VANISHING LANDSCAPES: MALAY KAMPUNGS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Malay kampungs (or villages), the earliest form of settlement in Singapore are fast disappearing. The removal of Malay villages means not only the disappearance of the kampung morphology and its ' houses but also the elimination of the way of life. A documentation of the kampung way of life now is therefore timely, to ensure that knowledge of it is not altogether lost. Since this study is meant to be a documentation of the Malay kampung way of life, it is therefore rather descriptive. Two kampungs, kampung Siglap and kampung Pasir Panjang, have been chosen for the study. Most of the information was based on interviews and a structured guestionnaire survey conducted in the two kampungs. The study shows that the kampung is both a 'place' and 'activity space' for the inhabitants. As a 'place' it is regarded as a geographical and social space. The Malay in both kampungs do not form a homogeneous group because some are from Singapore and others from various parts of the Malay archipelago. However(all possess an in-group solidarity. This is partly because of their common language, culture and religion; their long residence in the village and the web of kinship ties amongst themselves. Over 60% of the inhabitants in both kampungs are in fact related to one another and more than 50% of the households have lived in the village for more than 30 years. The kampung is an 'activity space' because most of the village and individual activities - recreational, religious, occupational and social - are held in the village. These activities are normally based on the gotong-royong spirit. The study however shows that the gotong-royong spirit is more evident in kampung Siglap than in kampung Pasir Panjang. Modernisation and urbanisation,however, has led to changes in the lifestyle of the villagers. The standard of living of the villagers has improved. In terms of household income, more than 50% of households in both villages earned more than $900/- which is considered average for kampung dwellers. The improvement in the standard of living is also seen in terms of the material possessions of the villagers and the provision of amenities such as piped water and electricity in the villages. Changes are also seen in the kampung social life. The study shows that there is a decline in the number of extended families in both villages although the practice was popular in the past. Village activities underlining the gotong-royong spirit have also diminished partly due to physical constraints and partly to the availability of other amenities (e.g. community centres) outside the village. Despite certain disadvantages of kampung living, most of the households interviewed (90% in Siglap and 77% in Pasir Panjang) prefer living in kampungs rather than public housing estates.