Seniors prefer Fort Canning for memorial

The PAP Seniors' Group feels that Fort Canning Park, which holds many historically significant memories for older Singaporeans, is suitable as the site for the Founders' Memorial, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob said yesterday.

"We want to remember what Fort Canning stands for, what it means to our country and how it has contributed to our history," said Madam Halimah, who chairs the advocacy group under the ruling party.

"There may be some access challenges, but if it's doable, that's one area that the Government should seriously consider...," she said.

A fortnight ago, a committee conceptualising a memorial to honour Singapore's founding leaders made its recommendations to the Government and indicated that it preferred Bay East Garden at Gardens by the Bay over Fort Canning Park.

The two sites had earlier been identified in consultation with the Urban Redevelopment Authority

The PAP seniors' wing had made recommendations last September for the Founders' Memorial to be located at Fort Canning Park. It suggested having sculptures and features such as pools and landscaped gardens.

Madam Halimah said after a walk at Bay East Garden to mark the first anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death that the memorial would remind Singaporeans of the values he stood for, such as multiracialism, meritocracy, self-reliance and inclusivity.