Looking Deeper into Kampong Glam

By Desiree Ong, Francis Khew, Pearlyn Cheu

One will soon find themselves stepping into what seem like another dimension of Singapore after taking a 15 minute walk away from Bugis Street. Different from that of the contemporary and metropolitan environment with high-rise buildings everywhere, rows of conserved shophouses populates Kampong Glam instead.

Kampong Glam was also home to the Malay aristocracy of Singapore prior to colonization by the British in 1819. Easily recognizable due to the golden dome of Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque), the vibrant cultural precinct of Kampong Glam continues to serve as a cultural and retail center for our tightly-knitted Muslim community.

Fusion of other Cultural Groups

When one think of Kampong Glam, the image of Malay activities and Muslims bustling around shop houses filled with trades of the Malay culture comes into mind. However, that is only a portion of what defines kampong glam.

Being a multi-racial country has become a cultural marker of Singapore. With four main ethnicity groups namely: Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians, it is no surprise that other cultural groups are ingrained into the streets of Kampong Glam.

Like any other parts of the country, the place is not only filled with shops selling muslim products. Other than Muslim products like hijabs and baju kurungs, the place is also filled with other services from fine-dining restaurants which are European inspired to Iranian carpets, Indian saris and fragrant oil to Chinese’s foot reflexology services and antiques.

Old time traditions

Old time Malay traditions have not ceased to exist yet, what we see today in Kampong Glam is a variety of rich heritage passed down for generations. Some of these traditions are in the form of monuments, trades, cultures and practices.

Conservation of important places of worship such as the Sultan Mosque is retained in their original state while others have been refurbished. Kampong Glam gives us an inside look of the architecture and lifestyle of Singapore’s early days. Such diverse rich heritage can only come about through a sense of tolerance, sharing and bonding, all encapsulated in the Kampong Glam spirit.