PAP group prefers Fort Canning for Founders’ Memorial
Fort Canning Centre. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) Seniors Group is calling for the Founders’ Memorial to be sited at Fort Canning Park because of its historical significance.
But it will respect the steering committee’s proposal, which favoured the Bay East Garden, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said yesterday in her capacity as the group’s chairperson.
With Fort Canning Park’s long history intertwined with that of the Republic, it is a distinctive landmark that would remind Singaporeans of how the nation came to be, she said.
“(The park) served as the seat of power for many of Singapore’s rulers during pre-colonial and colonial period,” said Mdm Halimah, who was at Bay East Garden for a memorial event to mark Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s first death anniversary. “The hill will also provide a quiet place for people to reflect and contemplate the messages that the memorial seeks to convey.”
In the 14th century, Fort Canning housed palaces of former Majapahit kings; Sir Stamford Raffles’ first residence was built there soon after his arrival in Singapore in 1819; and other landmarks included the Van Kleef Aquarium and National Theatre.
Among the historic events that took place there were the establishment of Singapore’s first botanical garden in 1822 and Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival’s surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942.
Mdm Halimah’s comments comes after a committee tasked with conceptualising the memorial shortlisted Bay East Garden and Fort Canning Park as the possible locations.
The less mature site at Gardens by the Bay would reflect the forward-looking nature of the memorial for Singapore’s founding fathers, said the 15-member committee led by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, who is also chairman of The Esplanade.
Said Mdm Halimah: “I’m not quite sure whether the Bay East Garden will be able to create the same effect or conjure the same feelings (as Fort Canning Park) because you will be starting from zero base, rather devoid of a context.”
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth has tasked the steering committee to seek the public’s views on the two options before making a final decision.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mooted the idea of a Founder’s Memorial last April, after the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Two months later, a steering committee comprising private and public sector representatives with expertise in areas such as heritage, education and community engagement was formed.
No matter where it is eventually sited, the Founder’s Memorial will be a “very useful project” to remind Singaporeans of the values Mr Lee Kuan Yew stood for, including multiracialism, meritocracy, and inclusiveness, said Mdm Halimah.
“His greatest legacy is to infuse in us a sense of pride in being Singaporeans ... Fort Canning Hill is our preference, but if we can’t (site the memorial there), so long as the values are reaffirmed, I think that’s very important.”
