Singapore’s Urban Ethnic belt ‘makes’ the Island Heritage List (IHL)

Singapore’s diverse ethnic heritage makes it an ideal (and first) entrant to the Island Heritage List. It represents two crucial components of sustainable heritage (tourism): the seamless linkage of tangible and intangible assets; and the inclusion and coming together of a wide cross section of locals and their stories. The dominant ethnic groups: Chinese; Malays and Indians. The island’s bustling urban district is undoubtedly a microcosm of multiculturalism, which has resulted in the birth of Singapore’s heritage conservation system- the CMIO model.

I interviewed Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS) T.C. Chang in June 2009. Professor Chang has written widely on Singapore’s history, culture and heritage, and has particular research interest in the development of boutique hotels. Here’s an excerpt from that interview.

JNFL: The diversity of the ethnic background - is it an asset or liability for Singapore?

Be prepared to sample Singapore's distinctive cuisine.

Prof. Chang: I think it’s definitely an asset, but it’s an asset that’s difficult to manage and potentially very contentious. Multiculturalism is definitely an asset in so many ways not just to local people but to tourists. It’s an asset because it makes a place like Singapore interesting, and I mean not just in a tangible sense – the architectural forms are different, the activities are different, but also the intangible – the food, music, the very essence of the place is so heterogeneous and that makes it always interesting to discover. When you go into Little India tonight you will realize it’s such an enclave which is so different from other places in Singapore. If Singapore was just always modern, all Chinatown it would not have that degree of fun and dynamism.

JNFL: Why do you say it is an asset that is difficult to manage?

Prof Chang: I think it’s an asset that’s very difficult to manage because what you do for the Chinese community you must likewise show in a very visible way that you are also doing for the minority community. I give you an anecdotal example…China town as a lighting ceremony where all the lights come on and they make it very attractive and festive so that people can be drawn there during the Chinese/US season, beautiful and festive. This is done by the Singapore Tourism Board. Now they follow that up very closely with Light Up in Little India and Malay festival. This is very egalitarian. What you do for the Chinese, you must do for the Indians and for the Malays.

Ethnic festivals in Singapore. Source:TravelBite.co.uk

This shows how the government is with regard to anything you do with each ethnic group, where you have to equally provide it to others. In this case the tourism agency when they make a product for a festival or festive season you do it for all groups and likewise the conservation projects that started in Chinatown and Singapore River; soon it went on to Lagoon and so on. So here all the ethnic groups, the architectural styles, buildings - all these are conserved in a very systematic way. In other words your conservation programme must run the full gamut. This is what we call the CMIO model – Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others. You cannot just do the ‘I’ and leave out the ‘M’ or you cannot do the Chinese and leave out the minorities.

Beautiful vernacular architecture stuns in Singapore

Multiculturalism is difficult because you have to show that all your programmes are multi-faceted, cover all groups and do not smack of favouritism. Actually it’s very tough; it’s really a tall challenge.
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We invite you to submit your island heritage site/experience to the Island Heritage List- a celebration of your unique island heritage! Simply submit a brief on the nominated site and/or experience in whatever form you choose: audio, video, photographs etc. to islandheritagescape@gmail.com.