Kampung Siam, a historic settlement of Malaysians with Siamese and Burmese ancestry, is facing demolition to make way for development. After an 11-year legal battle, residents have been unsuccessful in their attempts to remain in their homes. The area, once home to about 10 kampung houses, boasts unique Siamese architecture and holds historical significance due to its proximity to two Buddhist temples.
Kampung Siam , a settlement of Malaysians with Siamese and Burmese ancestry, is coming to an end after 200 years. The tenants, who have been fighting for 11 years to stay in their homes, have exhausted all options, including appeals to the Federal Court. The courts ruled in favor of the landowners, who have the legal right to develop the property. Kampung Siam , nestled off Burma Road, was once home to about 10 kampung houses, spanning a little over half the size of a World Cup football field.
The area is situated near the reclining Buddha Siamese temple and Burmese Buddhist Temple. During a recent visit by The Star, the owner of one of the few remaining Siamese houses was holding a garage sale to clear his collection of artefacts before the 180-year-old house is demolished. Nai Boon Phrom Sararaksh, 49, a fourth-generation resident living with his father Ninn Sararaksh, 85, explained that they would hold onto some prized antiques but were parting ways with others, such as an old pestle and mortar set, his grandmother's glass jars, and other beginnings. Their double-storey house, built with brick and lime plaster on the ground floor and wooden top floor, features distinct Siamese architecture with five rooms and three bathrooms. Nai Boon expressed his desire to preserve the history of the land and its people but admitted uncertainty about its feasibility. He shared that they have received an eviction notice but are hoping to remain. Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo stated that the landowners have yet to submit their latest development plans and are only seeking vacant possession. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing traffic management due to the narrow nature of Burma Road, previously used for bullock carts, and suggested the potential need for a service road. Woo also stressed the need to consider the purpose and architecture of any new development in relation to the two historic Buddhist temples, ensuring that the old and new blend seamlessly to preserve the area's unique character. In late 2023, the landowners served eviction notices to residents who accepted undisclosed amounts as compensation. The land was originally bequeathed to pioneer settlers from Siam and Burma (now Thailand and Myanmar) in 1845 by Queen Victoria of England, leading to the establishment of the reclining Buddha Siamese temple and Burmese Buddhist temple. In 2014, the trustees entered a joint venture with a developer, designating the land occupied by Kampung Siam for development. Initial plans in 2014 proposed a hotel and shophouses but were not approved pending the residents' efforts to remain, which ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Kampung Siam Development Eviction Heritage History Pulau Tikus Siamese Burmese
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