"Singapore, My Singapore" Documentary 1960s-1970s

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[@lamvothe2833]

Chua Peng Chye was one of Singapore’s pioneering urban planners, and served as the country’s Chief Planner from 1973 to 1976. Peng Chye joined the public service in 1959 as a town planner with the Singapore Improvement Trust. In 1967, he was appointed to a project team established by the Singapore government with the support of the United Nations, to develop the country’s first island-wide land-use plan - the Concept Plan of 1971. This plan served as a blueprint for the physical development of Singapore, guiding the creation of infrastructure such as housing estates and transport networks across the country. He passed away on 16 April 2019 at the age of 87

[@thomasng1007]

2:38

[@hhxlegacy]

For Singapore heritage lovers, this video is pure gold.

[@chooiseah1377]

Saw my mom in the P Park interview😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@tobyc8668]

At what time in the video?

[@pepperpru]

Wow

[@blackcross4kelvin739]

Woah 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@CrossbredmiMiyang]

I hope the women whom blushed away the interviewer impatiently was not your mom 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@MS113MS]

18:35 Paipailieto😅😅😅

[@remyazharyyosef1811]

The strange thing is that he had that strange modern sensibility to him. As if he was from our time [the future]. Yet the video itself was made in the 60s. Talk about time travel. Or time capsule. Nevertheless, as a Singaporean, I think this is a refresher that every one us need to see. And it's a revelation that he even mentioned a "Mass Transit Line" even from that time in what was to become the MRT. And as it's equally impressive that they managed to include political aspects of the region in their discussion like the separation, Vietnam war and Hongkong. Such that they're able to plan Singapore for the future to withstand all those conflicts. And the factors that he discussed were so on-point that this is I'm proud to be a Singaporean. So too should younger generations. They ought to look at this video and have that pride that Singapore is not about what we have or doing today. But what our past generations had put in to make Singapore it is.

[@keithng5249]

Yet the video itself was made in the 60s. Wow that guy must be like in his 70s and 80s now. Somebody show him this video haha

[@crisdafis490]

It's not that long ago you know!

[@michaeltham9914]

This video is awesome 🇸🇬👍👍👍

[@sunmtube]

He envisaged the skyscrapers amidst the slums. That is indeed like travelling into time and back..amazing!

[@CrossbredmiMiyang]

Mr Chua Peng Chye , thank you for you ingenious planning and leadership and massive thank you for your service, despite its been more than 3 years since you pass on , I still would like to send my deepest condolences to your immediate family and friends. Without you and your colleagues there’s no Singapore of today.

[@tlcchuang742]

The guy was a city planner that exudes charisma and leadership, where did all these talents come from in the early days

[@landebadalge2641]

Man, Mr.Chua is a brilliant guy. Though I’m from a younger generation, his vision & knowledge really impressed me. I analysed every single word he said & found it still relevant today as though he’s speaking for today. He could very easily been the PM of Spore. A really wonderful documentary & a glimpse into the past. The elders in this video may have passed on & the young that we saw, maybe of Pioneer & Merdeka generation today but lets not forget, and accept that even today’s modern developments & changes wont last in another 30 to 50 years for the sake of progress & changes in lifestyles. Maju Singapura.!

[@18000rpm]

The pioneer generation like this Chua Peng Chye are truly amazing people. "Chua Peng Chye was one of Singapore’s pioneering urban planners, and served as the country’s Chief Planner from 1973 to 1976. Peng Chye joined the public service in 1959 as a town planner with the Singapore Improvement Trust. In 1967, he was appointed to a project team established by the Singapore government with the support of the United Nations, to develop the country’s first island-wide land-use plan - the Concept Plan of 1971. This plan served as a blueprint for the physical development of Singapore, guiding the creation of infrastructure such as housing estates and transport networks across the country. He passed away on 16 April 2019 at the age of 87."

[@KCtour]

What a pioneer! Salute to Mr. Chua. You have done well for your country that we are enjoying the well planned city!

[@lplp7656]

he should be deserved an award......

[@khanwh74]

RIP. 😢

[@lulindearlove8902]

A wonderful town planner.

[@tonykwok9763]

👍👍👍👍👍after sta mford raffles.....SIR CHUA PENG CHYE.....1.42 PM 12.11.2022.....SINGAPORE HEROES🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@wymanspace4173]

From Singapore Improvement Trust to Housing Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority. If anyone has doubts in the local government planning process just do some research. Do visit URA and see how fortunate Singaporeans are to have such dedicated pioneers. Kudos.

