When I first joined Parliament in 2012, debate over the fate of Bukit Brown cemetery was raging. Pragmatism has prevailed and some exhumations are underway. But we all know it was a turning point. Many Singaporeans discovereda new passion for their heritage. Some even realized their own family history had lain hidden more or less under their noses for decades. The assumption that people will accept development at all costs can no longer be taken for granted. As Professor Wang Gungwu wrote recently, with Bukit Brown in mind: “For a community to thrive, it is vital for each to defend the right to preserve what its members want.” The heritage phenomenon, he says, “is a measure of cultural resilience, something that comes from living and caring for what is familiar.” From NMP Janice Koh in Parliamentary debate on the Budget
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 09:50:05 +0000
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