Having lived in the east all my life, I have seen much of the charm of the area disappear owing to land reclamation and development.

The beach and sea have been pushed back, and the solitude, peace and quiet have been shattered, which is a pity.

This is why Pulau Ubin should be cherished ("Pulau Ubin to have NParks as central managing agency"; last Sunday).

It is unique, as it is the last vestige of what Singapore was like before it set off on its relentless course to become the best city-state in the world.

It is the stuff memories are made of - a rustic village with a relaxed atmosphere and nature waiting just around the corner.

Preserving this islet is imperative. It must act like a time capsule, but not be forced into it. This fits in with our efforts to keep our history and heritage alive.

Singaporeans must help maintain this jewel. But there has to be careful consideration of how hands-on or hands-off we should be in looking after this valuable space.

We must control the number of people allowed on it, and never allow it to become a tourist resort or attraction.

It could also become a lab on living, where nature and man can cohabit.

A world-class research facility on the island could go a long way towards studying and sustaining the life found there.

Singapore could once again set an example on how it should be done, to make a constantly changing and evolving environment work to our advantage.

Manoraj Rajathurai