[@owjianbang01]

I am immensely grateful for the duty and service of the administrators in the formative years of the singapore today. WORDS cannot describe the effort and thought put into getting this island to function as an investible value proposition for FDI. 24:40 shows the realistic thinking and humility to foster better ways to create things, and to learn from people with more experience. Thank you from the bottom of my heart our pioneer administrative civil servants. 🙇🏻‍♂️

[@richardjones7984]

This was my Singapore as well when I grew up as a teenager. I have the same feelings of nostalgia for the traditional slow paced way of life. It was lovely to see the Amah's market, which was our favourite Friday night activity in Changi village. All gone now in modern tour videos. I also remember the traditional Chinese clothes worn by the women in the market and the vest and shorts worn by the men. Our Amah had walked from Hainan in China to Singapore to escape the Japanese during world war II. She always wore a traditional Armah's clothes that you can see on Chinese brush paintings more than a thousand years ago. She had a big golden smile from gold fillings that you can see in this film. I lived near a traditional Kampong with a duck pond and neatly laid out vegetable gardens. A way of life that has gone forever. Maybe we are better off today with our iPhones but I know that I am not.

[@dannys.7916]

This is an immensely amazing watch, much of the precious footage has rarely been seen before

[@lplp7656]

The late Chua Peng Chye should be deserved an award by the Singaporean Government / or a road on his name to recognize his effort, commitment ,dedication and sacrifices to plan and build singapore to what it is today. Sadly I dont see there are.....RIP sir. IF you're someone in Malaysia , that would be great contribution to the country.

[@chanboonyee6788]

We Malaysians let Singapore handle her own problems.We don't intend to interfere in the affairs of another sovereign foreign nation.

[@JohnLee-gt3sr]

@@chanboonyee6788 A little too sensitive? LP LP may be a Malaysian. He may have meant well.

[@TheMawashigeri]

Amazing documentary. This was probably filmed in the early 70s and our city planner was already talking about building our MRT spanning from the east to the west of Singapore. These are the visionaries,like this city planner Mr Chua, that made Singapore what it is today.

[@zhen86]

To quote from Mr Ong Teng Chong:” it has been 20 years in planning” he said that in the first MRT ride. So it could be in the 60s.

[@bielefeldkim]

I lived in Singapore as a young child in the mid 1960s. My father was in the British army and we were stationed there for 2 years. I have the happiest memories of our time there, and this video brought lots of 'memories' back. I have been back to Singapore twice since those days, only last month I was there on a short visit. Obviously today's Singapore bears almost no similarity with that of my childhood but there are areas that still have that original feel. I lived on the Wessex Estate and went to Pasir Panjang junior school. On my visit in 2018 I was able to actually go inside the apartment I lived in as a child, believe me when I tell you it hadn't changed at all. Thank you Singapore for giving me two years of the perfect childhood!

[@tf-ok]

Where is the Wessex Estate?

[@PK-pd3js]

Portsdown road

[@hkk347]

Im 48 this year and I must say I missed the 70s and 80s. Grew up in Marine Parade and enjoyed walking across my home to the beach almost daily after school to play the sand and swim in the sea. Life was simple and the fun was different :)

[@paulsz6194]

Marine parade on the Eastcoast is a well to do place to live now, isn’t it?

[@hkk347]

@@paulsz6194 yes it has changed over the years. I still love the place. Very tranquil and I still go to the beaches

[@hamdanali676]

The beach/sea, reflection of the blue sky as depicted in P.Ramlee's song, Nak Dara Rindu, picked from his Bujang Lapok (1957) film; "Tanjong Katong airnya biru, Tempat mandi Nak Dara Jelita" 🤣

[@sunmtube]

Have you seen Queenstown then and now? That was a classic era in that area then!

[@kenneth4623]

​@@sunmtubeunfortunately I didn't see the then. But I've seen the now 😂

[@ancientmariner3077]

Bugi Street. The beating heart of Singapore City. Bars, Street stalls, crowds and fun. I was a British sailor and spent a lot of time in 'Singers'.

[@rjleslee]

Nothing remains of old Bugis St nowadays.

[@ahkl77]

This archive is 21st century gold. A waypoint for the current and future generations of Singaporeans on how far the nation has travelled.

[@boxstersjm69u]

Speaks well and clear, unpretentious in his narration of Singapore challenges at that time.

[@simroysten7963]

Since the 60's Singaporeans are already highly educated and articulate with the same verve and vigour in inplementation.

[@prime8krish]

feel sad that the documentary is only 26 min, I can watch this all day. wow!

