Home/History, Yuan #157, Yuan Magazine/景万岸的马来风情

景万岸的马来风情

文 图·  李国樑

景万岸属于勿洛的分区,约1,000个公共组屋单位坐落在麟光迪加(Lengkong Tiga),此外就是马来甘榜原地重新发展后的私人住宅了。住在景万岸组屋的居民最大的乐趣就是拥有辽阔的视野,户外景致尽收眼帘。

这里尚存的马来风光有回教堂、回教坟场、地铁站以及惹兰沙央(Jalan Sayang)27号的马来浮脚屋。这座硕果仅存,署名HJ Hussien Bin Abdul Latiff的甘榜屋,是住家也是律师楼,屋主是位精通回教法和阿拉伯文的“公证员”。

惹兰沙央 (Jalan Sayang) 27号的马来浮脚屋是硕果 仅存的甘榜屋

马来甘榜地区有许多以马来回教徒名字命名的街道,其中Lorong Marican较特别。它可能是马来或印度回教徒的姓氏,或是爪夷峇峇娘惹(Jawi Peranakan)的一支,属于印度人与阿拉伯人或马来土著通婚的土生族群。辨认的方式是姓氏中有Shah、Khan、Marican等,多数出现在槟城和新加坡。就社会发展而言,爪夷峇峇、娘惹是经过长期通婚和文化融合而产生的,具有自己独特身份的新群体。

巴吉达——消失的印尼人村庄

并不久远的上世纪80年代初,这个地区有三个马来甘榜:甘榜景万岸、甘榜巴吉达、甘榜友诺士。现代化的城市建设中,地铁东西线延伸至白沙,景万岸和友诺士的地名都因地铁站而保留下来,两个地铁站之间的巴吉达(Pachitan)则成为消失的名词。

二战前,源自印尼东爪哇的巴吉达人来到新加坡。他们就像其他移民群体,同乡人择地而居,落脚处包括甘榜爪哇、武吉知马路、安珀路、樟宜路以及拉柏多公园一带。

二战结束后,他们希望在樟宜路一带华人的橡胶园重建家园,每个单位约300平方米,每月租金2元。这就是甘榜巴吉达的起源了。

居民在“新村”掘井建路,形成10条乡道的村落。村里的小池塘用来饲养淡水鱼,池中的藻类用作鸡鸭和羊群的饲料。50年代有水电供应后,居民陆续增加;到了80年代初,从原来的17户人家发展至400多户。居民之间互相合作下,从前的小木屋变成较现代化的甘榜房屋,这就是建国时期全岛多处可感受到的“gotong royong”(社区精神)。

原住民沙林曾经在住家后面饲养过山羊和走地鸡。每天早上他都会打开木栅,让山羊出来吃草。沙林的祖父甚至在母羊生产时做过“助产夫”,帮忙把小羊从母体拉出来。

建国年代的甘榜巴吉达足球队,在全国赛中甚至攻无不克呢!

甘榜拆除前几年,政府开展名为甘榜巴吉达的文教项目,提高居民对年轻一代教育的认识。政府在这里建立图书馆和学习小组,安排10多名志愿补习老师,并为马来学生提供免费报纸,以提高他们的英文能力。

今天,前爪哇人的村庄已经成为景万岸的组屋和公寓。对前居民来说,唯一熟悉的就是曾经流入甘榜的实乞纳水道。

当局把这一带的甘榜居民分批安置在友诺士、乌美、勿洛、淡滨尼等地,一些居民所面对的难题是从印尼家乡带来的锣鼓及其他乐器,竟然把组屋都塞满了。一些居民则爱上组屋生活,至少不需要担心蚊子和鼠患。他们回到景万岸联络所,为其他甘榜居民提供咨询。从前提到迁徙,多少会引起对政府不满的情绪,如今他们已经认识到这是社会进步的发展之路。

