Kampong Glam Group seeks public input on making nature reserve a must-see for Singaporeans

SINGAPORE – When Covid-19 peaked in Singapore in 2020, Johari Kazura saw the area he knew all along to be bustling and busy come to a standstill.

“I was walking around the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon and everything was closed. .

Some businesses have closed during the pandemic, but have managed to weather the storm despite lack of tourist numbers, like eateries popular with locals, and have moved to protected areas. Some companies have been able to “rejuvenate themselves,” he noted.

“This told us who the more resilient businesses were in the region. After overcoming difficulties, they managed to get to the other side.

On Saturday, the KGA unveiled its proposed site plan that will guide the development of Kampong Glam over the next five years. This is because stakeholders in the region are working to make the district more relevant for Singaporeans of all ages.

The plan is “almost a business plan, but with more heart,” Kazura said. “This is not just about business, but it also takes into account the needs and wants of the community and the people who want to visit the area,” he said.

This plan has four approaches. It aims to combine the new with the traditional, create public spaces, improve connectivity and celebrate the history, heritage, culture and art of the region.

KGA said the draft plan came out of the government-organized Emerging Stronger Conversations to discuss how different sectors could meet the challenges posed by the pandemic.

At the end of 2020, Singapore’s nature conservation agency, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), announced a partnership between KGA members, Kampong Glam residents, cultural institutions and heritage businesses to better serve Singaporeans using the region’s heritage. Facilitated discussion on how to provide.

The KGA, which has 16 members, including residents, has drafted a plan, as have institutions and organizations such as the Sultan Mosque and the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce. www.listeningtoKG.org

From Saturday to January 15, 2023, members of the public can share their thoughts on the plans and changes they would like to see in Kampong Glam on the same website.

KGA will also host a “walkshop” for the public to provide detailed feedback on the plans. This includes walks to various spots in Kampong Glam where the Alliance wants to gather opinions. Details of these walks will be posted on the KGA’s Facebook page.

KGA Chairman Saeed Labafi, 54, said Kampong Glam has more than 600 shophouses owned by various owners and unlike shopping malls, there is no central manager to manage the mix of tenants. rice field.