue flats at Zion Road are built in 1973, with the most prominent block being the large curved block of 92, situated at the bend of Zion Road and Havelock Road. The Zion Road flats, almost 40 years old now, will be demolished soon after being selected in the SERS program in 2006.

The new town of Bishan was first built in the early eighties, but Sin Ming estate was developed a decade earlier. Completed in 1973, the blocks, numbered 22 to 27, are initially planned as housing for the nearby industrial estates, which has now developed into a concentrated point for car repair workshops. The kopitiam at block 22 is famous for bak kut teh, zi char and duck rice.
1973 to 1976 - Marine Parade
Marine Parade is the oldest HDB housing estate to remain intact. So far, there are no demolition of old HDB blocks or addition of new ones. Located near East Coast Park, the estate, made up of 56 slab blocks and 17 point blocks, remain popular among the residents even after almost 40 years.

At the "royal' estate (made up of King's Road, Queen's Road, Empress Road, Duke's Road) along Farrer Road, there are several blocks of HDB flats designed in a similar fashion as the SIT flats of Redhill Close (mentioned above). Built in 1974, the light blue coloured flats are much taller but have similar vertical protruding facades as balconies.

Built in 1975, the classic flats at Dover estate were declared for SERS in 2004. By late 2010, the once popular cosy neighbourhood turned into a ghost town after the last batch of residents had moved out. The flats were scheduled to be demolished in 2012.

Three low-rise HDB flats were built at tiny Neo Tiew in 1979 to accommodate the residents of Lim Chu Kang. The estate was abandoned in 2002 and is now used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for urban warfare exercises. Equipped with a wet market, shops and playgrounds, the same model was also duplicated at Seletar Road, near Jalan Kayu. It was en-bloc in 2005 and is now used as a foreign worker dormitory.

Unlike other classic flats in Ang Mo Kio, the white cylindrical flat numbered 259 located at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and 2 is an early example of a HDB design and build project. The objective was to have a breakthrough in the traditional designs of a typical HDB flat of the eighties.

Made up of four cylindrical blocks, the 25-storey flat looks like a lucky four leaf clover from the top. It even has customised round water tanks installed on the rooftops to suit the design. Since its completion, the "four leaf clover" flat has become an unmistakable landmark of Ang Mo Kio.

When the British withdrew their presence in Singapore after 1971, HDB launched a Changi Village Development Project at this far eastern part of the island. By 1981, a small laid back neighbourhood with low-rise HDB flats, a popular hawker center and a little bus terminal were completed.

The batch of three-room and four-room flats along Hougang Avenue 7 were completed between 1983 and 1985. Many of them were reserved for the pig farmers that were relocated due to the development of Hougang. Over the years, block 316 becomes the iconic landmark with its giant painted rainbow on its facade.

It is not uncommon to find public flats in Hougang decorated with some colourful paintwork. Another example is the Welcome Block of number 25 at Hougang Avenue 3. Similarly, flats at Yishun have also colourful themes such as flowers, kites and sports.

The humble estate of Potong Pasir was first developed in 1982. Two years later, the first blocks of flats were completed. The most striking feature about Potong Pasir flats are their long sloping roofs. Nicknamed "Slides in the Sky", they give a distinctive skyline as compared to other housing estates in Singapore. The flats are made up of three-, four- and five-room units, while the double-storey executive maisonettes are tucked just below the slanted roofs.

HDB Terrace Houses, Maisonettes and Penthouses

Other than the single-room to five-room units in slab block and point block designs, HDB also came up with other types of flats that are now considered uncommon.

The terrace houses built by SIT in the fifties were taken over by HDB, and would later become known as one of the few landed properties offered by HDB. Only three managed to survive till this day, including the clusters at Stirling Road, Jalan Bahagia and Upper Boon Keng Road. The terrace houses are classified in the same categories as HDB three-room and four-room flats and have the same 99-year lease.

Executive maisonettes are rare breed of HDB flats that come with double storeys, three bedrooms and an additional study room. HDB first built them in 1980 in new towns such as Ang Mo Kio, Clementi, Hougang, Yishun and Sembawang. Such model was discontinued after the introduction of Executive Condominium (EC) Housing Scheme in 1995.

Another unique design is the executive maisonette with a sky terrace (similar to penthouse). Located at the top of point blocks, such HDB executive maisonettes can be found at Bishan, Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Sunset Way and Strathmore Avenue. In 2010, an executive maisonette in Bishan became a talking point when it was sold for $900,000, the highest ever transaction for a HDB flat.

The rarest of the HDB designs belongs to the multi-generation flats, with only seven such blocks being built in Bishan and Yishun in the late eighties. Two units are paired up side-by-side with a common door in between them. The purpose of multi-generation flats was to encourage the children to live beside their parents after their marriages.
Jurong Town Corporation (JTC)
Started in 1969, JTC was involved in building a small number of low-cost flats for residents working at Jurong (Taman Gardens, Teban Gardens, Pandan Gardens and Boon Lay Gardens) and Sembawang industrial estates. The aim was to create a cohesive environment in which the people could live and work. Jurong Hill Park was one of JTC's recreation projects for its residents.

The management of the flats was handed over to HDB in 1982. Most of the flats were demolished in the mid-nineties and early 2000s, while only a handful survives, such as the blocks around Yung Ping Road and Yung Kuang Road. However, these JTC flats have been en-bloc and abandoned since 2011, and are likely to be demolished in near future to make way for new housing estate at Taman Jurong.
Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC)
HUDC Private Limited took on the task to provide public housing between 1974 and 1982 for the middle-income families. The flats they built were the largest among other flats, exceeding 100m ² in sizes. Like the JTC flats, HDB took over the management of HUDC flats in 1982. As the demand dwindled by the late eighties, HDB decided to phase out the building of HUDC flats in 1987.

