ura-ura ura

Why is Singapore's authority for land use planning and guidelines called Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)?
Do they intend to urbanise everything rural? (They seem to be very diligent doing this)
Or does this body take care of urban areas only?
If yes, who then takes care of our rural areas? Is there a Rural Preservation Authority (RPA)?
Or does our government think that all rural areas must be cleared to make way for REdevelopment of buildings or manicured parks and gardens? (oh, i also have lots of questions on the use of the 're' in URA's Redevelopment, but that's another issue altogether)


Don't you think the name URA itself hints a big flaw in our masterplanning mentality? Is masterplanning all about urbanising and redevelopment?


I am still crushed by what is happening to Pulau Ubin. They are relocating all the residents who gave soul to the island. It's not just about nature, it's about people too - the village headman (RIP) and his mini zoo, the coconut auntie, the malay families and their fantastic kampong cooking, the Catholic Kampong at Chek Jawa, the surau and its therapeutic prayer calls, the Malay Mats strumming their guitars while waiting at their durian sheds, the kampong cats and dogs... Unfortunately today, the whole microcosm has changed and I am not too sure if it's for the better.


Yes I am totally aware that URA has taken steps to preserve and retain with their conservation/ preservation guidelines, but preservation is not just about the buildings and the surroundings. It is also about the people who give soul and spirit to them.

While URA claims many successes in their Conservation programme and planning, I personally think it lacks depth. While stretches of shophouses in Kampong Glam have been 'beautifully' conserved, gone are the vibes and atmosphere it used to contain, the community living with 'gotong-royong' kampong spirit. Today, Kampong Glam is fast becoming a victim of commercialism with its rows of hip restaurants, cafes and pubs. The unique and original sociology of the 'preserved' space has been stripped and exchanged with a different one.  Is this how we define Preservation? Are we too reliant on the numbers to plan and make decisions? What about the intangible factors? Do we not find a need to take care of them?

In Malay ura-ura means having an intent. Let's hope URA's intent  'to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play in' goes beyond superficiality... and my saman ticket.