• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

A tale of two houses – 38 Oxley Road and the little green hut

by Ghui
29/12/2020
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
16

A mysterious green hut in Mandai Forest, believed to be an abandoned kampung hut, has reportedly been demolished two days after a news report by Mothership on the hut was published. Many netizens have expressed upset at this seemingly hasty destruction, opining that this was a wasted opportunity to preserve a piece of our country’s history.

Singapore already has precious few original and authentic reminders of our past. In the rapid modernisation of our nation, much of our heritage has already been knocked down to make way for “development”. As we see even more reminders of our past eroded, it is understandable for people to feel somewhat nostalgic wistful and maudlin for the past.

This green hut may have once been someone’s treasured home, a curiosity to spark sentimentality – something to inspire imagination and provoke historical inquiry.

Why is there a need to be rid of this harmless hut with such uncommon haste?

Contrast this to the fate of another house, 38 Oxley Road and the result could not be more different. Number 38 Oxley Road has been the subject of much controversy. It has caused a public spat between members of the most powerful family in Singapore and a lawsuit against the editor of this publication – which all started over whether or not this house should be demolished or preserved for posterity.

It mattered not that the man who lived there, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) had publicly stated his wishes for the house to be demolished. Instead, it was held that his house was such an indelible part of our nation’s history that its existence had to be preserved even if it was against LKY’s wishes.

So what’s the difference here with this little green hut?

One may argue that number 38 Oxley Road once housed the man that many see as the founding father of independent Singapore while the little green hut probably housed someone nameless and insignificant. But herein lies the question — what defines historical value?

The little green hut represents the past, a tribute to our roots. It was a true and “undressed up” testament to where we came from. It was not a trussed up and “modernised” version of the old like our Chinatown shophouses. It stood as it was, proud in its shabby and anonymous authenticity. With its demolition, we lose the quest to uncover who once lived there. With its loss, we sever a link to the common man who was part and parcel to the building of modern-day Singapore.

38 Oxley Road, on the other hand, is very well documented. We knew who lived there and what it stood for. Even if it was razed to the ground, there would always be a record of where it once stood and who lived there.

History should be a preservation of the past to remind us of where we came from. If 38 Oxley Road is to be preserved for its historical value, why not the little green hut?

The little green hut represents all of us and the role of the common man in creating history. 38 Oxley Road represents the power brokers who influence history. Yet, both parties co-create what would one day be history. Why then is one the subject of so much political to and fro while the other is torn down into oblivion without so much of a mention?

Perhaps, the preservation of 38 Oxley Road is more about its political magnitude than historical significance in the first place.

 

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal
Business

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit
Malaysia

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport
Comments

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY
Politics

Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

30/01/2023
Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber
Comments

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

30/01/2023
Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season
Politics

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

30/01/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
16 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Keppel O&M’s involvement in Brazil’s massive corruption scandal

Keppel Offshore & Marine paid fines and damages of US$65 million to Brazilian authorities over corruption case

30/01/2023
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim arrives in Singapore for one-day official visit

30/01/2023
TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

TikToker alleges being “thrown in airport jail” for going on a 10 hours day trip to Changi Airport

30/01/2023
Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

Workers’ Party Sengkang MPs receives a “mountain of rice pack” from public after donation call for needy families in CNY

30/01/2023
Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

30/01/2023
Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

Opposition parties greet Singaporeans during CNY festive season

30/01/2023
Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand deploys electric trucks in joint collaboration to reduce carbon emissions

30/01/2023
Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists

Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists

30/01/2023

Trending posts

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
13

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
59

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
49

...

December 2020
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Nov   Jan »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz