Bishan

Community

Past

Kampong

Less advanced

Secret societies

Salakau

Formed during the early 1960s, in the early years of Singapore's Independence

Compromised of 369 members

Attacked rival gangs and started many turf wars during the late 1960s and early 1970s

Member identification

Tattoo lines of dots called 'tiam' in Hokkien on their foreheads

Five dots on each knuckle of their fingers to identify themselves as 'fighters'

Present

Urban community

Modern, advanced

Area

Present

Redeveloped area

Added featured recreational elements not usually found in public parks include:

Playgrounds with giant slides

Climbing slopes

Sporting arenas

Outdoor classrooms

Well connected by public transport

Bishan bus interchange located at Street 13

Bishan MRT Station

Shopping malls

Junction 8

Schools

Examples:

Ai Tong School

BIshan Park Secondary School

Raffles Instituition

Catholic High School

Community centres

Bishan Community Club

Bishan North Community Centre

Past

Place for refuge

This is because the Japanese soldiers were afraid to enter the cemetery.

Cemetery

Housing estates

Burial ground has been redeveloped, and the original graves have been relocated to Peck San Theng Temple.

Critical battle site in World War II

Battle documented by the battalion diaries and hand-drawn maps of the Second Cambridgeshire Regiment

Community

Strong community spirit and multi-racial flavour

Old friends, family and relatives who lived in the same kampong still keep in touch with each other, and continue to form friendships with their neighbours and peers

Area

Presence of housing estates

Past

People settled around the cemetery grounds (kampongs)

Present

Bishan was later redeveloped into a housing estate (HDB flats)

Water that originates from Kallang river

Although the previously well known canal was converted to a river to add more green and blue spaces, the placement and origin (Kallang river) remain the same.