Singapore to assess climate threats to Pulau Tekong, Southern Islands and more in sea level rise study by 2026
SINGAPORE, June 28 – Singapore will launch a study by 2026 to assess the risks of rising sea levels on selected offshore islands and explore suitable coastal protection strategies, its national water agency PUB said today.
CNA reported that tender for the risk assessment study has been issued, and it will examine both the potential impact of climate change on these islands and the timeline for implementing defence measures.
'Rising sea levels will pose risks to Singapore's offshore islands,' CNA cited Hazel Khoo, director of PUB's coastal protection department.
'Some are home to rich biodiversity and heritage, and are spaces enjoyed by many, while others serve industrial and defence purposes.'
PUB said eight islands were selected based on a preliminary assessment of their vulnerability: Pulau Tekong, the Southern Islands (St John's and Lazarus), Kusu Island, Sisters' Islands (Pulau Subar Laut and Pulau Subar Darat), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Pawai, and Pulau Senang.
Other islands not included in the study will be assessed as part of broader development or planning initiatives by respective agencies.
Pulau Ubin and Pulau Ketam will be covered in a future site-specific study for the north-eastern coast, including Punggol and Pasir Ris, while Semakau Landfill will be evaluated by the National Environment Agency for potential development.
According to the third National Climate Change Study published in January 2024, sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15 metres by 2100, and up to 2 metres by 2150 under high emissions scenarios, based on UN climate data.
PUB is also conducting site-specific coastal protection studies on the mainland, including areas along the city-east coast, Jurong Island, and both sections of the north-west coast, with studies for Sentosa and the south-west coast set to begin by 2026.
PUB said the study's findings will also shape the planning of future, more detailed research on the islands.
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Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore to assess climate threats to Pulau Tekong, Southern Islands and more in sea level rise study by 2026
SINGAPORE, June 28 – Singapore will launch a study by 2026 to assess the risks of rising sea levels on selected offshore islands and explore suitable coastal protection strategies, its national water agency PUB said today. CNA reported that tender for the risk assessment study has been issued, and it will examine both the potential impact of climate change on these islands and the timeline for implementing defence measures. 'Rising sea levels will pose risks to Singapore's offshore islands,' CNA cited Hazel Khoo, director of PUB's coastal protection department. 'Some are home to rich biodiversity and heritage, and are spaces enjoyed by many, while others serve industrial and defence purposes.' PUB said eight islands were selected based on a preliminary assessment of their vulnerability: Pulau Tekong, the Southern Islands (St John's and Lazarus), Kusu Island, Sisters' Islands (Pulau Subar Laut and Pulau Subar Darat), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Hantu, Pulau Pawai, and Pulau Senang. Other islands not included in the study will be assessed as part of broader development or planning initiatives by respective agencies. Pulau Ubin and Pulau Ketam will be covered in a future site-specific study for the north-eastern coast, including Punggol and Pasir Ris, while Semakau Landfill will be evaluated by the National Environment Agency for potential development. According to the third National Climate Change Study published in January 2024, sea levels around Singapore could rise by up to 1.15 metres by 2100, and up to 2 metres by 2150 under high emissions scenarios, based on UN climate data. PUB is also conducting site-specific coastal protection studies on the mainland, including areas along the city-east coast, Jurong Island, and both sections of the north-west coast, with studies for Sentosa and the south-west coast set to begin by 2026. PUB said the study's findings will also shape the planning of future, more detailed research on the islands.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Too much history, too little room: Muzium Negara's quiet struggle
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — Muzium Negara, just across from KL Sentral, may look big from the outside but inside, there's barely enough room for Malaysia's past. Behind its grand façade, a quiet space crunch is limiting how Malaysia tells its own story. 'We have about half a million artefacts. But what's on display, maybe just 10 to 11 per cent,' said Muzium Negara Deputy Director Nor Hanisah Ahmad. The museum currently operates four main galleries and several temporary exhibition spaces, but even that, she says, is stretched thin. 'We get asked, 'Why isn't this era shown?' or 'Where's this story?'" "The truth is, we don't have enough room to tell everything,' she explained. While the museum rotates themed exhibitions annually, and even takes exhibits on the road through its travelling showcases, the challenge remains: history takes up space and Malaysia's national museum does not have enough of it. For context, Muzium Negara spans approximately 4,970 square metres across its three levels. In contrast, the British Museum in London covers over 92,000 square metres, while the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. — part of the Smithsonian — offers around 30,000 square metres of exhibition space. Closer to home, the National Museum of Singapore spans 18,400 square metres — more than three times the size of Muzium Negara. A legacy building, a growing collection Muzium Negara is housed in a gazetted heritage building, which means any structural upgrades or expansions are far from straightforward. 