"To live well in the present, we need to know the past and have a sense of the future”
Former Education Minister Heng Swee Kiat
Through communal recollections of the past, Singapore’s identity is carefully constructed as a small ‘city state’ that, despite facing great adversity, has formed a patriotic and ‘exceptional’ community. As we discovered in our own construction of a timeline of Singapore’s historical development, Singapore’s history is dominated by recollections of its colonial origins and Japan’s wartime occupation of Singapore.
Walking through the National Museum’s Singapore History Gallery, I found myself considering the significant influence of Japanese occupation on Singapore’s national narrative. Singaporeans desire security to maintain national independence. Ideological threats which have challenged the security of Singapore, such as communism, have played a central role in the construction of Singapore’s identity. Singapore’s abhorrence of communism is represented by the positioning of the Museum’s exhibit on the rise of communism in a small, isolated corner of the exhibition. It wasn’t until the next day that I comprehended the hidden significance of this deliberate positioning, as while Singapore understands the importance of maintaining harmonious international relationships, it still refuses to legitimise the ideology of those who threatened the values of its people. Further, the exhibition inspires us to personally interact and connect with Singapore’s historical memory through the use of audio, lighting and the inclusion of personal recollections from World War II. By hearing the stories of those who lived through periods which strengthen the importance of Singaporean independence, I could understand why Singapore is an openly proud city.
While historical memory may be utilised to reinforce the government’s nationalist narrative, Singaporeans understand that they need to remember their past to ensure that Singapore continues to strive and move forward with the brand of a strong, independent nation. Further, with a government so concentrated on implementing measures to safeguard national development, Singaporeans must have access to their past to understand the true consequences of future foreign and domestic policy.
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