由前甘榜巴吉达居民组成的巴吉达乐队在总统府为造访的 印尼总统尤多约诺演奏一曲(图源:新加坡国家档案局

坐落在私人住宅区内的麦丁回教堂 (Masjid Mydin) 是于80多年前为普通百姓而建的

回教堂与慈善关系密切

这片马来村民曾经集居的土地,可说是本地回教堂最密集的地区,方圆一公里内有4座回教堂,以及已经消失的乡村祷告室。

坐落在现在的私人住宅区内的麦丁回教堂(Masjid Mydin)和阿都拉萨回教堂(Masjid Al Abdul Razak Jalan Ismail),为从前的甘榜保留着旧时光。初建时,两所回教堂有不同的服务对象:80多年前落成的麦丁回教堂是为普通百姓而建的,50多年前落成的阿都拉萨回教堂则由科威特富商捐赠,对象为较富裕的居民。

回教世界里,教堂与慈善的关系密切,将行善布施融入教义中。譬如天课(zakat)和施济(sadaqa)都是以真主之名,要求回教徒通过教堂捐出一些收入来帮助穷困的人,义务照顾社群。

为流浪者提供屋檐

可同时容纳两千名信徒的卡欣回教堂(Masjid Kassim)则在新冠疫情管制期间为流浪的露宿者提供住宿。疫情前,这些露宿者在汽车天桥底、组屋楼下、公园和快餐店过夜,有些则在海边搭起帐篷。由于露宿者多数不会主动寻求援助,社区义工主动接触他们,再由社会及家庭发展部(MSF)提供针对性的援助。

2019年7月,MSF意识到事态的严重性,要求民间组织辅助政府为露宿者提供睡觉的“社区安宿”(S3P,Safe Sound Sleeping Places),初期参与的组织包括佛牙寺、天主教会和基督教会。

疫情蔓延后,许多公众场所都被封锁。这时候,卡欣回教堂亦参与社区安宿行动,建屋局则拨出一些空置的租赁组屋让民间运作。目前各组织共收容约700名无家可归的人士,投宿的群体曾经扩大到因为航空管制而回不了家的外国人。此外,一些家庭为露宿者伸出援手,打开大门让他们免费入住,在非常时期注入暖流。

卡欣回教堂在回教捐赠基金(Wakaf)下运作,两个世纪以来,捐赠基金可视为回教慈善事业的主要组成。以卡欣基金为例,涵盖面包括卡欣回教堂、周围的住宅和实乞纳路(Siglap Road)回教墓地。这片土地于一个世纪前由蒸汽船主穆罕默德·卡欣捐赠。

不小心便错过的回教坟场

位于实乞纳路宁静一角的百年卡欣回教坟场(Kubur Kassim Cemetery),其黄绿色的大门设计别致,融合莫卧儿和欧洲古典特色的印度——撒拉逊建筑风格,20世纪初新马地区相当流行。

葬于此处的早年移民包括巴吉达人和附近居民,社区领袖有新加坡市政专员哈菲祖丁(Hafeezudin Sirajuddin Moonshi)医生。他是百年前新加坡第一位开设回教徒诊所的医生;Che Lembek binte Abdin则是日据时期甘榜格南马来女子学校的校长。

此外,一些墓穴是奉献给马来民间传说中的布尼亚人(Orang Bunian)的,据说只有灵异体质的人士才看得见这群隐形人。根据他们的描述,布尼亚人美丽端庄,穿着古代东南亚风格的衣服,外观上跟一般人没有两样。

两百米外的惹兰森巴丹(Jalan Sempadan)则埋葬着苏门答腊王子TokLasam、妻子和大臣,相信王子就是实乞纳的第一任村长。据说Tok Lasam于19世纪初来到新加坡建立渔村,没想到某日发生日食,村庄陷入黑暗之中,吓坏村子里的居民,于是将该村命名为si-gelap,“黑暗”的意思。对证美国宇航局的资料,1821年3月4日,新加坡确实出现过日食,实乞纳就这样得名了。

