Chronicles Research & Education

Jeff Eng remembers his family’s business at 15 Merchant Road in the heart of Teochew Chinatown, Chinese Cultural Shop By ENG TIANG HUAT 翁展發 (named after his grandfather, the founder). This was a shop dealing in ‘Chinese cultural goods’, from traditional musical instruments to embroidery and martial weapons.

Jeffrey took over the business after National Service instead of starting his own career. He soon developed a love for the trade as well as the cultural goods. He talks about his elders’ advice: never take bank loans to expand the business, but invest in the family.

Spotify | https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/loh-ks/episodes/Jeffrey-Eng--Teochew-Qiaopi-of-Singapore--China-Part-2--Chronicles-of-Old-Singapore-e3o79aa

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H95nfHI9yrM

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Jeffrey Eng – Teochew Qiaopi of Singapore & China Part 2 | Chronicles of Old Singapore Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Jeffrey Eng remembers his f...

I heard about the Clementi 'barracks' from some of the folks from Pulau Brani who were resettled there in the early '70s. These were families of employees of the Marine Department, who had been staying in its staff quarters at the end of Arun Road. So unlike other islanders, they were not initially resettled in HDB flats; they moved into flats later on.

Does anyone remember the Clementi barracks? They were built in 1961 for Muslim servicemen of the British army (perhaps part of Pasir Panjang army complex?). The British forces were pulling out of Singapore at the time, but what happened to the Muslim occupants, and why were the Marine Department families resettled there and not HDB flats?

The barracks were located on Clementi Road below the mosque named after the army, the Masjid Tentara, which sat atop Clementi Hill. The Japanese school was nearby. These preceded the University of Singapore's Kent Ridge campus which was of course built on former British army land.

Below is a photo of the barracks. They look like early HDB housing (triangle roofs), which would be right as they were built in 1961.

Page of the Masjid Tentara Diraja:
https://www.tenteradiraja.sg/ourhistory

Thanks to Soh Kwong Hwee for alerting me to this clip. Actually wifey saw a similar video by a local YouTuber some time ago. Both used my name and background as a former resident of Bukit Ho Swee and a historian to praise Lee Kuan Yew and our public housing programme.

First, both influencers have obviously not read my book or have any idea what social history is. Clue: the title of the book is Squatters into Citizens. The story is of the difficult journeys the fire victims took to become Singaporeans, through a devastating fire. Some never recovered fully from it.

Second, what is the position of a historian who is part of the community they are studying? It is always ambivalent. I wrote in the preface of my shame in primary school when my classmate came to my rental flat and said aloud, your house so small? This was a one roomer built after the fire. It took me years to deal with the shame and caused a rift with my family that still exists today.

History is hard and the past often difficult to deal with. It's not just about clicks and views on Tik Tok. The history of fires and emergency housing 60 years ago helps explain why we continue to struggle with BTOs and urban development today.

Shopkeepers of Chinatown at Kinokuniya Singapore Webstore with other recent books on Singapore.

Conservationist Tony O’Dempsey aka Uncle Tony talks about the history of the conservation movement in Singapore and how the Nature Society of Singapore adopted a moderate science-based approach – ‘wisdom and pleasant speech’ – to engage the government.

Today, as new housing projects target our diminishing forests at the Gillman Barracks, Maju and Sunset Way, this dialogue will be more relevant than ever.

Spotify | https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/loh-ks/episodes/Tony-ODempsey--Forests-of-Singapore-Part-2--Chronicles-of-Old-Singapore-e3o2o7k

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klLBlvczE3M

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Tony O’Dempsey – Forests of Singapore Part 2 | Chronicles of Old Singapore Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Conservationist Tony O’Demp...

Stephen Dobbs, the Singapore River man and my old ally, finally gets his co-author copies of Shopkeepers of Chinatown, in Perth. What are you waiting for? :)

https://kinokuniya.com.sg/products/9786297575698

https://shopee.sg/Shopkeepers-of-Chinatown-Loh-Kah-Seng-Stephen-Dobbs-(SIRD)-i.279887392.52914597553

Winston Wong talks about the Gillman Barracks not as a standalone British base, but as part of the massive Pasir Panjang-Ayer Rajah Military Complex. It was a transit camp for the School of Combat Engineers, which moved out in a few years.

