PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS BOARD MERGES WITH THE NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS BOARD MERGES WITH THE NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD
SINGAPORE JULY 8 2009 - The Preservation of Monuments Board (PMB) has merged with the National Heritage Board (NHB) with effect from 1 July 2009. This is part of an on-going move by the Government for smaller statutory boards to merge with larger ones to facilitate the pooling of resources and expertise for greater efficiency. 
Said Mr Michael Koh, CEO of NHB: “The inclusion of PMB in the NHB family adds another dimension in our efforts to nurture and enrich the entire heritage ecosystem. NHB is already responsible for our nation’s art, artefacts and historical documents. We offer an extensive array of educational and outreach activities such as the Singapore HeritageFest, International Museum Day and Explore Singapore! along with exhibitions, talks, workshops, trails and tours. Having PMB as part of our family is a natural extension as we can easily integrate its activities in our many programmes and marketing initiatives.”
While PMB is now a division under NHB, like some of its other divisions and heritage institutions, it retains its own institution board. Taking over as chairman of PMB’s board will be Mr Tham Tuck Cheong, 54, an architect who succeeds Mr Alfred Wong. We thank Mr Wong who has served as chairman since 2003, for all his invaluable contributions and we are glad that he will be staying on as an advisor until December 2009. We also sincerely thank all retiring members who have also given much of their time and advice over their period of appointment to the PMB.
Said Mr Tham: “Since 1971, PMB has been guided by the Preservation of Monuments Act. To date, 55 monuments have been preserved. Moving ahead, we hope not only to continue pursuing PMB's ambit more conscientiously, but in a way that is progressive and proactive, as well as educational.
“This will serve the public better, and bring our monuments to “life” in a meaningful way. PMB aims to instill a sense of pride and appreciation in our country's architectural landscape and the history behind it. Through these efforts, we hope to endear our national monuments to the public. PMB’s merger with NHB will also  grow our education and outreach efforts.”
The process of identifying and gazetting national monuments is a lengthy and exhaustive one involving on the average, 12 to 15 months of intensive research and the tracing of historical documents which includes old maps, building plans and archival photos. PMB has been working closely with the Urban Redevelopment Authority in this regard and this relationship will continue.
Ms Jean Wee, Director of PMB said: “We will build up our research capability so that the time taken to research each potential monument can be shortened. We will also be working towards completing a more holistic approach to preserving our built heritage – both pre- and post-independence. The public can look forward to exploring our national icons with specialised trails highlighting their history. In the pipeline is an education kit for schools to appreciate our built heritage and the stories behind them.
“We want everyone to know that the walls of each monument resound with pages of our history and the people behind them. They tell of struggles and sacrifices, sadness and joy. Understanding our nation’s journey through these historical buildings will help Singaporeans appreciate our shared national psyche. Even as we preserve old buildings, their functions may change. So as we preserve history, we also give these icons of the past a new lease of life.”
City Hall which has witnessed much of this country’s transformation since it was built in the 1920s, is one example of a well-loved Singapore icon. While it has been preserved, it will also begin a new chapter when it is transformed to be part of The National Arts Gallery in a few years time.
To ensure that national monuments in private hands are well maintained, PMB announced last year the setting up of a National Monuments Fund. This will disburse $5.5 million over a five year period in a co-sharing scheme to assist private owners of gazetted monuments maintain these national treasures.
Three applications have been submitted and a total of $619,170 has been granted in the inaugural year. Among the monuments which have benefited from this programme are the Sri Mariamman Temple, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, and Hong San See temple.
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Mr David Miller
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
National Heritage Board
DID: 6332 3962
Fax: 6334 3054
Email: david_miller@nhb.gov.sg
 
 
Mr Chin Wei Chong
Manager, Corporate Communications
National Heritage Board
DID: 6332 3223
Fax: 6334 3054
Email: Chin_wei_chong@nhb.gov.sg


 
 
