Geylang Serai played a key role in creating vibrant and multicultural national identity: PM Lee

SINGAPORE — Geylang Serai is commonly known as Singapore’s Malay cultural district, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted on Saturday (Jan 26) that it has in fact, played a key role in creating a vibrant and multicultural national identity that all Singaporeans are proud of.

Speaking in Malay at the official opening of Wisma Geylang Serai, a civic community centre located at the heart of the district, Mr Lee said: “Sitting at the core of this culturally distinct precinct, Wisma Geylang Serai must uphold this spirit of inclusiveness and solidarity.”

Wisma Geylang Serai was first mooted by Mr Lee in his 2011 National Day Rally as part of plans to make Geylang Serai a “culturally distinctive precinct”.

Speaking later in English at the opening on Saturday, Mr Lee said the project had come to fruition after several years of careful deliberation and consultation involving government agencies, private sector and community groups.

“Wisma Geylang Serai will be a prominent landmark in Geylang Serai. It will strengthen the cultural identity of the precinct, with its intricate architecture and traditional pitched roofs, and its mix of tenants and activities.”

He added that Wisma Geylang Serai is meant to be a vibrant centre which reflects the diverse interests and continuing progress of the Malay community, and at the same time, a venue where all races and religious are welcome, and are interested to visit.

Helmed by the People’s Association, Wisma Geylang Serai is the first such centre to feature distinctively Malay cultural features. For instance, its double-pitched roof resembles those of traditional Malay houses.

The five-story centre will house several facilities catering to the needs of the community. These include the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) Family Service Centre, a childcare centre run by NTUC First Campus and Silver Circle, a day care centre for the elderly operated by NTUC Health Co-operative.

It will also host the joint office of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Malay welfare organisation Mendaki and the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (Mesra), collectively known as M3. This is the first time all three institutions are sharing an office.

Wisma Geylang Serai will also have a separate office hosting other Malay Muslim organisations such as the Association of Muslim Professionals, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) and Malay language media outlet Berita Harian.

To promote Malay arts and culture, there is space in Wisma Geylang Serai set aside for art groups to take up residency. The Singapore Malay Orchestra is the first to have done so.

The Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery, located on the first floor, will showcase Geylang Serai’s growth from a settler community in the 19th century to the residential and business precinct that it is today.

As part of the opening ceremony, Mr Lee oversaw a keris mandat ceremony, in which four representatives of the Malay community handed over a keris, a traditional Malay dagger, to the advisory panel of Wisma Geylang Serai.

In conjunction with the opening, a three-day festival that began on Friday will feature a host of arts, culture and lifestyle programmes and events. These include performances by Singaporean singer Ramli Sarip and film screenings of P Ramlee classics such as ‘Seniman Bujang Lapok’ and ‘Ahmad Albab’.