The New Paper: Keeping Pulau Ubin alive
Hi All!
The New Paper (TNP) has recently published an article titled "Keeping Pulau Ubin alive" where familiar faces in the Ubin community such as Village chief, Mr Chu Yok Choon, residents Ms Mary Tan, Mdm Ong Ang Kui (Lye Huat Soh) and Mr Lee Ah Yong were interviewed by TNP on their current views in the preservation efforts and status of Pulau Ubin. Chipping in their views and opinions as well included members of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) such as executive director of the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), Dr Chua Ai Lin, Director NParks Pulau Ubin, Mr Robert Teo and even myself as well (but in a separate article)!
I was completely thrilled when Ai Lin texted me earlier in the morning, sending pictures of the hardcopy version of the TNP article. To be honest, I almost completely forgot that I had been interviewed by the TNP via phone late last month; so when I read towards the end of the main article and came across a sub-article with the header "Man finds remains of late grandparents' home on Ubin", I was intrigued.
Nonetheless, I am completely humbled to have been featured in the news; especially for something that I hold dear in my heart. You may read up on my feature here! I am also very delighted to know that more and more news regarding Pulau Ubin and the restoration efforts have started to come into the limelight as of late, and I hope that more Singaporeans, especially the younger ones, would be involved in Ubin's future.
The following are full excerpts of the TNP article dated October 15th, 2018:
"Keeping Pulau Ubin alive
More needs to be done to ensure Singapore's last remaining offshore community - Ubin - goes on as a living kampung.
In 2014, the Ministry of National Development (MND) launched The Ubin Project to preserve the 10.2 sq km island's cultural and natural heritage and sustain its unique identity.
For the islanders though, Ubin's charms mask challenges.
Village chief Chu Yok Choon, 73, told The New Paper in Mandarin that while it would be best if the island was preserved, it does not take away the fact that daily life can be tough.
He said: "On this island, to get anything we want is difficult."
INCONVENIENCE
Transportation, for example, is one of the many bugbears.
People and goods get to the island by boat from Changi Point, using boatmen who ply the route from 5.30am to 7pm.
They usually wait until their 12-person boats are full before making the trip, and islanders told TNP that the boatmen have to charter them once operating hours are over.
Ms Mary Tan, 45, who is married to an Ubin resident and helps out at the family's bicycle rental shop on the island two to three times a week, said in Mandarin: "If you want to book a boat at night, it is double the price, and it is not as if you can get one even if you pay for it."
Bringing over supplies and provisions such as food and fuel from the mainland can also be difficult and costly.
Mr Lee Ah Yong, 58, who helps run the Chew Teck Seng Provision Shop, told TNP that he pays $50 to $100 for a boat to bring in supplies for the shop.
Ubin sees about 300,000 visitors a year and while the throngs of tourists, students, campers, and nature and fishing enthusiasts bring some hubbub to the island, on most nights, it falls silent.
Villagers said that over the years, their neighbours have died or moved back to the mainland and only a handful remain on the island daily.
LIVING KAMPUNG
For Dr Chua Ai Lin, 44, executive director of the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), the key to protecting what is Singapore's last remaining offshore island community is to keep it going as a living kampung.
She told TNP: "(A kampung) is not a collection of buildings, it is the people who live there."
The SHS is part of the Friends of Ubin Network, a community formed in 2014 to drive MND's The Ubin Project, and has been working over the last four years to conserve and revitalise Ubin's living heritage.
Dr Chua said many families with roots in Ubin feel a strong relationship with the island and the younger generation want to see a future for it.
A study commissioned by the National Heritage Board in 2015 found a thriving kampung-centred social network on Ubin, which expanded beyond its shores.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which manages Pulau Ubin, told TNP that a recent census found that the local community had about 100 people, including those who return to the island on weekends.
Still, Dr Chua said that the practicality of making a life
Many of the houses and buildings are in a poor condition and restoring them is one step to bringing those with an Ubin connection back to the island, she added.
But it is not that simple.
While the islanders own their structures, the land, acquired by the state in 1993, does not belong to them.
The Government has been helping to restore some amenities and kampung houses, but those earmarked for restoration are empty and belong to the state.
To remain on Ubin, households and businesses have to obtain a temporary occupation licence from NParks, and pay a licence fee based on what the site is used for, its location away from the mainland, and its size.
This adds to the feeling of uncertainty for many .
Dr Chua said: "If (the residents) have no security about the length of their tenure, why would they put in money to repair the house?"
To address this, NParks said that it has extended the temporary occupation licence periods from one year to three years.
