The Islands That Made Us
The Islands That Made Us: The Forgotten Islands
Up till the 1970s, Singapore's southern islands had vibrant island communities with unique identities. But today, names like Pulau Tekukor and Pulau Seringat have become largely unfamiliar to Singaporeans. Likewise, while reclamation has increased Singapore's land area by 25% in the last 200 years, some islands like Pulau Seking have been merged with other islands, and their names are now confined to history. Â Â
But there is still much to be learnt from the 40-plus islands making up Singapore today, and the people passionate about them. Dr Hamzah Muzaini is doing research on St John's Island and Lazarus Island to get people interested in cultural history; wildlife enthusiasts Ria Tan and Subaraj Rajathurai want to get Singaporeans excited about the diversity we still have; and ecologist Dr Lynette Loke has found a perfect way to marry development with sustainability. We also revisit traditions like kolek racing and bubu fishing to remind us about life as true-blue islanders. Â Â