About the National Heritage Board
The National Heritage Board (NHB) champions the development and promotion of a vibrant cultural and heritage sector in Singapore. It makes heritage enriching, relevant and accessible to all through staging innovative programmes and forging collaborative partnerships with both private and people sector counterparts. NHB leverages on state-of-the-art technology and refreshing new approaches to make heritage more dynamic, alive and exciting for different audiences. It also manages both national and public museums, the National Archives of Singapore, and the Heritage Conservation Centre. NHB was formed on 1 August 1993 as a statutory board under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA).
About the Preservation of Monuments Board
 
The Preservation of Monuments Board was formed in 1971 following the Preservation of Monuments Act enacted on 29 January 1971. It is now a statutory board under MICA. To date, 55 historical buildings have been gazetted as national monuments by the Preservation of Monuments Board (Please refer to Annex B). Of these, 26 of them are religious buildings, nine are privately-owned buildings and 20 are civic/institutional buildings.All gazetted monuments are installed with plaques highlighting their historical significance. Preservation guidelines are also drawn up for each monument to ensure that the preservation and restoration works on a gazetted national monument are undertaken in a proper and systematic manner.
 
 
ANNEX A
Background of Mr Tham Tuck Cheong
A registered architect and former President of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Mr Tham has worked on various commercial, residential, industrial and private projects. He is widely known in the community for his contributions in various government organisations, boards and committees, having held several key industry appointments. He continues to be active and well respected in his field, from his work as Chairman of the SIA Premises Standing Committee (from 1994) to a member of the HDB Architectural Design Panel from 2006. Mr Tham was also active in campaigning for saving the historic clock tower at Anglo Chinese School (Barker Road).
 
 
 
Members of the PMB Board wef 1 Jul 2009 to 31 Jul 2011:
1) Chairman Mr Tham Tuck Cheong
2) Advisor Mr Alfred Wong (from 1 Jul to 31 Dec 09)
3) Mr Vincent Hoong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Land Authority
4) Mr Michael Koh, Chief Executive Officer, National Heritage Board
5) Professor Lily Kong, Vice-President (University & Global Relations), National University of Singapore
6) Mr Ler Seng Ann, Group Director (Conservation & Development Services), Urban Redevelopment Authority
7) Mr Lim Jim Koon, Editor, Lianhe Zaobao
8) Mr Mok Wei Wei , Managing Director, W Architects Pte Ltd
9) Mr Siew Man Kok, Partner/Director, MKPL ARCHITECTS
10) Mr Shankar N. Ramasamy, Vice President, CPG Consultants Pte Ltd
11) Mr Song Wee Ngee, Managing Director, KTP Consultants Pte Ltd
12) Mr Tan Puay Hiang, Chairman and Managing Director, Silkino International Pte Ltd
13) Mr Daniel Teo, Managing Director, Daniel Teo Group Of Companies
14) Mr Andrew Yeo, Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP
15) Mr Zaini Osman, Head (Mosque Policy and Planning), Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis)
Retiring Board Members

1) Dr Winston Oh, Consultant / Cardiologist (wef 30 Nov 09)

2) Mr Peter Chay, Partner, KPMG Singapore

Retired Board Members
1) Mr Edwin Khoo, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank (wef 30 June 2009)
2) Mr V. Krishna S/O Veerappen (wef 30 June 2009)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANNEX B
NATIONAL MONUMENTS AND DATE GAZETTED
 
