MyStory

Sang Nila Utama, first saw Singapore across my waters. At that time, the island was called “Temasik”, but legend has it that he renamed it “Singapura” or Lion City, though there wasn’t a city there when he landed.

For centuries, I’ve supported life on this little island. For instance, the Orang Laut such as the Orang Biduanda Kallang and the Orang Selat fished in my waters.

When the British came, they came by sea. The draw wasn’t just what could be grown on land, but what could be traded on land and shipped by sea. The island’s population grew rapidly after Stamford Raffles stepped on the shore in 1819. Immigrants came by the shipload, not just from Britain, but also from India, China and other lands nearby.

The biggest trouble Singapore has ever known came by sea too, but not in the way the British had imagined. They tended to think that trouble would come by sea in the south. But in 1941, an army from another land surrounded by sea - Japan - landed on several beaches, such as the one off Kota Bahru in the Malay Peninsula, north of Singapore. From their beach heads, the Japanese army moved south to the Johor Straits, and crossed it to land in Singapore at Kranji, then pushed inland.

The British surrendered in a place that is about as far as one could get from the sea - in a factory at Bukit Timah. The days that followed were the worst of times ever. I know, because many of Singapore’s civilians were shot in my waters off Changi and Punggol. The Japanese called the island “Syonanto” or “Light of the South”. The light from the Land of the Rising Sun cast long, dark shadows.

When the Japanese signed surrender papers on an American ship in 1945 in the waters of Tokyo Bay, things were never the same again. Malaya declared its independence of the British Isles in 1957. Singapore was self-governing in 1959 and merged politically with Malaysia in 1963. In 1965, the island became independent.

I supported Singapore’s economy through entrepot trade. Even when the island became a land of factories, many goods were shipped by sea. As Singapore diversified from manufacturing into services, I continued to remain relevant for business, eg for telecommunication through submarine cables.

Since independence, Singapore has celebrated its birthday mostly near me - at the Padang near the Singapore River, and at the National Stadium near the Kallang Basin. This year, for the first time ever, the parade was held on water, at Marina Bay.

While the story of how Singapura got its name is a legend, the history of Singapore is my story. I, the waters off Singapore, have seen history ebb and flow. Will the nation continue to be on solid ground? Much depends on those who live on its shores, but I will continue to be there for the island.

Story and photos by Kevin K B Lee. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

References

Cornelius-Takahama V (2000). Sang Nila Utama. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_93_2005-01-26.html

Government of Singapore (undated). World War II & Military Sites. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://www.livelife.ecitizen.gov.sg/culture/heritage/worldwar2_detail.asp?plc_id=13

Hwang J (2001). Orang Laut. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_551_2005-01-09.html

Miles R (2005). Syonanto (Singapore) 1942 - 1945. Retrieved 14 Aug 07 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/71/a4405871.shtml

Siew A (2006). So Much Riding on Fragile Undersea Cables. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://business.asiaone.com/Business/SME+Central/Talking+point/Story/A1Story20070519-3406.html

Singapore Press Holdings (1998). Road to Independence. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/merger/merger.html

The Changi Museum (undated). Chronological Events of WWII. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://www.changimuseum.com/Chronicle/Chronicles%20body%20text2.htm

Wong H (undated). Tomoyuki Yamashita. Retrieved 9 Aug 07 from http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_751_2005-01-22.html

Article migrated from original My Story Portal 2007.
Author. Horseman