We think that redevelopment is advantageous as more income can be generated from the tourist visits to Ubin and it would create more jobs for the people. The people of Ubin can still stay on the island as workers or in HDBs that can be built there. Alternatively, they can be a tourist attraction by themselves, as an 'exhibit' on Kampong life. It would be good to have that as it would let people know what life in the olden times was like. But a part of the forest should be preserved as 'memories' of what the island once was. One other reason why Pulau Ubin does not really need to be preserved, is that the southern islands of Singapore would be conserved: "Southern Islands will still be a marine nature area despite the temporary detention centre on St John's Island" (The Straits Times - 11 August 1998) and also, there is not much history to do with Pulau Ubin besides the fact that it is a source of granite for Singapore since the colonial period.
Extract From Straitstimes Interactive
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