卡欣回教坟场的大门设计融合莫卧儿和欧洲古典特色的印度-撒拉逊建筑风格,坟场内带着些许迷离的神秘色彩

张荔英的心安之所

坟场与景万岸之间的实乞纳坪(Siglap Plain)41号曾经是南来女画家张荔英的居所,不过原来的单层平房已经由新洋房取代。张荔英曾为马来亚第一任首相东姑阿都拉曼画肖像,那时候马来亚正处于过渡到独立的自治期,东姑出任首席部长。

两人结识的奇缘可追溯回两个年代前。张荔英的前半生充满绚丽传奇,她是民国风云人物张静江千金;前民国政府外交官陈友仁夫人;巴黎的印象派艺术家;中国第一代女画家。上世纪30年代,张荔英和夫婿在巴黎航往上海的轮船上跟东姑阿都拉曼邂逅,东姑受到陈友仁的政治热忱与理想主义所感染,最终走上从政之路。

新中国成立前,张荔英带着故国的《北平风景》去到槟城,最终落户新加坡。为东姑画肖像的时候,她已于南洋美专执教。赤道缤纷的光影,多元种族文化的小岛,成为张荔英人生最后一站。此心安处便是吾乡,她还取了个马来名“Chendara”(檀香木)。

东姑阿都拉曼肖像,张荔英作品(摄于新加坡 国家美术馆《此心安处:张荔英艺术展》)

收容“义士”的普照禅寺

Lorong Marican有座蓝瓦白墙,“普令众生、照除痴暗”的普照禅寺。普照禅寺的前身为80年前创建的芽笼三巷普照精舍,数度搬迁后于现址落户。

普照禅寺特殊之处是收容80多位天地会(义兴公司)反清义士的神主牌。这些神主牌原本安置在劳明达街的社公庙,上世纪90年代初社公庙拆除,由善信带到乌鲁三巴旺金同花园的广福英烈庙供奉。一年后政府回收土地,普照禅寺时任住持力排众议,决定为这批神主牌提供安身之所,其中包括一些叱咤风云的人物,如曹符义(曹亚志)、蔡长茂(蔡茂春)、陈开顺(新加坡与柔佛地不老河陈厝港港主,开辟新山)。或许这些天地会义士的身份与众不同,但一个多世纪前乘坐红头船,漂洋过海来到这片土地的过番故事跟他人无异。

“普令众生、照除痴暗”的普照禅寺

培训特需学生纳入社会的陶乐园学校

景万岸有一所为特需学生创建的陶乐园学校(MINDS Towner Gardens School),致力于为智障或自闭症孩子提供教育。

一个甲子前,一群慈善家成立新加坡智障人士福利促进会(MINDS),在文庆地铁站附近的陶纳路成立学校,照顾20多名孩童。过去的年代,患上先天性障碍的孩子成为被忽略的一群,随着政府和社会人士投入资源,MINDS属下的特别教育学校为这些孩子提供帮助,让他们的未来有了希望。 

这所20多年前搬迁至此地的学校为学生制定的课程,包括走入社区、处理日常任务、购买食物、乘搭公共交通,同时学习生活技能,如个人仪容及资金管理等。智障人士在庇护工场接受较简单的工作培训:为耳机进行回收工作、农场种菜等。让他们能自食其力,不成为社会的负担。 

在景万岸漫步,不难发现扬善的侠义情怀:通过宗教、坟场、庙宇、特需学校、行为点滴等不同方式展现着。正是民间的互助,为我们的社会谱写着更加美好的篇章。

参考文献:

[1] About MUIS, https://www.muis.gov.sg/accessed 11 October 2021.

[2] From Villages to Flats (Part 1)- The Kampong Days, https://remembersingapore.org/2012/04/04/from-villages-to-flats-part-1/acc-essed 7 October 2021.

[3] K S Sandhu, A Mani, Indian Communities in Southeast Asia (First Reprint 2006), Institute of South-east Asian Studies, 2006. ISBN 9812305734.

[4] MINDS, https://www.minds.org.sg/about-us/accessed 11 October 2021.

