SINGAPORE HISTORY

Punggol Oral History Project calls for interviewees

Know anyone who fits the bill?

Publicity poster calling for people who lived in Punggol in the past. Shared with writer by Mrs Kiang-Koh of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Open call for interviewees who have lived in Punggol: from now until 22 October 2023, the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) is looking for people to interview, for a most meaningful Singapore history project.

In this meaningful project, the NAS is looking for in-depth and personal accounts of Punggol.

The NAS is looking for people who are willing to share personal and substantial accounts of Punggol in a recorded oral history interview of approximately one to two hours, at the end of this year.

You, or your parents, or even your grandparents, fit the bill, if you:

• Stayed at, went to school in, or worked in old Punggol (pre-1990s) before it became redeveloped into Punggol New Town
• Were a pioneer resident of Punggol New Town who moved in during the early 2000s and who stayed there for at least 10 years
• Worked in Punggol for at least 10 years, for example in the farming, restaurant, or seaside recreation businesses
• Perhaps did not live in Punggol, but worked on the redevelopment of Punggol 21 and Punggol-21 Plus, for example in the areas of urban planning or construction
• Were part of a community that shaped Punggol’s identity, for example, a member of a sporting, recreation, religious, or other community within Punggol

The interview can be conducted in your preferred language such as English, Malay, Mandarin, or even dialect (Teochew, perhaps).

If you meet any of the criteria and are interested to contribute your personal story, please register your interest through this form: https://go.gov.sg/punggoloralhistoryproject.

(Don’t worry, it’s not a scam. Trust me.)

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Shawn

Written by author and speaker Shawn Seah, My Father’s Kampung: A History of Aukang and Punggol delves into the social history of Aukang and Punggol as it traces a son’s journey to better understand and appreciate the kampung life his father lived. The book is rich in personal stories and oral histories of those who lived there from the 1940s to 1970s, brought to life by Seah’s passionate narrative as well as illustrations and photos. This book is supported by the National Heritage Board, with Forewords by Robert Yeo and Montfort Alumni.