Forum: Save traditional businesses and trades in heritage areas

Recently, when I heard that a shop in Arab Street was closing, I rushed there as it specialises in selling robia, a cotton voile that is used to make kebayas.

Fabric of this quality is difficult to obtain, and even Malaysian kebaya makers come to Singapore to buy it.

The shop assistant told me the rent had more than doubled to $15,000 a month, so the business owner had no choice but to close.

In the past year alone, I have seen about five heritage businesses along this historic road close due to, I suspect, rent issues.

Arab Street was well-known for its many shops selling all manners of fabrics and haberdashery items. It is also home to long-time batik sellers like Basharahil Bros Batik, which even my grandmother shopped at. Now you are more likely to see shops selling souvenirs, scents and coffee. The face of Arab Street is changing, and not for the better, I fear.

It is ironic that the kebaya was inscribed onto Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage list, yet the trades that support the making of this garment and everything connected to it are being driven out.

I was happy to read that a task force is being set up to promote heritage districts and trades (

New task force to help grow and sustain heritage businesses in Singapore’s historic precincts,

Feb 21), but I wonder if we are already too late.

Noreen Chan Guek Cheng