Timeline
Humble Beginnings...
1980
Construction of Tanjong Katong Complex began on the site of a former Malay settlement at Lorong Engku Aman in Geylang. It is also situated next to the Geylang Serai Malay Village.
Source: New Nation. (1980) HDB's First air-con project Retrieved 22 April 2018 from: New Nation,
2 December 1980, NLB News Archives
A scale model of the building showing the cylindrical structures for special shops.
Cross section of the $17.4 million air-conditioned shopping and commercial centre in Tanjong Katong.
A scale model of the building showing the cylindrical structures for special shops.
Construction In Progress
1980
The Tanjong Katong Complex and public carpark under construction and viewed from one of the Housing Development Board (HDB) flats at Geylang Serai. On the left is another shopping centre, City Plaza. The Tanjong Katong Complex occupies what was once a Malay settlement at Lorong Engku Aman.
Source: Mohd Noor Kadir Ambon Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore (n.d) Retrieved April 24 2018
Mr Ang Chin Koon, a chinese shop tenant, at TKC in the 1980s
Yokoso in the 80s.
Mr Ang Chin Koon, a chinese shop tenant, at TKC in the 1980s
Grand Opening
1983
Tanjong Katong Complex opened in 1983 and became Singapore’s first air-conditioned shopping centre with a 24 hour supermarket, Yokoso, the first in the nation as well. Chinese textile and clothes shops were the dominant businesses.
Source: The Straits Times. (2017) Heartland Retail King Retrieved 24 April 2018 from: http://www.asiaone.com/business/heartland-retail-king
Hari Raya "Gate"
1985
As a "gateway" to Geylang Serai, the establishment of the Hari Raya 'gate' marked Tanjong Katong Complex as part of the Malay Enclave in Geylang Serai, where it served as a communal space that facilitated the social and religious practices of the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore.
Source: The Straits Times. (1985) Work starts on Hari Raya 'gate'. Retrieved 24 April 2018 from:
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19850525-1.2.22.28?ST=1&AT=search&k=work%20starts%20on%20hari%20raya%20gate&QT=work,starts,on,hari,raya,gate&oref=article
Developments
1985
“On rare occasions HDB provides shopping facilities outside new towns and estates. The air-conditioned Tanjong Katong shopping complex is a rectangle intersected by four circles at the corners.”
Source: HDB Pictorial Record Editorial Committee. (1985)
Designed for living : public housing architecture in Singapore
Retrieved 24 April 2018
Speech
1988
Tanjong Katong Complex was a place that Ministers would often visit during special occasions. It signified the building's importance in the area, and how it was viewed as the central location where the Malay community could be addressed. Other notable figures that frequented TKC include then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Source: National Archives (1988) Speech by Mr Eugene Yap, Senior Parliamentary Secretary.
Retrieved from
http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/speeches/record-details/71295a9d-115d-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad
Through the years...
1992
Entering the 90s, most Chinese shops within the complex started to close down. The closure of old shops paved the way for the arrival of new ones, of which majority were Malay boutique and goods shops. This further secured Tanjong Katong Complex as the centre of the Malay community in Geylang.
Source: The Straits Times (1992) Through the years Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=to%20me%20geylang%20is%20just%20the%20joo%20chiat%20complex#
Hari Raya Charity Box set up at Tanjong Katong Complex
20 February, 1994
Because of Tanjong Katong Complex's significance to and popularity with the Malay community, Charity boxes were set up specifically for the Hari Raya season as well as for the Mendaki, which aids the bottom 30 per cent of the Malay/Muslim population in Singapore.
Source: The Straits Times (1994) Hari Raya charity box set up at Tanjong Katong Complex
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=hari%20raya%20charity%20box%201994#
Donations exceed $200,000
7 March, 1994
The Charity Box initiative received overwhelming support and engagement, amassing over $200,000 in two weeks. It demonstrated the compassion and empathy of the Malay community, and their selfless spirit in aiding their less fortunate counterparts.
[Source: The Straits Times (1994) Donations exceed $200,000
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=donations%20exceed%20200,000#]
A Time For Giving
1996
Source: The Straits Times (1996) A time for giving
Retrieved 24 April from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=ramadan%20or%20fasting%20month%20is%20a%20time%20for%20giving#
The Charity Boxes continued to be a success in the following years to come, allowing the initiative to be sustained till present day in the Geylang Serai area.
Big Bucks for Charity
2000
Source: The Straits Times (2000) Big bucks for charity
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from NLB eresources
Basking in the Light
2000
As the heart of the Malay community and Malay culture, Geylang Serai makes sure to represent Hari Raya in all its visual splendor. Tanjong Katong Complex participates in the festivities by expressing their appreciation of the Malay community through their beautiful light-ups.
Source: The Straits Times (2011) Basking in the light
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=the%20festive%20spirit%20of%20hari%20raya%20hits%20the%20streets#
Clothing
2005
The Malay scene in Tanjong Katong Complex continued to flourish. More and more Malay shops were set up within the mall, and amongst the many shops was Golden Chance, Second Chance Properties' sole gold retail outlet in Singapore. Till today, it remains one of the most trusted and sought after brand that sells Malay jewellery.
Source: The Straits Times (2005) Gold accessories
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Search?ST=1&AT=search&k=malay%20women%20love%20gold%20accessories#
Despite the popularity of the mall with the Malay community, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced in 2008 that Tanjong Katong Complex will be demolished to make way for the development of Paya Lebar Central commercial hub, which included Wisma Geylang Serai civic centre. However, in 2011, URA retracted their prior decision and announced an extension of the lease.
Demolition?
2008
Extension of Lease
2011
Singapore Land Authority (SLA) - who manages Tanjong Katong Complex - announced in 2011 that the lease will be extended for another 10 years, causing many business owners to be stuck. According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the extension was to let the traders wait for another opportunity to move to a new development and also to ensure that Malay trade remained in the area.
Source: Berita Harian (2013) About turn on shopping complex leaves tenants stuck
Retrieved 24 April 2018 from http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130522-424528.html
Although the lease for Tanjong Katong complex has been extended for another 10 years, the future of the building remains uncertain beyond 2021. Even as they hope to stay on, a majority of the long-term tenants firmly believe that the demolition of the Complex will be inevitable in the next decade.
Perhaps a new mall will be erected in its place— for now, its future depends on the decisions of the Singapore Land Authority.
Some believe it might make way for a new hub, as previously announced by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2008.
Yet this would not erase the fact that one day, as the physical structures of the Complex are torn down, so too will a significant part of Malay culture and history be lost within the heart of Geylang Serai forever.