[@othmanabdullah5013]

Singapore my place of birth ( Kandang Kerbau Hosp). Love it and I remembered the good old days when I was a kid . Walking to School ( Trafalgar primary School. Now No more) from my hse at Police Barracks at Cantonment Road in the 60s. All left as history and the good old days. 😢❤

[@magdalenechong4840]

I’m in my80s. My first visit there as a little girl fascinated me-the crazy noise, the teeming crowds, the vast amounts of goods on sale, the blaring music, the delicious smells of food wafting in the air-bu alas! free smells were all I got ! I was too poor to enjoy eating and shopping there!😟

[@utubegeronimo7628]

My late father worked in Singapore from 1959 to 1971. He knew Singapore would eventually emerge a nation by itself given its identity and culture that differentiates it from Malaya.

[@sweetsweet3753]

Super interesting. Singapore (Sembawang) was my home in 1979 as an 11yr old for 2 years (NZ army brat) and i loved the old kampongs back then esp Chom Pang (hope i spelt it correctly). I returned to Singapore as a 30yr old (around 2000) for nearly 20 years and lived next to Peoples Park and it remains my favourite place for food in Singapore. Great memories!

[@janlim9326]

Brings back wonderful memories & tears into my being....... a really charming calmer, kinder time..... & when my loving parents were still around. Really missed those wonderful times. Never know how good it is till it's no longer there.

[@paecpc]

Our Singaporean pioneers, respect ❤

[@pinzneedles]

the town planners of singapore then.... the silent worker bees who set the wheels in motion for the long journey towards modern singapore. not quite as visible as LKY and team.. but nevertheless, crucial

[@dimdull]

Such an excellent documentary. It captures the essence of the visionary planning, the hardworking Singaporeans, the determination of the nation to succeed in view of uncertain future. Thank you for releasing this documentary, it’s is very educational and inspiring.

[@ray6115]

This is the Singapore of my youth. It will always be a part of me and of those who lived then.

[@limchyehock6722]

Watching this video brings tears to my eyes. These are my childhood memories. I have mingled there in the old People's Park with my late parents. These scenes will never come back again. The smell, the sound and the hardships. A bygone era.

[@thewaterbearer16]

25:58 The humility and self-awareness of civil service city planners own lack of experience are astounding. Something that is lacking with our current civil service.

[@LingtbJ]

So interesting, 50+ years have passed and the Singaporean accent is still the same !

[@DressedRunner]

Very grateful for this documentation of the thought process and sentiments behind the early redevelopment of Singapore. This really accentuate how thoughtful and considerate the planners were towards the residents. On the side note, 17:49 is so funny - the lady answered half way and ran off. Those surveyors had to carry those thick checklist and speak different languages/ dialects; really makes one appreciate Google form.

[@jackt1400]

i was born in the 80s, missed the old days when I was a child.. even though i'm not that old as shown the in video. Present Singapore is "just another city" nothing more to look forward to as a citizen.

[@abdullahaboobakker1758]

This documentary is truly a masterpiece 👏 😊

[@b19djs]

My father was S.ad.O. of Changi from 1955- 1958, we lived in Abingdon Rd. Loyd Lees. Taken to school in a Garry truck and guarded when there was 'Merdeka' riots. It was best part of my childhood, I still favour the S.E. Asian culture, at the time I didn't realise who fortunate I was.

[@geofftefl]

In spite of all their faults, the British made an enormous contribution to teaching administrative principles that are at the core of the strategies in this story. But, it's a huge mistake to take anything away from the smart leadership of Lee Kwan Yew and his team. An interesting comparison, although logistically and culturally much more complex, is the progress of development in Indonesia under Dutch rule for a significantly longer term. Aside from all that, this documentary is very interesting and informative.

[@yoke-munchan1813]

Thank you, for the memories these old buildings and sights have brought back.

[@louiselai6289]

He just described the very present time we are living in his opening intro

[@lindseyrea9237]

We lived at Changi army base (Beverley Drive) in the early 1970's. Loved the markets, the food, the different languages and the contrast between rural and city buildings. I had friends who still lived in a kampong with a stand pump in the middle of the village and a "night cart" toilet. I remember seeing the HBD flat they moved into with its 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Been back several times since including 2017. Lots of change.

[@abdullahaboobakker1758]

Best times of my life can never forget i miss my old singapore 🎉❤🎉😢

[@Truth433]

growing up in the 70s, thanks to our pioneers for the hard work

[@abrahamdecruz5128]

Beautiful documentary. Those were the good old days. It's nice to see the old model cars. Not much on the design but solid and road worthy.

[@rbc812]

This video is a treasure.