Dr Chua and Mr Chu both raised concerns about the difficulty in transferring the temporary occupation licence.
Mr Chu said the son of an Ubin resident who died had been trying for months to get his father's licence transferred to him but to no avail.
Dr Chua said: "This year alone, four elderly Ubin people have died. The question is how can we facilitate a smooth handover of their legacy on Ubin to the next generation."
For Dr Chua, preserving Ubin's unique heritage also requires cooperation from all parties as some of the issues can be complicated.
She gave the example of Ah Ma's Drink Stall, which was given a facelift by National University of Singapore architecture undergraduates this year.
The stall was rebuilt using traditional kampung-style construction methods to retain its rustic character but had to meet modern building and fire-safety regulations.
Dr Chua said: "We learnt that there are so many government regulations and licences to apply for. We had a lot of help from NParks and from MND, both in terms of paying for many of the costs, but also critically, facilitating a lot of talks with other agencies."
The project, initiated by SHS, community group Kawan Ubin and Sea Angel, a group of volunteer lifeguards, is a pilot for the rebuilding of future kampung homes on Ubin and can serve as a model of how to help the Ubin community, she said.
With many getting on in their years, islanders are also finding it hard to look too far ahead.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Like many Ubin residents TNP spoke to, Madam Ong Ang Kui, 80, who runs the 23-year-old Ah Ma's Drinks Stall, takes it one day at a time.
While she prefers to be on the island instead of her flat in Bedok, Madam Ong said she will move when she gets too old to continue selling drinks.
She said: "I will miss it but there is no choice. If not, who is going to take care of you? Outside of the island, there are my grandchildren, my daughters-in-law, my children."
Ms Tan, who lives and works on the mainland as a real estate agent, noted that the island's youngest residents are about 50 or 60 years old.
She said: "How many people can continue to stay here and for how long more?"
She added jokingly: "Twenty years ago, there were still people to quarrel with.
"Now I don't hear any squabbles any more,"-KOK YUFENG"
--
You may also read the entire article on The New Paper website as well!
"Keeping Pulau Ubin alive"
Read up on my featured article here!
"The New Paper: Man finds remains of his late grandparents' home on Ubin"
Read up on other news articles about Ubin in my "Ubin In The News" series!
The New Paper (TNP) has recently published an article titled "Keeping Pulau Ubin alive" where familiar faces in the Ubin community such as Village chief, Mr Chu Yok Choon, residents Ms Mary Tan, Mdm Ong Ang Kui (Lye Huat Soh) and Mr Lee Ah Yong were interviewed by TNP on their current views in the preservation efforts and status of Pulau Ubin. Chipping in their views and opinions as well included members of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN) such as executive director of the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), Dr Chua Ai Lin, Director NParks Pulau Ubin, Mr Robert Teo and even myself as well (but in a separate article)!
I was completely thrilled when Ai Lin texted me earlier in the morning, sending pictures of the hardcopy version of the TNP article. To be honest, I almost completely forgot that I had been interviewed by the TNP via phone late last month; so when I read towards the end of the main article and came across a sub-article with the header "Man finds remains of late grandparents' home on Ubin", I was intrigued.
Nonetheless, I am completely humbled to have been featured in the news; especially for something that I hold dear in my heart. You may read up on my feature here! I am also very delighted to know that more and more news regarding Pulau Ubin and the restoration efforts have started to come into the limelight as of late, and I hope that more Singaporeans, especially the younger ones, would be involved in Ubin's future.
The following are full excerpts of the TNP article dated October 15th, 2018:
"Keeping Pulau Ubin alive
More needs to be done to ensure Singapore's last remaining offshore community - Ubin - goes on as a living kampung.
Mr Lee Ah Yong moved to Pulau Ubin three years ago to help mind Chew Teck Seng's Provision Shop. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Kwan via TNP
In 2014, the Ministry of National Development (MND) launched The Ubin Project to preserve the 10.2 sq km island's cultural and natural heritage and sustain its unique identity.
For the islanders though, Ubin's charms mask challenges.
Village chief Chu Yok Choon, 73, told The New Paper in Mandarin that while it would be best if the island was preserved, it does not take away the fact that daily life can be tough.
He said: "On this island, to get anything we want is difficult."
INCONVENIENCE
Transportation, for example, is one of the many bugbears.
People and goods get to the island by boat from Changi Point, using boatmen who ply the route from 5.30am to 7pm.
They usually wait until their 12-person boats are full before making the trip, and islanders told TNP that the boatmen have to charter them once operating hours are over.
