$5m to help conserve monuments

But sum is to be used only for urgent repairs of religious and non-profit national monuments
Esther Teo, Straits Times 13 Jul 08;

Religious and non-profit national monuments might soon get a helping hand in their upkeep.

The Government is setting aside $5 million over the next five years - or $1 million each year - to help owners of such buildings patch up possible structural defects, though not to assist in routine maintenance work.

The bottom line: They have to be urgent and necessary repairs.

The new assistance scheme - the National Monuments Fund - will be launched by the Preservation of Monuments Board (PMB) this year, said Senior Minister of State for Education and Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew yesterday.

Designed to provide financial help in conserving the 55 gazetted national monuments, the fund could benefit iconic buildings like the Armenian Church in Hill Street and the Jamae Mosque in South Bridge Road.

Monuments are gazetted based on their architectural, social and historical significance.

Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui said he hopes to see more people and private-sector firms support preservation efforts.

'It is important for society to demonstrate that we recognise it is partly our collective responsibility to help preserve and cherish those monuments, not just for the present, but for the future as well,' he said at the launch of the fifth Singapore HeritageFest at Causeway Point Shopping Centre yesterday.

The money will be given based on needs, with 30 religious and non-profit monuments already singled out as possible recipients.

The PMB will meet once a year to decide on the allocation of funds, distributed on a co-funding basis, although it is prepared to be flexible when it comes to exceptional cases.

It will release more details later this month.

Dr Yeo Kang Shua, who works as an architectural consultant at the PMB, said restoration of monuments is not just the state's responsibility but also the owner's.

'However, since they are part of our heritage, the state is willing to assist them,' he said.

Heritage buffs also applaud the move, although they say that much more can be done.

Mr Dinesh Naidu, an architectural writer, said: 'This is definitely a historical and important step. The owners of such monuments are providing a public good and it is good that the Government is finally assisting them.'

However, he suggested extending such a scheme so that owners of such monuments will not have to worry about their upkeep after the five years have passed.

Govt to set aside S$5m over 5 years to help monument preservation
Chio Su Mei, Channel NewsAsia 12 Jul 08;

SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has said it will set aside S$5 million over the next five years to help owners of religious and non-profit national monuments undertake repairs.

Called the National Monuments Fund, it will be launched by the Preservation of Monuments Board later this year, and will help repair over 30 monuments.

This was announced by the Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, at the opening ceremony of the annual Singapore HeritageFest.

The annual festival opened at the Causeway Point shopping centre with traditional cultural performances and a display of traditional works of art.

This year's theme celebrates local heroes, paying tribute to ordinary people with extraordinary spirit.

Singaporeans can expect to enjoy cultural exhibitions and concerts around the island till July 27.