'Maintenance is not just about the artefacts, the building itself is a heritage structure,' Nor Hanisah said. 'We have to care for both,' she added. Many of the items not on display are stored offsite — one facility is housed within the Department of Museums Malaysia, another in Bangi. Additional storage exists in Lukut, Negeri Sembilan, the Perak museum and in Langkawi. But storage is only one part of the problem. Every time an object is displayed, it faces potential damage from light exposure and environmental wear and tear. With limited conservation staff, regular upkeep is an ongoing challenge. 'Sometimes we bring in conservation interns from universities like UMK just to help back us up,' she said. Muzium Negara Deputy Director Nor Hanisah Ahmad speaks during an interview with Malay Mail. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa A museum shaped by priorities Each year, Muzium Negara applies for allocations to expand its building footprint — but Nor Hanisah is candid about where the museum stands in the bigger national picture. 'If you had to choose between building a hospital or a museum, of course you'd pick the hospital," she said. 'We understand the limitations the country faces." "But it also means we have to make do,' she added. And so, the museum carries on with what it has. Temporary exhibitions are often held in shared spaces with the Department of Museums Malaysia next door. Despite the cramped conditions, the team continues to curate meaningful showcases, backed by internal discussions and expert input on what stories to prioritise. 'When there's too much to tell, we have to pick the big, important events," she explained. "What we can't show in the main galleries, we try to highlight in our temporary exhibitions,' she added. More than just storage For Nor Hanisah, the deeper issue is not just about square footage. It's about how Malaysians see their museums. 'People say museums are boring, but who decided they're boring?" she questioned. "Often it's people who haven't even been,' she said. 'If our mentality doesn't change, even if we make the museum high-tech, with all kinds of events and activities, it still won't matter,' she emphasised. Since the pandemic, the museum has actually seen a rise in footfall; Nor Hanisah said last year, Muzium Negara received more than 500,000 visitors. She believes the surge in interest began partly due to limited travel options during the movement control order, which helped popularise Muzium Negara. More importantly, she feels Malaysians are now beginning to appreciate the value of their own heritage. On the day Malay Mail visited, a steady stream of express buses, chartered to ferry schoolchildren, university students, and tourist groups, arrived throughout the day, quickly filling up the designated bus parking area. The car park was also packed to capacity. A visitor at Muzium Negara reads about the Japanese Occupation of Malaya (1941–1945). — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa 'They come back after 30 years, this time with their grandchildren, and they realise the museum is not what they remember from their school trips," she observed. "We've improved,' she added. Even so, operating a national museum on tight funds means every ringgit has to stretch. Tickets remain RM2 for adults, free for schoolchildren, and RM1 for senior citizens — 55 years old and above — and people with disabilities; not nearly enough to cover operational costs. 'We don't charge for profit — it's for data,' she said. 'Even the RM2 ticket doesn't cover the cost of the paper." "But the data helps us plan, justify funding, and improve,' she explained. And sometimes, she simply walks the galleries herself, speaking to visitors. 'That's how we get ideas to improve," she said. "Foreign visitors really appreciate what we have — it's good to hear that from them,' she added. Still, Nor Hanisah is realistic about the road ahead. 'We want to show so much more." "But until we get more space, more funding, we'll keep doing the best we can with what we have,' she concluded.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
An American bomber plane, a sense of nationhood and Tunku Abdul Rahman: Muzium Negara's origin story
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The story of how Muzium Negara came to be is pretty dramatic as it involves an American Boeing B-29 bomber plane in 1945. In March of that year, the American bomber was aiming for the railway yards in then-Japanese occupied Kuala Lumpur but missed and struck the Selangor Museum instead. That bombing during World War II destroyed the original museum built in 1907 .What followed was nearly a decade of cultural 'void.' 'There was only a temporary structure after that, just one small building put up in 1953,' said Nor Hanisah Ahmad, deputy director of Muzium Negara. 'We didn't have a proper museum until after Merdeka,' she added. A combination photo shows aerial views of Muzium Negara, past and present. — Picture courtesy of Jabatan Muzium Malaysia After independence in 1957, then-Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman believed the young nation needed a national museum — not just to house artefacts but to tell the story of the country. That vision was brought to life by two key figures: Mervyn Sheppard — an Irish-born cultural adviser who later embraced Islam, became a Malayan citizen and took the name Mubin Sheppard — and Ho Kok Hoe, a Singapore-based architect. In his book titled 'Taman Budiman: Memoirs of an Unorthodox Civil Servant,' Sheppard recalled how an early government sketch for the museum looked 'nothing Malayan' and how his protest to the British architect was ignored. Tunku Abdul Rahman agreed with Sheppard and asked him to find someone who could design a museum with a Malaysian soul. Sheppard turned to Ho. 