Beauty Behind A Past

093245Y (Group 4)

Kites flap over the shoulders of children as if giving chase. Fishermen sit facing the sunset, enjoying the view as they wait for a tug at the end of the line. The occasional ferry passes by. If you’re lucky enough, you’d see a cruise ship. Flowers sit perched next to fresh grass and the winds pause for a second, as if to take in the beauty, before going on their way again.

This tiny piece of heaven is actually Labrador Nature Reserve. A landmark in our country due to its rich history. It used to be called Fort Pasir Panjang. The reason for this is because it used to be an old British fort, in the years before Singapore gained its independence. Machine gun posts and barbed wires lined the cliffs along the shore. 2 six-inch 37-tonne guns were also installed in 1938, by the British to combat infiltrating Japanese ships.

When it all ended and the British surrendered, the place was left abandoned until years later when a refinery was built. In late 2001, two underground tunnels were discovered, and parts of them were opened for viewing to the general public.

Now, as family picnics and barbeque pits start to replace the haunting silence of the past, the reserve is a great escape during the weekend. Its beach is also nothing to overlook, with a beauty that could compare to that of other beaches like those at East Coast Park as well as Sentosa Palawan Beach.

In fact, many Singaporeans pass on visits to such famous beaches for the one at Labrador. 25 year old Mohammad Shaik is one such example. “East Coast is more crowded and I like it here because there are very little patrons which makes it ideal for chilling out”, he says. He also enjoys the unique view and rich heritage that it possesses.

However, it’s not only people who dislike crowded places that choose to visit the park. Local fishermen also enjoy the variety of marine life available. This is because there are as many as 21 major habitat types. “I come here once a month, but if it’s fishing season, sometimes I come twice because the fishes are much bigger”, says Muhammad Rusyadi.


Over the years, the park has also undergone several upgrades, particularly, the jetty. This makes fishermen like Mr. Rusyadi more intent on casting their lines in the waters here.

Lawyer, Bahtiar Affendy also enjoys coming to the reserve with his family to fly kites and have the occasional picnic during public holidays or weekends. However, as much as he enjoys the beauty of the reserve and its light breezy feel, he makes sure not to ignore its grave past. He educates his son on the history and even shows him some of the secret passages which were used in the Second World War. “I make it a point for my son to know what his forefathers fought for and to do his best to serve the nation when he is a responsible adult”.

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