Why allow Matilda House to be converted into condo clubhouse?

Why allow Matilda House to be converted into condo clubhouse?

I am shocked that the Government has allowed the iconic Matilda House in Punggol to be converted into a condominium clubhouse ("Matilda, a grand old house in Punggol"; last Sunday). The old house reflects Singapore's multicultural and multi-ethnic heritage, and would be of interest to architecture and history students.

By converting it into a clubhouse that is accessible only to a select few, the authorities are not only depriving the public of a piece of our heritage, but also destroying another part of our fast-disappearing past. Many historic buildings in Singapore have suffered similar or worse fates.

Even if efforts were made to conserve buildings, no effort was made to highlight their significance to the public. Cultural and historic buildings should be conserved and made accessible to all.

-Foo Jia Yuan


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