Potong Pasir
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| English | Potong Pasir |
| Chinese | 波东巴西 |
| (Pinyin | bōdōng bāxī) |
| Malay | Potong Pasir |
| Tamil | போத்தோங் பாசிர |
Potong Pasir is an area located between Toa Payoh and Sennett Estate in the Central Region of Singapore. For urban planning purposes, it is classified under the Toa Payoh area. Potong Pasir is particularly notable for being the longest-held opposition ward in a one-party dominant Singapore. Its Opposition Member of Parliament Chiam See Tong has held the ward since 1984.
[edit] History
From 1910 to 1937, it was dominated by sand-quarries, hence giving it its present name, which means 'cut sand' in Malay. These mining activities created four ponds linked to the Kallang River, although they were reduced to two due to massive flooding in 1968. The ponds provided a good source of food for the local village folk, until pollution set in later.
In the mid 1950s, Potong Pasir was one of the most important vegetable growing area was where the land had been cultivated since 1830s. The farmers there were almost all Cantonese and they used traditional methods with great success.
Leafy vegetables were grown on farms located in lowland areas such as Potong Pasir, Changi, Ponggol, and Sembawang. Watercress was the most important type of vegetable grown in Potong Pasir. Small portion of farmland was used for planting coconut palms.
Vegetable farming in Singapore was a family business. Farmers of Potong Pasir lived in attap houses, in zinc roof and semi-concrete houses. The general condition of the rural roads was poor. Most farmers in the area leased their land from the Government.
During this period of early years, Potong Pasir was also a victim of the regular foods. Villagers will then take refuge in St Andrew's School which is on the Woodsville Hill as St Andrew's School will open up its 2 school halls to house these villagers.
Rapid change took place for the past five decades, with the building of a bridge across the ponds in the 1950s, a venue for education introduced in the form of a village community centre in 1952, piped water and electricity in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, most of the villagers have already started to move out as the land gets acquired by the government for massive redevelopment.
Hence, a public housing estate, Potong Pasir Estate, began to take shape in the 1980s, with construction commencing in 1982, and the first blocks completed two years later. The sloping roof of some blocks became the most recognisable icon of Potong Pasir.
[edit] Political history
- Main article: Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency
Potong Pasir is currently managed by Singapore's longest serving opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Chiam See Tong, from the Singapore People's Party, which is part of the Singapore Democratic Alliance, which is made up of four opposition parties.
Elections in Potong Pasir has always been hotly contested as the People's Action Party (PAP) seeks to unseat Chiam. The current PAP candidate, Sitoh Yi Pin, has much support from the party, although the last PAP candidate, Andy Gan, failed in his bid to wrangle Potong Pasir from Chiam in the general election in 1997, even with the support PAP gave him.
In the 2006 General Elections, the PAP promised extensive upgrading for Potong Pasir estate shall Sitoh Yi Pin get elected as MP for the seat of Potong Pasir. However, Chiam again won for the 6th consecutive term the single member seat of Potong Pasir. This time by an even bigger margin than in the 2001 General Election.