[@bk1571]

I am Malaysian Chinese, spent some time at No.39, Sungei Road in the 60s to early 70s., during my childhood days ...happy memories.

[@OnePhilomath]

Such well spoken English. A surprising contrast to today’s vernaculars and linguistic capabilities. Stark contrast.

[@JohnLee-gt3sr]

Absolutely! Noticed that too. The way he articulated.

[@smj7246]

Spoken plainly, concisely and with impact.

[@daveshongkongchinachannel]

And on top of that he was speaking Cantonese, Hokien, Malay, Mandarin if I heard correctly and maybe a couple of others too! People in government at that time were of a totally different calibre and despite all that he had a genuine personality.

[@EYee633]

Love my Singapore ❤❤

[@toddrone]

1:12 the soccer field i used to play ,...memories flooding in,..incredible footage ❤

[@safia3622]

Where was this field?

[@gerrysmith7031]

Jalah basar

[@skyluck2001]

@@safia3622 Looks like the one opposite Commonwealth MRT station.

[@elijahlwh9484]

Very good video, brings back my childhood memories! Good work! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@redtobertshateshandles]

My grandad and his brother were born in Singapore. What a melting pot. German and Welsh ancestry. Thanks for showing.

[@keithdavisuk]

Grew up in Singapore during the 60's at Raf Pacific Mansions and a bungalow for over 5 years... good memories and nice to see the old Singapore.

[@peterchan3889]

In between 60 & 70 they already planning to build S'pore first multi storey People Park Complex which is now still standing. I was involved in that very grand project at that time.

[@kenchan4159]

And this city planner is not only modern looking, he's very handsome too.

[@simroysten7963]

Another nugget the young Singaporeans should know. Majority of the married women residents who need to shop or work there wears a kind of clothing called "samfu" (of Cantonese origin) of same cotton material/colour blouse and loose pants. Sometimes with mandarin collar. Usually worn the whole day doing chores like cooking, washing clothes, feeding the baby, neighbourhood street wear, and lastly as pajamas as well. And the footwear is a pair of wooden clogs which they also use for the bathroom. Also during those times, there were lots of Nepalese itinerant hawking wares such as rings with precious stones, jade bangles, Nepalese trinkets etc. What's amazing is the winter clothing they wear loosely on their shoulders. The police/locals always treated them as locals.

[@truthful3777]

Singapore is very well planned out. It is a beautiful Garden City.

[@simontan6524]

Great video 👍🏼 Tks for bringing us back to history ❤️

[@nickolasmallcott4399]

Living in Meyer Road, Katong with my sailing boat anchored in front of waterfront was a good memory witu tennis every evening! All this changed rapidly with development, sand drainage and new express way built extending several hundred meters - this was a change for a new era of Singapore. Remains always a happy experience for that generation....life moves on!

[@markmk44]

I use to walk to the beach 10 min - when I was 4-5 years old from Siglap.

[@emeritusdavidteo5553]

Excellent documentary! Thanks for uploading.

[@wiseguy9980]

There is not much photos or info about the late CPC except in URA website. What an unassuming and modest underrated pioneer we had. Thanks for this video.

[@tonykwok9763]

👍👍👍👍👍SALUTE.....SIR CHUA PENG CHYE🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@frontworks232]

CPC well done! your insights are such valuable and sensible, you think of what others mind...

[@yxnxm3355]

I FINALLY FOUND IT FOR 30 MINNN THIS IS SOOO GOOODDD

[@frankietatcanbearrange3874]

Wow this is a gem of a docu!

[@crosbyong]

Thank you for sharing this interesting and insightful video. Priceless!

[@rudylopez5060]

It was awesome.. it's like travelling back in a time machine.. those featured in the video are probably passed on..

[@singaporeprimeproperties4681]

Yes fond memories of the rustic charm of Singapore, tks :)

[@sentosarunner]

Wow, this production is like a window to the past. "Back to the Future - Singapore style" 👍👍👍

[@connieromanik4285]

When SOMEONE ask me what is Spore like., my answers are very clean city, well organised city, friendly, great hawkers foods beautiful city, very safe.

[@joshk6929]

Wet market back in the 70s-80s were the best, you can really feel the vibrant energy of the people making a living. Weird enough, you no longer feel that in the modern era.

[@zhixuanchen6914]

Indeed, the narrator at the beginning of the video had good foresight of what's going to happen in the coming decades. Inevitably unfortunate that we had since lost our identity, our heritage 😭

[@ptwlk]

Thank you for this interesting part of our history.