As we discuss the likely environmental and historical impact of the HDB’s plan to redevelop Gillman around nature, Winston is concerned that it would be difficult to strike a balance between heritage, nature and development.

Spotify | https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/loh-ks/episodes/Winston-Wong--Gillman-Barracks--Combat-Engineers--Heritage-Part-2--Chronicles-of-Old-Singapore-e3nuopi

YouTube | https://youtu.be/RtRWXt9orDY

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Winston Wong – Gillman Barracks, Combat Engineers & Heritage Part 2 | Chronicles of Old Singapore Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Winston Wong talks about th...

I have been speaking to the Brani boys every other Tuesday at this cafe in Jurong East. A makeshift board separates us from construction works for Toh Guan MRT station, which I think is due to be completed in 2 years.

Because I spend a lot of time training, busing and walking to people's homes for interviews, I often see a lot of construction works along the way - for MRT lines, BTOs, HDB upgrading etc.

It seems like a quarter of built-up Singapore is being demolished and rebuilt. Just last week, I had to walk onto the main road because the pedestrian walkway was blocked off for works for some reason.

These works are a multi-year investment in the future of Singapore. They will bring new homes, renewal and convenience at some point or other. They also make our city tremendously inconvenient, ugly and polluted now and for the next few years.

I remember Lee Kuan Yew saying (in the 2000s?) that in a few years' time, Singaporeans will have a beautiful city once the construction projects were completed. Yes, and now is another round of development which will be followed by an even more beautiful and efficient version of Singapore.

To return to the Brani boys at Jurong East cafe. It's a little oasis of human memory and feelings as they remember the island where they grew up. Pulau Brani is also going to be rebuilt - the container terminal will be removed (to Tuas), as will the Coast Guard. PM tells us there will be a resort for locals and foreigners on the new Brani. as well as 'entirely new attractions and experiences'.

The Brani boys, like other islanders I have interviewed, wish very much to go back to the island when it is finally accessible once more. But they are also pensive about what they will see there. The talk of integration with Sentosa does not assure them - they murmur about another Sentosa Cove and the fancy plans they see in the media.

Let's hope all the construction - on Brani, Toh Guan and elsewhere in Singapore - is worth it.

Sukhdev Singh Gill joined the Singapore Police Force in 1969. He remembers his father, who was a jaga (watchman) for various employers, and the formidable Sikh jagas in the old days. He talks about key Sikh temples in Singapore and how important they were for the Sikh groups.

Spotify | https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/loh-ks/episodes/Sukhdev-Singh-Gill--Sikhs--Jagas--Policemen-Part-1--Chronicles-of-Old-Singapore-e3np0ki

YouTube | https://youtu.be/yrwMp7NRj0Y

Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. I am Dr Loh Kah Seng, the people’s historian, and I document people’s memories of Singapore before it became a global city.

Sukhdev Singh Gill – Sikhs, Jagas & Policemen Part 1 | Chronicles of Old Singapore Welcome to Chronicles of Old Singapore. Sukhdev Singh Gill joined t...

As a football fan, I am interested in the football players who hailed from Pulau Brani. Folks would proudly say, 5 or 6 of the Singapore players in the '70s were from the island.

The best-known player would probably be Arshad Khamis who won the Malaysia Cup twice in 1977 and 1980. When he passed away in Canada (where he had migrated) in 2018, there was no mention of his Brani origin.

But Brani folks I spoke to remembered him fondly, as well as:
Mohamed Noor Kassim (interesting from the pre-war period)
Osman Johan
Ibrahim Mansoor
Osman Aman
Rahman Tikos (nickname)

Were there others? Were there also good Chinese/Indian players? Equally, who were the British players?

Why did Brani produce so many outstanding players? One probably was the British connection - the Brits provided competition, playing fields and possibly coaching. So there were also strong teams from other British sites like the Naval Base and St. John's Island (Pulau Sekijang Bendara). Besides the football field, I am told the Brani players also played in the padang at the Marine Department quarters.

Schools played a role - there were players at lower age groups, as shown in the photos. And the childhood of the '60s and '70s where youngsters spent their time outdoors in sporting and leisurely pursuits.

Would love to know more about the Brani footballers.