Jalan Kukoh Learning Journey (Part 1)
Earlier today, my group embarked on our learning journey to Jalan Kukoh (also known as Chin Swee Road). We spent a total of 2.5h, walking from Tiong Bahru MRT and walking around the Jalan Kukoh estate. It was truly an eye-opening experience for me.
Using Kolb's Experiential Learning Model, I will be reflecting on my experience based on location, security, facilities, hygiene and comfort and jobs.
1. Location - Inaccessibility suggesting Hidden Inequality
Concrete Experience
Jalan Kukoh being right next to CTE, makes it fairly inaccessible unless one has a car. And even though it is in the middle of the Central Business District, only one bus (Bus 174) goes to the area.
When we navigated there by foot, it took us awhile to realise we could walk on a small pavement along the highway to reach our destination.
From the Jalan Kukoh estate, one is able to look down and see Robertson Quay, but only from a certain spot between the trees.
From Clarke Quay, looking up and far above, Jalan Kukoh looks just like any other HDB estate. Based on the image below, on the left we can see that across the highway, we can see Robertson Quay, high rise condominiums and many hotels around the area. While on the right, Jalan Kukoh looks deceivingly just like any other HDB estate.
Reflective Observation
After seeing this first hand, it really feels as though poverty is deliberately hidden in terms of location. It is almost as if, public transport is purposely restricted to prevent more people from passing by the area, keeping poverty hidden amidst the central business district.
Being located next to a highway, surrounded by high rise condominiums and hotels, across Robertson Quay, no one would think that the yellow flats on the hill would be any different from the hustling and bustling success of the Singapore narrative.
Abstract Conceptualisation
One way to hide poverty is to reduce awareness via physical separation, where the rich live in exclusive areas and the poor are concentrated in certain districts (Engel & Martin, 2015).
This is reflected in the Singapore society as well, with the rental flat estates such as Jalan Kukoh, Marsling, Kembangan-Chai Chee and Boon Lay (Tan, 2019). It has also been suggested that inequality has a geographic dimension with the 'richer' estates such as Bukit Timah and Bishan also concentrated with more prestigious schools (Leong, 2018).
Active Experimentation
I now understand that poverty can be deliberately hidden, not just by the government and but also by the privileged who choose to stay nonchalant. I'm sure that many Singaporeans are aware of the huge income disparity, however, we choose to ignore it because we do not want it disrupting our 'rags to riches' Singapore narrative, or are simply not interested (Engel & Martin, 2015).
2. Security - Excessive Signs and Cameras instilling Fear
Concrete Experience
Due to the high crime rate in the area, measures have been put into place to enhance security.
There are many security camera around the neighbourhood, sometimes multiple cameras, especially at lift lobbies.
There are many 'No Smoking' signs around the area. There were secondary school students loitering around, moving from block to block, smoking indoors and hawkers smoking at the Jalan Kukoh Food Centre despite being signs at almost every pillar.
There are a significant number of 'No Spitting' and 'No Urinating' signs around the estate, mainly found around the lift lobby.
There were a couple posters using 'loss framing' to discourage residents away from borrowing from loan sharks.
Reflective Observation
I was personally shocked at the number of security cameras and 'no smoking' signs, I have never seen so many in a neighbourhood. I felt somewhat exposed, as if just being there was a crime and I had better 'watch out' because they are always watching me.
Furthermore, I haven't seen any 'no spitting' and 'no urinating' signs since my primary school days.
Abstract Conceptualisation
With regards to the 'Anti-Gambling' poster, as a Communications major, I remember learning about loss framing in advertising. Loss framing refers to the advertiser, in this case the National Council on Problem Gambling, displaying what the reader stands to lose if he or she fails to comply with the message. These are meant to insti;l fear into the recipient and warns of dire consequences, such as getting their house locked up and getting paint splashed across the walls, if they fail to comply.
Active Experimentation
The poster also struck a cord, because it was exact same example used in the book 'This is what Inequality Looks Like' by Youyenn Teo which talks about inequality in Singapore (Rashith, 2019). She also talks about how this poster is evidently used around the poorer estates in Singapore, and how kids might feel when seeing this poster and going home to this everyday.
In Jalan Kukoh, I felt like a potential suspect or criminal, always under watch and signs telling what I should or shouldn't do. I feel very thankful to be living in Pasir Ris, a bight, clean, safe neighbourhood. Yet at the same time, I just caught a glimpse of the environment some kids grow up in, do they feel exposed, paranoid or fearful? Or have they gotten used to it?
(949 Words)
References:
Engel, S., & Martin, B. (2015). Challenging Economic Inequality Tactics and Strategies. Economic & Political Weekly, L(49), 42–48. Retrieved from https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/49/special-articles/challenging-economic-inequality.html
Leong, C.-H. (2018). Commentary: Inequality has a geographic dimension - between and within neighbourhoods in Singapore. Channel News Asia. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/inequality-in-singapore-exists-across-within-neighbourhoods-10276898
Rashith, R. (2019). Teo You Yenn: Bringing inequality to forefront of discussions. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/bringing-inequality-to-forefront-of-discussions
Tan, T. (2019). Parliament: MSF to launch Community Link to help families in rental flats. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parliament-msf-to-launch-community-link-pilot-to-help-families-in-rental-flats
 |
| Sign leading to Jalan Kukoh along the Central Expressway (CTE) |
Using Kolb's Experiential Learning Model, I will be reflecting on my experience based on location, security, facilities, hygiene and comfort and jobs.
