New showcase to seek views on Founders’ Memorial

SINGAPORE — A fenceless open-air museum with a playground for children, an interactive maze with historical photographs, an imposing tower that captures the spirit and struggles of Singapore’s pioneer generation.

These are among the ideas Singaporeans have for the proposed Founders’ Memorial displayed at a public showcase in Gardens by the Bay, which will be open from today till the end of April.

The showcase, titled Remembering our Founders: The Making of a Memorial, seeks to capture the “voices and the collective aspirations” the public has about the national landmark, said Mr Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of the Founders’ Memorial committee as he launched the showcase on Monday (March 13). 

He added: “What we found in the process that has been most helpful, is when you ask people to think of the design (for the memorial) not just for what they want, but for their friends, for their family.” Over 2,700 Singaporeans have chimed in through various channels since 2015.

Other features on Singaporeans’ wish lists include: A space incorporating both indoor and outdoor spaces, lush greenery, multilingual exhibits, and features that are timeless, interactive and family-oriented.

The showcase, which includes interactive elements for visitors to share their vision on the memorial, overlooks Bay East Garden, a potential site of the national landmark.

Bay East Garden was voted the preferred site — over Fort Canning Park — by 72 per cent of some 700 participants surveyed last year. 

The location of the memorial has not been decided yet.

Supporters of the Bay East Garden site, which is part of Gardens by the Bay and sits next to the Marina Bay Golf Course, preferred its accessibility to different groups of visitors, including children and the elderly. 

The space also has potential for future development and symbolises the Republic’s development, said the Founders’ Memorial Committee.

Madam Sharifah Mohamed, who took part in a consultation exercise last year, said the showcase curates a diverse variety of opinions from Singaporeans, a reflection of how “colourful” this society is.

The 51-year-old senior technologist at the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority, whose views are conveyed on a panel and through audio recordings, said the values of the pioneer generation should “shape our country and its future generations”.

The showcase will move into the heartlands from April to May. 

The public can also share their views on the memorial via an online survey.

The idea for a Founders’ Memorial was first mooted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in April 2015, three weeks after his father, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, died. 

These discussions led to the formation of a 15-member steering committee tasked to develop a concept for the memorial. The committee hopes to submit its recommendations to the Government by July. 

The showcase will be open from 10am to 8pm on weekdays, and 9am to 9pm on weekends and public holidays. Admission is free.