Ms Mary Tan, 45, who is married to an Ubin resident and helps out at the family's bicycle rental shop on the island two to three times a week, said in Mandarin: "If you want to book a boat at night, it is double the price, and it is not as if you can get one even if you pay for it."
Bringing over supplies and provisions such as food and fuel from the mainland can also be difficult and costly.
Mr Lee Ah Yong, 58, who helps run the Chew Teck Seng Provision Shop, told TNP that he pays $50 to $100 for a boat to bring in supplies for the shop.
Ubin sees about 300,000 visitors a year and while the throngs of tourists, students, campers, and nature and fishing enthusiasts bring some hubbub to the island, on most nights, it falls silent.
Villagers said that over the years, their neighbours have died or moved back to the mainland and only a handful remain on the island daily.
LIVING KAMPUNG
For Dr Chua Ai Lin, 44, executive director of the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS), the key to protecting what is Singapore's last remaining offshore island community is to keep it going as a living kampung.
She told TNP: "(A kampung) is not a collection of buildings, it is the people who live there."
The SHS is part of the Friends of Ubin Network, a community formed in 2014 to drive MND's The Ubin Project, and has been working over the last four years to conserve and revitalise Ubin's living heritage.
Dr Chua said many families with roots in Ubin feel a strong relationship with the island and the younger generation want to see a future for it.
A study commissioned by the National Heritage Board in 2015 found a thriving kampung-centred social network on Ubin, which expanded beyond its shores.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which manages Pulau Ubin, told TNP that a recent census found that the local community had about 100 people, including those who return to the island on weekends.
Still, Dr Chua said that the practicality of making a life
Many of the houses and buildings are in a poor condition and restoring them is one step to bringing those with an Ubin connection back to the island, she added.
But it is not that simple.
While the islanders own their structures, the land, acquired by the state in 1993, does not belong to them.
The Government has been helping to restore some amenities and kampung houses, but those earmarked for restoration are empty and belong to the state.
To remain on Ubin, households and businesses have to obtain a temporary occupation licence from NParks, and pay a licence fee based on what the site is used for, its location away from the mainland, and its size.
This adds to the feeling of uncertainty for many .
Dr Chua said: "If (the residents) have no security about the length of their tenure, why would they put in money to repair the house?"
To address this, NParks said that it has extended the temporary occupation licence periods from one year to three years.
Dr Chua and Mr Chu both raised concerns about the difficulty in transferring the temporary occupation licence.
Mr Chu said the son of an Ubin resident who died had been trying for months to get his father's licence transferred to him but to no avail.
Dr Chua said: "This year alone, four elderly Ubin people have died. The question is how can we facilitate a smooth handover of their legacy on Ubin to the next generation."
For Dr Chua, preserving Ubin's unique heritage also requires cooperation from all parties as some of the issues can be complicated.
She gave the example of Ah Ma's Drink Stall, which was given a facelift by National University of Singapore architecture undergraduates this year.
The stall was rebuilt using traditional kampung-style construction methods to retain its rustic character but had to meet modern building and fire-safety regulations.
Dr Chua said: "We learnt that there are so many government regulations and licences to apply for. We had a lot of help from NParks and from MND, both in terms of paying for many of the costs, but also critically, facilitating a lot of talks with other agencies."
The project, initiated by SHS, community group Kawan Ubin and Sea Angel, a group of volunteer lifeguards, is a pilot for the rebuilding of future kampung homes on Ubin and can serve as a model of how to help the Ubin community, she said.
With many getting on in their years, islanders are also finding it hard to look too far ahead.
ONE DAY AT A TIME
Like many Ubin residents TNP spoke to, Madam Ong Ang Kui, 80, who runs the 23-year-old Ah Ma's Drinks Stall, takes it one day at a time.
While she prefers to be on the island instead of her flat in Bedok, Madam Ong said she will move when she gets too old to continue selling drinks.
She said: "I will miss it but there is no choice. If not, who is going to take care of you? Outside of the island, there are my grandchildren, my daughters-in-law, my children."
Ms Tan, who lives and works on the mainland as a real estate agent, noted that the island's youngest residents are about 50 or 60 years old.
She said: "How many people can continue to stay here and for how long more?"
She added jokingly: "Twenty years ago, there were still people to quarrel with.
"Now I don't hear any squabbles any more,"-KOK YUFENG"
--
You may also read the entire article on The New Paper website as well!
"Keeping Pulau Ubin alive"
Read up on my featured article here!
"The New Paper: Man finds remains of his late grandparents' home on Ubin"
Read up on other news articles about Ubin in my "Ubin In The News" series!
Comments
Post a Comment