by Sharif Ishnin on 30/11/10 at 1:50 pm
Singapore is a melting port of four major races: Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. However in the last decade, dozens of other races and cultures had settled in the island making it a cosmopolitan city in the heart of South East Asia.
The moment you arrive in Singapore, don’t be surprised with the concrete jungle that would meet and greet you. Hidden in between all the high rise super structures lies Singapore’s early precolonial beginnings. Let’s take a look at Singapore’s Malay heritage sites at Kampong Glam. Kampong means settlement or village. Glam does not mean glamour but actually means a variety of eucalyptus which grew in the area.
The History of Kampong Glam
Before the British arrived in Singapore in 1819, Kampong Glam was the home of the Malay aristocracy. When the treaty was signed between the East India Company, the Sultan of Johor and Temenggong Abdul Rahman(the island’s chieftain), this settlement became more prominent in the eyes of the people. The treaty allowed the British to set up a trading post in Singapore.
Sir Stamford Raffles plan of 1822 divided the settlement into different ethnic groups which were the Europeans, Chinese, Chulia, Arabs and Bugis. Kampong Glam was designated to the Sultan and his household together with the Bugis traders, Arabs, Javanese, Boyanese and other Muslim merchants.
Bask in the ambience of the Bussorah Pedestrian Mall with the picturesque Sultan Mosque in the distance.(Image from Wikipedia).
Modern Day Kampong Glam
Bask in the ambience of the Bussorah Pedestrian Mall with the picturesque Sultan Mosque in the distance. This area used to house successful Arab merchants during it’s heyday. Today these refurbished shophouses not only entails traditional businesses such as textile, carpets, blacksmiths and religious items used by Muslims but also new tenants like design and IT firms, art galleries, crafts and curios shops, food caterers and restaurants.
(Above) Sultan Mosque at sunset.
The Sultan Mosque was built in 1824 next to the Sultan’s palace. The design of the Sultan Mosque resembles very closely to the architectures the mosques of Islamic Spain (711 until 1492).
Image from Wikipedia
The Sultan’s palace now have become the Malay Heritage Centre. Visit the 9 galleries of Malay Heritage Museum(pictured above) and learn the story of the Singapore Malays, their roots, struggles, aspirations and role in the nation-building process. Malay Muslims makes up 15% of Singapore’s population today. Malays are made up of Javanese, Boyanese, Bugis and other ethnic groups from Malaya.
While you are at Kampong Glam don’t forget to visit the conserved shophouses in the area found in Arab Street, Baghdad Street and Bussorah Street. Below is a proposed walk through Kampong Glam for the traveller (Don’t worry this is not in Iraq).
Note: Don’t try to look or ask for the Sultan while in Singapore for the island is now a republic. That story only belongs to a time long gone but not yet forgotten.
More articles on Singapore by Sharif Ishnin:
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