1. Location - Inaccessibility suggesting Hidden Inequality
Concrete Experience
Jalan Kukoh being right next to CTE, makes it fairly inaccessible unless one has a car. And even though it is in the middle of the Central Business District, only one bus (Bus 174) goes to the area.
When we navigated there by foot, it took us awhile to realise we could walk on a small pavement along the highway to reach our destination.
 |
| Bus services serving Chin Swee Road |
 |
| Alkaff Bridge, a popular icon at Robertson Quay |
From Clarke Quay, looking up and far above, Jalan Kukoh looks just like any other HDB estate. Based on the image below, on the left we can see that across the highway, we can see Robertson Quay, high rise condominiums and many hotels around the area. While on the right, Jalan Kukoh looks deceivingly just like any other HDB estate.
 |
| Left: Robertson Quay, condominiums, hotels Right: Jalan Kukoh |
After seeing this first hand, it really feels as though poverty is deliberately hidden in terms of location. It is almost as if, public transport is purposely restricted to prevent more people from passing by the area, keeping poverty hidden amidst the central business district.
Being located next to a highway, surrounded by high rise condominiums and hotels, across Robertson Quay, no one would think that the yellow flats on the hill would be any different from the hustling and bustling success of the Singapore narrative.
Abstract Conceptualisation
One way to hide poverty is to reduce awareness via physical separation, where the rich live in exclusive areas and the poor are concentrated in certain districts (Engel & Martin, 2015).
This is reflected in the Singapore society as well, with the rental flat estates such as Jalan Kukoh, Marsling, Kembangan-Chai Chee and Boon Lay (Tan, 2019). It has also been suggested that inequality has a geographic dimension with the 'richer' estates such as Bukit Timah and Bishan also concentrated with more prestigious schools (Leong, 2018).
Active Experimentation
I now understand that poverty can be deliberately hidden, not just by the government and but also by the privileged who choose to stay nonchalant. I'm sure that many Singaporeans are aware of the huge income disparity, however, we choose to ignore it because we do not want it disrupting our 'rags to riches' Singapore narrative, or are simply not interested (Engel & Martin, 2015).
2. Security - Excessive Signs and Cameras instilling Fear
Concrete Experience
Due to the high crime rate in the area, measures have been put into place to enhance security.
There are many security camera around the neighbourhood, sometimes multiple cameras, especially at lift lobbies.
 |
| Security camera on the top left of the image |
There are many 'No Smoking' signs around the area. There were secondary school students loitering around, moving from block to block, smoking indoors and hawkers smoking at the Jalan Kukoh Food Centre despite being signs at almost every pillar.
 |
| 'No Smoking' signs and security cameras |
 |
| 'No Urinating' reminder written in both English and Mandarin at the staircase |
 |
| Sign in Mandarin found at the lift lobby |
There were a couple posters using 'loss framing' to discourage residents away from borrowing from loan sharks.
 |
| Poster found on the lifts to discourage illegal borrowing of money from loan sharks |
I was personally shocked at the number of security cameras and 'no smoking' signs, I have never seen so many in a neighbourhood. I felt somewhat exposed, as if just being there was a crime and I had better 'watch out' because they are always watching me.
Furthermore, I haven't seen any 'no spitting' and 'no urinating' signs since my primary school days.
Abstract Conceptualisation
With regards to the 'Anti-Gambling' poster, as a Communications major, I remember learning about loss framing in advertising. Loss framing refers to the advertiser, in this case the National Council on Problem Gambling, displaying what the reader stands to lose if he or she fails to comply with the message. These are meant to insti;l fear into the recipient and warns of dire consequences, such as getting their house locked up and getting paint splashed across the walls, if they fail to comply.
Active Experimentation
The poster also struck a cord, because it was exact same example used in the book 'This is what Inequality Looks Like' by Youyenn Teo which talks about inequality in Singapore (Rashith, 2019). She also talks about how this poster is evidently used around the poorer estates in Singapore, and how kids might feel when seeing this poster and going home to this everyday.
In Jalan Kukoh, I felt like a potential suspect or criminal, always under watch and signs telling what I should or shouldn't do. I feel very thankful to be living in Pasir Ris, a bight, clean, safe neighbourhood. Yet at the same time, I just caught a glimpse of the environment some kids grow up in, do they feel exposed, paranoid or fearful? Or have they gotten used to it?
(949 Words)
References:
Engel, S., & Martin, B. (2015). Challenging Economic Inequality Tactics and Strategies. Economic & Political Weekly, L(49), 42–48. Retrieved from https://www.epw.in/journal/2015/49/special-articles/challenging-economic-inequality.html
Leong, C.-H. (2018). Commentary: Inequality has a geographic dimension - between and within neighbourhoods in Singapore. Channel News Asia. Retrieved from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/inequality-in-singapore-exists-across-within-neighbourhoods-10276898
Rashith, R. (2019). Teo You Yenn: Bringing inequality to forefront of discussions. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/bringing-inequality-to-forefront-of-discussions
Tan, T. (2019). Parliament: MSF to launch Community Link to help families in rental flats. The Straits Times. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parliament-msf-to-launch-community-link-pilot-to-help-families-in-rental-flats
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