Preserve Singapore's heritage and nature spots

Straits Times Forum 12 Aug 11;

IN LAND-SCARCE Singapore, where economic development continues unabated, it is prudent to leave some historic land untouched for the sake of posterity.

Singapore's first public pool in Mount Emily was opened in 1931 and closed after 1982. This landmark area should be added to the present Mount Emily Park.

The Bidadari Cemetery is now defunct and Woodleigh MRT station occupies part of the former site. I do not know what has happened to the tombs of our early pioneers like R.A.J. Bidwell, the architect behind landmarks like the Raffles Hotel, and scholar and community leader Lim Boon Keng.

The Bukit Brown cemetery, which was opened in 1922, will soon be consigned to history books, with the land being used for housing needs. The Land Transport Authority plans to build the Bukit Brown MRT station near the cemetery. The tombs of early pioneers like Chew Boon Lay should be preserved to remind future generations of their invaluable contributions to our nation. A recent trek also revealed to me the rich flora and fauna at this old cemetery.

The KTM railway land has now reverted to Singapore. Other than those parts affected by road widening and housing development, this rich parcel of land should be preserved. The stretch from Yew Tee to Woodlands is a sanctuary for monitor lizards, snakes, tortoises and kingfishers. Any future development will sound the death knell for these species.

The manicured tracks of our park connectors do not seem to attract wildlife, which can flourish only in marshes and swampy areas. I still find mudskippers and horseshoe crabs at the beach near the Kranji Reservoir Park.

Our mangrove swamps should be preserved, otherwise future generations will see such rare creatures only in their textbooks.

Heng Cho Choon