[5] Naidu Ratnala Thulaja,Jawi Peranakan community,singaporeinfo-pedia, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_356_2005-01-13.html accessed 11Oct-ober 2021.

[6] Pachitan-A Vanished Javanese Name in Singapore, https://remembersingapore.org/2016/02/26/kampong-pachitan-vanished-ja-vanese-name/ accessed 7 October 2021.

[7] Past and Present Cemeteries of Singapore (Part 2)-Malay/Muslim Burial Grounds, https://remembersingapore.org/2019/09/01/singa-pore-past-present-cemeteries-part-2/accessed 11 October 2021.

[8] Stephanie Ho, Javanese community, singaporeinfopedia, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-08-06_115832.html accessed 11 October 2021.

作者为英国皇家造船师学会会员、自由文史工作者

The Malay Flavour of Kembangan

Kembangan is part of the Bedok sub-district, with around 1,000 public housing units located in Lengkong Tiga, and private homes in the redeveloped Malay kampong site. The best thing about living in the HDB flats in Kembangan is probably the breathtaking and unblocked panorama views.

Among the surviving Malay sights are the mosques, the Islam cemeteries, the MRT stations and the one and only stilt house. The kampong stilt house located at 27 Jalan Sayang is a home and office owned by a notary public who is fluent in Islamic law and Arabic.

Four decades ago, there were three Malay kampongs in the area: Kampong Kembangan, Kampong Pachitan and Kampong Eunos. The modernisation of the city saw the extension of the East-West MRT line to Pasir Ris. The names of Kambangan and Eunos were preserved by the MRT stations, while Pachitan became a vanished term. Today, the former Pachitan village has become HDB flats and condominiums.

At the end of the Japanese Occupation, the Pachitan, who originated from East Java, decided to rebuild their homes on the Chinese rubber plantations along Changi Road, with each unit being approximately 300 square metres and rented for $2 per month. This was the origin of Kampong Pachitan.

The aboriginal Salim used to rear goats and chickens behind his home. Every morning he would open the wooden fence and let the goats out for a stroll. Salim’s grandfather even acted as a ‘midwife’ when the goats gave birth, helping to pull the lambs out of the mother’s womb.

A few years before the kampong was dismantled, the government launched a ‘Kampong Pachitan’ educational project. Library and study groups were set up, volunteer tutors were engaged, and free newspapers were provided to students to improve their English skills.

The authorities resettled the residents in groups to places such as Eunos, Ubi, Bedok, and Tampines. Although relocation had aroused some unhappiness with the government at the time, the residents eventually accepted it as a path to social progress.

Masjid Kassim, on the other hand, provided accommodation for rough sleepers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Social and Family Development asked civic organisations to complement the government’s efforts in providing Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P) for rough sleepers, with initial participation from organisations such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple as well as the Catholic and Christian churches.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Masjid Kassim also participated in the S3P programme while HDB allocated some vacant rental flats for the private sector to help manage these premises. The programme was once extended to foreigners who could not return home due to the airport being shut down. A number of families also opened their doors to the needy for free, injecting much needed warmth and graciousness during such an unusual time.

The nearby 41 Siglap Plain used to be the home of the female artist Georgette Chen. However, the former single-storey bungalow has now been replaced by a new house.

Georgette painted the portrait of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaya, who was the Chief Minister at the time of transition to an independent self-government.

The special connection between them dates back to two decades earlier. In the 1930s, Georgette and her husband Eugene Chen met Tunku on a ship bound for Shanghai from Paris. Tunku was inspired by Eugene’s political enthusiasm and idealism and eventually took up politics.

After the end of Second World War, Georgette took her oil painting ‘View of Peking’ to Penang and eventually settled in Singapore. By the time she painted the portrait of Tunku, she was already teaching at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The colourful light and shadows of the equator and the multi-ethnic and cultural island became the last stop in Georgette’s life, a place where her heart was at peace. No wonder Georgette had a Malay nickname “Chendana” (sandalwood).

Home/History, Yuan #157, Yuan Magazine/景万岸的马来风情