Original article in Bahasa Melayu by Dewani Abbas, photos by Zainal Yahya. From Berita Minggu, 5 Nov 1995, p. 11. Newspaper article kept and shared by Cik Rosmala Jani
The Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) announced plans to develop parts of Pulau Ubin into rugged recreational areas that are more comfortable and safer. Three areas and a few main roads on the island will be redeveloped or upgraded. PRD also announced that the natural environment and villages on the island will not be affected due to this redevelopment project. Dewani Abbas headed to the island recently to catch a glimpse of these three areas and to experience the uniqueness of Pulau Ubin himself. Photos by Zainal Yahya.
Stepping foot on the island, you would feel as though you are in a foreign place away from mainland Singapore. Once from the jetty, the kampung environment awaits with its lush trees, dusty roads with old taxis travelling to-and-fro, coffeeshops, along with rather shabby bicycle rental stalls.
In the middle of this area in front of the jetty, called Kampung Pulau Ubin, which is like Ubin’s ‘Orchard Road’, a toilet stands unapologetically exposed.
While it may have been there for the convenience of visitors, its unsanitary interior, along with frequent water shortages, makes it far from convenient. Additionally, around the toilet are heaps of trash littered everywhere, ranging from plastic bags, mineral water bottles to car tires. This unsanitary condition is not limited to this area alone, as it is observed in all places frequented by visitors and chanced upon by the Berita Minggu team while riding bicycles.
With its current state, it is therefore timely for the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) to undertake efforts in improving this recreational island into one that is cleaner, more comfortable and safer for all its visitors.
Plans that have been arranged include improving its infrastructure and preparing more public facilities such as larger and cleaner toilets, wider roads and safer bridges.
Public toilets, like the one in Kampung Pulau Ubin, while placed in a strategic location, must be relocated to a more secluded area away from public eyes so that it does not ruin the surrounding view.
Nevertheless, even when Pulau Ubin is less clean, it is still charming.
The further inwards you travel into Pulau Ubin, the more exciting the sights, especially if you are someone who rarely travel into the villages and always look at the Singapore city’s concrete jungle.
We begin our journey north from Kampung Pulau Ubin to the estuary of Sungai Mamam.
This is one of three places that will be redeveloped under this project. It will be turned into a campsite (Area C). Left and right, there are shady trees lining the road and coconut trees, which some have their roots exposed as though endangering anyone who passes underneath them. Occasionally, you can see kampung houses, swamps, and chickens roaming around. It’s fun to feel the wind blowing on your face as you pedal through this area.
After cycling for about 40 minutes, we started to feel tired and thirsty. Luckily, there is Pak Sulong’s stall that sells cold soft drinks.
Besides serving as a stop to quench thirst, Pak Sulong’s stall also serves as an informal information kiosk for visitors who do not know their way around.
Pak Sulong, 66, the owner of the stall who resides in Pasir Ris, or his child-in-law, are ready to help, with the use of a colourful map of Ubin pasted on the wall.
The estuary of Sungai Mamam is beautiful and serene. Accessing through a narrow dirt trail, you would suddenly come across a slow-moving river.
Anglers love this spot, like Cik Zarimah Bujang who would come here on her day off to fish all day. The shaded surrounding makes it the perfect place for a campsite.
It is expected to become more comfortable once facilities are added.
From the estuary of Sungai Mamam, we cycled south to the second area slated for redevelopment, which is not too far west from Kampung Pulau Ubin.
This is where the kampung-style accommodation (Area A) will be, though it is yet to be named.
Upon reaching, the area appears to have already been flattened to make way for the accommodation project. The journey here is not as exciting as the one to Sungai Mamam as it is much quieter and more filled with overgrowth.
The kampung-style accommodation that is bound to be developed here is expected to have attractive views as it overlooks the Changi coastline on mainland Singapore. The third area to be developed, also without a name, is located not too far from here, about 20 minutes on bicycle. But it can still be tiring for those who are not as fit.
The view in this area which will be turned into a sea recreation centre is also stunning. Its shape which resembles a small bay makes it safer for sea activities (Area B).
However, the seawater is murky and dirty and plenty of coral reef protrude along the seaside. Also, a lot of trash including car tires are dumped here.
Nonetheless, with its beautiful natural scenery, and surroundings that are intimate and shady for sea recreation, it is indeed ideal for a more comfortable recreational centre to be built here for visitors.
After exploring these three areas to our hearts’ content, we returned to Kampung Pulau Ubin. However, our journey have not yet concluded as there is a village that must be seen which is Kampong Melayu.
In tribute to the late Cik Rosmala Binte Jani, whose selfless support and generosity will always be remembered.
Al-Fatihah.
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