How identity has been diluted in Chinatown

  As Singapore gradually progresses from a third world country to one that is of first world standard, the government has been trying to modernise the area, and in the process of doing so, they seem to have forgotten about preserving our roots, our culture and the old chinatown. It was not until the 1980s that the Urban Redevelopment Authority realised how Singapore's rising development threatened to destroy our heritage. You may think, what exactly is the importance of preserving our own Chinese history? As a large percentage of Singaporeans are Chinese, would it not be ashamed if we do not even know what our culture is and how we have come about? Look at the new generation of Chinese students, most of them do not even know their culture, roots and language.


   A Singaporean lady (in her 50s) we interviewed have mentioned a point which I absolutely agree on; 'The government is trying to make the new look old, but it is too late. There is no feel of the old chinatown anymore.'  Despite the 'new' chinatown being clean and orderly, old chinatown is still preferred. This shows the government's ineffectiveness in trying to preserve the area.

High rise buildings, constructions, shopping centres and flats are all signs of a modernized and commercialized area. Compare this to the wet markets, night markets and the many roadside hawkers before. These were all removed in 1983. Some may argue that they are still present in Chinatown today, however, it has been reformed. Instead of the vibrant and buzzing and trading going on in the past, it is now a well-planned and orderly manner that has robbed Chinatown of its liveliness. Some even describe it as 'ghostly' due to its quietness. It is now an image of a wealthy, modern Singapore targeting at tourists. Many of the stallholders we have interviewed claim that locals seldom visit Chinatown nowadays (except during festive seasons). They are all replaced by tourists.

  (Chinatown, c. 1970s. Copyright National Archives of Singapore and
             Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Has Chinatown become only a tourist attraction? 
It has become a 'built heritage' rather than a living one that has persisted for many generations. Although shophouses have been preserved by the government, but their way of life, the spirit of street hawkers in the past are long gone.  


Moreover, with the government's efforts to build a multi-cultural society, Chinatown is not mainly Chinese anymore, unlike the past  Now, there are many Malays and Indians setting up stalls there. Foreigners also own a significant number of shops. 


Chinatown is not Chinatown anymore. Old Chinatown is what is preferred by many whom have grown up with it. What is present now is a whole new Chinatown. Though the government is trying to preserve old buildings and liven up Chinatown to be what it is like before. But, what is taken away cannot be brought back easily. Old Chinatown seems to have long disappeared.