Siglap

SG neighbourhood
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englishname=Siglap
chinesename=实乞纳
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pinyin=Shíqǐnà
malayname=Siglap
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Siglap is a neighborhood in the eastern part of Singapore established in 1955, consisting primarily of low-rise residential properties. It is part of the Bedok Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Politically, Siglap falls under the East Coast Group Representation Constituency.

Etymology and history

According to a Malay myth, when a Malay chief landed in this area, dark clouds arose and a thunderstorm took place, which led to the chieftain to call the place "Siglap", a corruption of the Malay word, "gelap" which means "darkness that conceals". Records show that a piratical village existed at Siglap in 1845.

Another view is that while Bedok was a barren treeless area, the Siglap area has huge trees which formed a major resting area and hence was viewed as a dark place compared to the open Bedok area.

The roads Siglap Terrace and Siglap Valley were officially named in 1956 and 1957 respectively.

Present

Siglap is a prime residential area in the East of Singapore. Siglap has two community centres namely 'Siglap Community Centre' and 'Siglap South Community Centre'. East Coast Road and Upper East Cost Road are lined with several Restaurants, food courts and shops. Siglap shopping centre is the biggest shopping centre in Siglap.

Trivia

Siglap was home to former Singapore President Wee Kim Wee.

Siglap Toastmasters Club was established on October 1994. Located in the East of Singapore is

Part of Toastmasters International District 80: For better leadership, communication skills, public speaking and speech evaluation

Division D -Area D6 includes:

* Bedok Toastmasters Club
* Prisons of Singapore Recreation Club Toastmasters Club
* SIA Toastmasters Club

They meet every 4th Thursday of the month at Siglap Community CentreCLub Website: [http://siglaptoastmasters.wordpress.com/]

References

*Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), "Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names", Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1

External links

* [http://app.sis.moe.gov.sg/schinfo/SIS_SearchDtls.asp?strCode=3011 Siglap Secondary School Website] , which used to be in Siglap but is now in Pasir Ris.