7 days ago
Forum: Can historic Istana Woodneuk be preserved?
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The news last month of the land swop deal between Singapore and the Regent of Johor caught my attention (
Singapore and Johor Regent Tunku Ismail to swop land plots near Botanic Gardens , June 10).
It was a welcome reminder of Singapore's intertwined history with the Sultanate, which once ruled the area that we now call home.
Within the parcel given to Singapore is the historic Istana Woodneuk, which now lies in ruins after decades of neglect.
While on a recent tour of the grounds with heritage expert Sarafian Salleh, it became clear to me that the swop is more than a simple real estate deal. It has given Singapore a unique and precious opportunity to preserve a piece of Singaporean history that would otherwise be lost forever.
Heritage sites cannot be manufactured from scratch – they must grow organically out of people's lives, experiences, and memories.
Istana Woodneuk is a weathered but enduring testament to Singapore's pre-independence past, and I hope that the Government seizes this unique opportunity to preserve and restore the palace and its surroundings.
SG60 would be the perfect occasion to create a new monument that could educate and inspire future generations on the grounds of Istana Woodneuk's many-layered past.
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Christian Jones