Name of Building
Date Gazette
Date Published
 1
The Old Thong Chai Medical Institution (1892)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 2
Armenian Church (1835-36)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 3
St Andrew’s Cathedral (Rebuilt 1856-61)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 4
Telok Ayer Market (now Lau Pa Sat) (1890-94)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 5
Thian Hock Keng (1839-42)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 6
Sri Mariamman Temple (Rebuilt 1843)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 7
Fatimah Mosque (1845-46)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 8
Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (1843-47)
28 June 1973
6 July 1973
 9
Nagore Durgha (1828-30)
19 November 1974
29 November 1974
10
Al-Abrar Mosque (1850-55)
19 November 1974
29 November 1974
11
House of Tan Yeok Nee (The Old Salvation Army HQ) (1885)
19 November 1974
29 November 1974
12
Tan Si Chong Su (1876-78)
19 November 1974
29 November 1974
13
Jamae Mosque (Rebuilt 1830-35)
19 November 1974
29 November 1974
14
Sultan Mosque (Rebuilt 1924-28)
8 March 1975
14 March 1975
15
St George’s Church (1910-13)
10 November 1978
10 November 1978
16
Hong San See (1908-13)
10 November 1978
10 November 1978
17
Sri Perumal Temple (1855)
10 November 1978
10 November 1978
18
Abdul Gaffoor Mosque (1907)
5 July 1979
13 July 1979
19
Siong Lim Temple (1898-1912)
14 October 1980
17 October 1980
20
Raffles Hotel (1887-1907)
4         March 1987
re-gazette on 3 Jun 1995
6 March 1987
republished on 9 Jun 1995
21
Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (1924)
23 March 1989
23 March 1989
22
Goodwood Park Hotel (Tower Block) (1900)
23 March 1989
23 March 1989
23
The Old Convent of Holy Infant Jesus Chapel (now Chijmes Hall) (1903) and Caldwell House (1840-41)
26 October 1990
26 October 1990
24
Istana and Sri Temasek (1867-69)
14 February 1992
re-gazette on 1 October 1993
14 February 1992
republished on 1 October 1993
25
City Hall (1926-29)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
26
Victoria Theatre (1856-62) and Concert Hall (1902-05)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
27
Parliament House,
Parliament House Annex Building (1826-27)
14 February 1992,
26 June 1992
14 February 1992,
 3 July 1992
28
Supreme Court (1937-39)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
29
Empress Place Building (1864-67)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
30
National Museum (1884-87)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
31
Former St Joseph’s Institution - Main Building (1855-67), Chapel (1911-12) and Classroom (1906-07) (now Singapore Art Museum)
14 February 1992
26 June 1992
14 February 1992
3 July 1992
32
The Old Attorney-General’s Chambers (Rebuilt c.a. 1906)
14 February 1992
14 February 1992
33
Sun Yat Sen Villa (now Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall) (1900-02)
28 October 1994
28 October 1994
34
Yueh Hai Ching Temple (Rebuilt 1895)
28 June 1996
21 June 1996
35
Maghain Aboth Synagogue (1878)
27 February 1998
27 February 1998
36
The Old Ministry of Labour Building (1928)
27 February 1998
27 February 1998
37
The Old Tao Nan School (now Peranakan Museum) (1910-1912)
27 February 1998
27 February 1998
38
Chesed-El Synagogue (1905)
18 December 1998
18 December 1998
39
The Old Hill Street Police Station (1934)
18 December 1998
18 December 1998
40
Ying Fo Fui Kun (1881-82)
18 December 1998
18 December 1998
41
Central Fire Station (1908-09)
18 December 1998
18 December 1998
42
The Old Nanyang University Library & Administration Building, The Old Nanyang University Memorial and The Old Nanyang University Arch (1954-56)
18 December 1998
18 December 1998
43
The Chinese High School Clock Tower Building (1925)
19 March 1999
19 March 1999
44
Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church (1930)
12 January 2000
12 January 2000
45
Old Admiralty House
2 December 2002
2 December 2002
46
Tan Teck Guan Building
2 December 2002
2 December 2002
47
College of Medicine Building
2 December 2002
2 December 2002
48
Cathay Building
10 February 2003
10 February 2003
49
Church of St Peter and St Paul
10 February 2003
10 February 2003
50
Macdonald House
10 February 2003
10 February 2003
51
RC Church of St Joseph (1904 - 1912)
14 January 2005
14 January 2005
52
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (1888)
14 January 2005
14 January 2005
53
Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1901)
14 January 2005
14 January 2005
54
Tou Mu Kung Temple (1921)
14 January 2005
14 January 2005
55
Old Ford Factory
15 February 2006
15 February 2006