Dear TRS,
I read your article that The Hague has decided that Malaysia is not liable to pay the S$1.4 billion development charges on three plots of ex-railway land that was officially handed over to Singapore in 2010.
The three plots of land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands used to be railway land which belonged to Malaysia.
I have a friend who was working in the heritage sector in Malaysia.
He shared with me that the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station actually has a strong historical value.
The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station shares the same design as the Finland’s Helsinki Station designed by Eliel Saarinen.
They are two of the only designs that exists in the world.
He said that it is a pity that the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will make way for other future developments, because the station should be protected.
I agree with him. The railway station was opened in 1932 and is a historical and cultural artefact.
I asked him if the railway station has such significance, why the Malaysian government did not upkeep it.
He told me that apparently the Malaysian government did submit many design proposals to improve the railway station but these were repeatedly rejected by the Singapore government because the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority has to give approval to them before renovation works can be carried out.
As such, the railway station started to deteriorate.
He said that the Singapore government wanted the plots of land back and thus did not approve of the designs so that when the buildings are dilapidated enough, the land can be taken back.
However, I think it is a pity. I don’t know if the government has plans to protect the historical heritage of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and I hope it would.
Otherwise, we will see another building with historical significance disappear again from Singapore.
Mdm Lee
TRS Contributor