Oral answer by Ministry of National Development on measures to ensure preservation of culture heritage and practices of the indigenous communities when carrying out development plans

Oct 16, 2024

6699. Mr Sharael Taha: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) how will the Ministry ensure that the rich cultural heritage of the Orang Kallang and Orang Laut communities is meaningfully preserved and integrated into the development plans for areas like the Kallang Basin, Greater Southern Waterfront and Pulau Brani; and (b) whether the Ministry will establish working groups involving indigenous communities to ensure their perspectives and heritage are represented in these developments.

6716. Mr Sharael Taha: To ask the Minister for National Development (a) what measures will the Ministry take to ensure indigenous communities, such as the Orang Laut at West Coast Park, can continue using community spaces to practice maritime crafts and traditions; and (b) whether the Ministry will explore creating similar spaces in the Kallang Basin, Greater Southern Waterfront and Pulau Brani developments.

Answer:

As Singapore is a small city-state, we need to carefully steward our limited land resources and balance competing demands. Wherever feasible, we will integrate elements of heritage significance into our plans and explore creative ways to recall and commemorate the heritage and identity of an area, such as through urban design, heritage storyboards and walking trails and others.

Our agencies will continue to engage local communities, as with all stakeholders, to ensure that developments are carried out sensitively, and provide appropriate community spaces, where possible. For example, to support the Orang Laut community in the practice of their maritime crafts and traditions, members of the community have been granted permission to moor their boats and store fishing equipment at a site off West Coast Park, along with other licensed boatowners.