It was not until 1995 when HDB announced the privatisation plans of HUDC flats. Gillman Heights (at the junction of Alexandra Road and Depot Road; replaced by The Interlace condominium), Pine Grove (off Ulu Pandan) and Ivory Heights (along Jurong Town Hall Road) were among the first HUDC estate to be privatised in the late nineties.

One of the most prominent HUDC flats in Singapore are the three tall brownish blocks at the Lakeview Estate at Upper Thomson Road.
Housing and Development Board (HDB)
1960s to 1980s - Political Goals

The ruling party PAP (People's Action Party) enjoyed high support from the people from the sixties to the eighties. One of the factors was the success of HDB and their five-year plans, which provided continuous supply of low-cost affordable flats for the masses. Low-middle income families were able to rent, and later purchase, housing units at reasonable rates. The transition from living in kampong to flats had great impact to many people, as they could enjoy the convenience of having water, electricity and gas supplies at their finger tips. Young generations of that era were also encouraged to get married, have homes and start their own families.

In the nineties, HDB supplied the housing market with an average of 30,000 units per annum. It also stopped fixing the prices of new flats based on construction costs, and allowed the supply and demand forces to determine the prices of new and resale flats. This cost the prices of HDB flats to triple in five years, eventually peaking in late 1996. The Asian Currency Crisis of 1997 crashed the property market, causing prices of the flats to plunge as much as 55%.

2000s - Under Supply, Over Demand

Due to many unsold units in the early 2000s, HDB began to limit the supply to only 5,000 to 10,000 units per year. Build-to-Order (BTO) scheme was introduced, so that the construction of the flats would only proceed if 70% of the units were booked. On the other hand, the sudden influx of foreigners caused a rapid increase in the rental fees and the units' "cash over valuation" (COV).

In a vicious cycle from 2003 to 2011, the prices of new and resale HDB flats had doubled or more. Many newly married couples found it extremely difficult to own their flat due to high pricing and long waiting time. The unhappiness and frustration of Singaporeans cost the ruling party votes in the General Election of 2011, where they won by their lowest ever margin.

HDB also introduced the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) in 2005. Pinnacle@Duxton was a success, with its excellent location and award-winning design. However, the prices of DBSS flats kept climbing. By the time Centrale 8 was launched in 2011 at Tampines, the eighth DBSS project, its asking price for a five-room unit was as high as $880,000. This caused a huge uproar from the public, and subsequently prompted the government to stop land sales for future DBSS projects. The Pasir Ris One of 2012 is expected to be the last DBSS flat to be built.

Will the prices of HDB flats breach $1 million in years to come? How will our future generations afford their homes? These are the questions to ponder.

For public housing affected by SERS, read Singapore En-bloc Flats.

Also read From Villages to Flats (Part 1) - The Kampong Days and From Villages to Flats (Part 3) - Traditional Shophouses.

Published: 11 May 2012

Updated: 15 May 2016

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From Villages to Flats (Part 2) - Public Housing in Singapore

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The history of the public housing in Singapore is largely divided into two sections: The Singapore Improvement Trust's (SIT) period and the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) era. Two minor players that had also contributed in the building of public housing were Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC) Private Limited....

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https://remembersingapore.org/2012/04/04/from-villages-to-flats-part-1/

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From Villages to Flats (Part 1) – The Kampong Days

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The rapid urbanisation of Singapore in the past four decades has seen hundreds of villages demolished and the lands freed up for redevelopment. The life of many Singaporeans of the last generation …

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_734_2005-01-24.html

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Chinatown is an estate located largely in the Outram area in the Central Region of Singapore. In his 1822 master Town Plan, Sir Stamford Raffles allocated the whole area west of the Singapore River for a Chinese settlement known as the Chinese Campong (kampong in Malay means "village"), envisaging the Chinese people to form the bulk of future town dwellers.

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2016-02-17_161442.html?s=singapore%20trade

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The opening of Singapore as a British free port in 1819 attracted trade from the Bugis, a group of seafarers from the southern Celebes (today's Indonesian island of Sulawesi). Travelling on their distinctive boats known as prahus, they brought with them specialised sea and forest produce gathered from the islands of the Malay Archipelago in exchange for goods such as opium or British and Malayan products.

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/history/timeline/1819-1945

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HistorySG is an online resource guide to events that have unfolded in Singapore's history since 1299 to the present. Each event is briefly introduced in a short write-up accompanied by links to related content from the collections of the National Library Board (NLB) as well as that of other agencies and institutions.

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http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_87_2004-12-15.html

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Chinese coolies, who were engaged mostly in unskilled, hard labour, formed the early backbone of Singapore's labour force. They were mainly impoverished Chinese immigrants who came to Singapore in the latter half of the 19th century to seek fortune, but instead served as indentured labourers.

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http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Singapore/sub5_7a/entry-3710.html

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CHINESE, MALAYS AND INDIANS IN EARLY SINGAPORE | Facts and Details

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Just as the European merchant community used Chinese middlemen in conducting their business, the Straits government relied on prominent Chinese businessmen to act as go-betweens with the Chinese community. In the early years, the Baba Chinese, who usually spoke English, served in this capacity.

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https://padlet.com/jerie/raffles

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https://padlet.com/jerie/lky