[@karebu2]

It’s interesting that the Singaporean accent has not changed since. Even Singlish grammar such as “I want to make then I buy la”

[@Diderot68]

This is my childhood memory. Singapore telah maju!

[@selvarajuulakanthan9651]

I miss my Singapore in the 60s and 70s best times of my life

[@DavidHoughton17]

Very interesting! to see the old Singapore of the 60s and 70s

[@audreyang-e5p]

do you have any more of such videos? so educational, enjoyed and learnt so much, thank you

[@12dougreed]

I love Singapore, I spent time there between tour's of the Sarawak jungle and the jungle around Jahore ( the confrontation) 1965 Visited a few years ago still wonderful in a different way. But old Singapore was the best

[@makinsense71]

Precious!

[@phongy45]

thank you,

[@ingloongyang4026]

I never knew that the old People’s Park was so colorful

[@john___l]

04:29 That's Lau Pasat at the top centre, the curved road on the top right corner is Church Street --> Cecil Street. Awesome look at the past!

[@mustafakhalid8743]

Very good video. I grown up 1962-1967 Kaki bukit. I remember ver well Robinson place, Clememti Still rd clinic Alexender hosp Tjg Pagar railway Dawood school and sekolah kaki bukit my fathers Mini minor my neighbour hood girl friend Enon, her father is Taha dont know where now

[@albertod6770]

Is like seeing two different countries. a poor developing country, and now a fully developed first world country.

[@krollpeter]

What a realistic assessment! Do people assess themselves today so realistic, too?

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

1. Even during the pre-independence years, cars were already choking the city streets of Singapore because of increased demands for car ownership among the emerging well-to-do families & no metro rail transit. Taxis and bus were the only options for public transport. 2. To say Singapore was a backwater region back then wasn't entirely accurate, bcz urbanisation in Singapore was pretty swift for the 1960s era due to its strategic location as an international harbour.

[@guruchoykokkee]

Those old days were realistic about living and making things work. No virtual scams. 😊 When we meet for football, we are on time and meet at the correct location without any issues. Now with mobile phones and social media, people came late and can't find each other in the same building 😂

[@simroysten7963]

Chinatown was where Cantonese was widely spoken as the majority of residents came from Quandong (old Kwantung) China. Also multi lingualism was already in effect and everybody understands each other. In its place now stands the People's Park Complex.

[@mitsurikanroji9548]

i love old singaporeans speaking english got this twang very unique

[@Yeon8888]

Wow. Thanks for sharing.

[@neatpaws]

Fantastic documentary.

[@karebu2]

Thank you Mr Chua Peng Chye

[@dancingmoth7517]

'Today' was mentioned a few times without stating the year the film was made, but I'd guess from the reference to the recent withdrawal of British armed forces and the work being done around People's Park, that it was 1972-3? Majulah, Singapura!

[@chua2237]

Bcos we used colonial tongue we will always be part of British

[@guruchoykokkee]

Move on and make good with what may comes. Extraordinary indeed from nothing to something. The future rather unpredictable. Good luck to future generations. All the best. Majullah Singapura. Merdeka!

[@tbling4935]

The singaporean accent was already there 50-60 years back. Sounds so contemporary 😊

[@VictorNobrega1986]

Fantastic, thank you for sharing

[@Rocket-hb6jh]

Excellent doco, spent a lot of holidays in Singapore as a child and young adult. Haven't been back for nearly 14 years, far too long. A lot of the older areas were still there and Paya Lebar was the airport when I first visited there. I'd LOVE to know who the interviewer is at the end, it sounds exactly like a very young James Earl Jones Jr??

[@elgorithum]

His Singlish accent sounds just like ours, in the present!

[@kevina2907]

Singapore was so vibrant and prosperous during 60s to 70s. The media from other places are sproating nonsenses that Singapore was fishing villages. This is the evident.

[@jsanon1634]

What you see is only the downtown core area. Indeed there were many fishing villages like the one in Kallang Basin and all over the islands. These besides slums, swamps, cemeteries etc. Just like its hard to imagine Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road and Bishan were huge cemeteries before.

[@jsanon1634]

What you see is only the small downtown core area. Indeed there were many fishing villages in Singapore then like the one in Kallang Basin and all over the island. These besides slums, swamps, cemeteries etc. Just like its hard to imagine Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road and Bishan were huge cemeteries before.

[@oumaniac]

Fascinating!

[@chenricky5272]

I missed the village life (Tampines) except the larva in the latrine pits and the mozzies that it developed into.

[@meisienchew5216]

Wow! Who is that guy in black glasses! He really had foresight !