Previously I blogged about the disappearing Old Jalan Kayu Post Office. It is kind of insidious and many may not even realize it; slowly but surely we are losing bits and pieces of our heritage. Small objects disappear too just like buildings. With no fanfare, one relatively unknown cannon had disappeared from a small park in Singapore.
During the Circle Line Discovery last year when everybody had their ride free the whole day, I made it a point to alight at Pasir Panjang Station. The new station made it more convenient to visit Reflections at Bukit Chandu and boosted stall businesses at Pasir Panjang Food Centre, in fact both are listed as "circle line attractions" on SMRT website, but they were not the reason for my visit. The real gem is the uber small Pasir Panjang Park and a small cannon located in it, as far as heritage is concerned. According to one source, the park was established before the war. However SMRT or LTA were no believers of this small gem, so it was not singled out as a circle line attraction.
I was not surprised to find the food centre renovated though I do not remember it had alfresco dining so this was probably added later. After buying a drink - takeaway in a plastic bag - I hastily made my way to the park beside it.
The park felt different compared to my previous visit. First I was the only one in the park. Secondly, there was no bench or a place to rest our butt in the park, which probably explains the first observation. Last but not least, the cannon in the park that I first know of from Victor's blog was missing!
Where is this cannon presented by HJC Kulasingha in 1957? Kulasingha was a Progressive Party candidate and Assemblyman for Bukit Timah in the 1951 General Elections. He lost by a narrow margin (49.4%) in Southern Islands in the 1955 General Elections (in today's context he would likely become a NCMP). He was chairman of the Pasir Panjang Rural District Committee but lost in the four-cornered fight to take Pasir Panjang in the 1959 General Elections. It seems that the cannon did not help him take down Pasir Panjang in 1959. See this website for the election numbers.
Do you know the fate of this 'Kulasingha cannon'?