'One evening in 1958, the late Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard came to my office and asked if I wanted to design a Muzium Negara for Kuala Lumpur,' Ho recalled back in 2003. 'I said, 'Of course, I'd love to.' Within two days, I was flown to KL to meet Tunku.' 'Tunku reminded me that Malayan architecture must form the basis of the new museum's design,' Ho also said. Tunku was deeply involved in shaping that vision. Temporary museum after Muzium Selangor mistakenly bombed by an American B 29 bomber. — Picture courtesy of Jabatan Muzium Malaysia During the museum's official opening on August 31, 1963, he explained why it mattered. 'Before Merdeka, we only had a small museum in Kuala Lumpur,' he said in his speech. 'After we achieved independence, we thought it was right to take pride in our historical artefacts and cultural heritage, and that these should be displayed properly. So, it became clear that we needed a new national museum,' he explained. He had personally instructed preparations to begin in September 1958. 'This building is a source of pride, not just for me but for the people of this nation,' he said. To ensure authenticity, Tunku sent Ho to Alor Setar, Kedah to study the Balai Besar, one of the few remaining traditional Malay palaces. 'He created a majestic building, the kind you would not find in London or New York, but only here in Malaya,' Tunku said about Ho. 'The museum itself contains elements of Malay craftsmanship, inside and out.' Together, both Ho and Sheppard toured royal towns and buildings in Kedah and the East Coast, drawing inspiration from carved timber palaces and traditional Malay forms. The result was a bold design grounded in local heritage, with a structure inspired by the Balai Besar and adorned with traditional motifs. Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1963, on the very site of the old Selangor Museum — a symbolic decision. The old Selangor museum before the bombing in 1945. — Picture courtesy of Jabatan Muzium Malaysia 'It was the border between Kuala Lumpur and Selangor at the time, so it was seen as a great location,' said Nor Hanisah. Funding, however, remained a challenge — especially for the striking front-facing murals. Tunku acknowledged the many private and international contributions that made the project possible. Among them was Tan Sri Lee Kong Chian who donated the massive mosaic murals made in Venice, Italy. 'These murals were made from Italian glass mosaics and are a beautiful gift. It adds grandeur to the building,' Tunku said. He also noted contributions from the government of Pakistan, which donated the mosaic flooring in the museum's main hall, and Singaporean businessman Aw Cheng Chye who donated the terrazzo tiles flanking the museum's staircase. Even a 900-year-old bronze statue discovered in a tin mine in Sungai Siput was gifted by 'Towkay' The Seng Chew. 'His gift was warmly received and deeply appreciated,' said Tunku. Nor Hanisah noted that the murals remain one of the museum's most recognisable features. 'People know Muzium Negara not only for its architecture, but also for the mural at the front of the building,' she said. 'It depicts the heritage and history of our nation,' she added. The museum also became a canvas for local talent. Kelantan-born artist Nik Zainal Abidin Nik Salleh was commissioned to design traditional motifs throughout the interior, from decorative screens and wooden beams to a now-iconic emblem bearing the words 'Muzium Negara' in Arabic script framed by hibiscus leaves. Tunku expressed hope that the museum would be more than just a structure. He wanted it to become a place of learning, pride, and cultural advancement. 'It is my hope that positions in this museum will attract highly qualified individuals,' he said. 'This museum must be given sufficient funding so it can serve education, research, and progress,' he added. A commemorative book published for its 60th anniversary in 2023 described Muzium Negara as a 'symbol of unity' in post-independence Malaysia, a project shaped by donations from ordinary Malaysians, royalty, private companies, and foreign governments. 'Many came forward with donations and contributions... with great pride,' the book noted, a collective spirit that turned a national dream into concrete and tile. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim once described Muzium Negara as more than just a repository of artefacts — he saw it as a potential centre for knowledge and learning. 'Transforming museums into centres of learning might be a new concept for our country, but in more developed nations, they serve as vital hubs of knowledge,' Anwar said in 1984, during his tenure as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. Today, Muzium Negara stands as one of the few remaining post-Merdeka landmarks to wear its cultural identity on its walls — literally and architecturally. Its story, born of war, vision, and community spirit, remains etched in glass, concrete, and memory. Muzium Negara Deputy Director Nor Hanisah Ahmad. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Nor Hanisah said the Muzium Negara will always remain relevant to Malaysia as it is a place to learn from the past. 'Because nowadays, everyone is chasing things that are in the future, things that lie ahead, like technology or whatever we envision for the future,' she said. 'But actually, we cannot abandon our history. We have to look at our history, we have to understand it, how else can we prove our origins, defend our rights, and so on?' 'And that's why we need museums because with museums, people can see real, tangible evidence,' she concluded.
