Padang, Singapore Explained
The Padang (Malay for 'field') is an open playing field located within the Downtown Core of the Central Area in Singapore. It includes the Padang Cricket Ground. The Padang is surrounded by several important landmarks, which include Saint Andrew's Cathedral, City Hall, the Old Supreme Court Building and the City Hall MRT station.
Due to its prime location and historical significance, it has been used as a venue for a variety of events. It was the first host of the Singapore National Day parade (NDP), and has hosted it on a regular cycle (every three years from 1984 to 1994, every five years since) and during years that mark national milestones (such as the bicentennial of modern Singapore in 2019). From 2023 through 2025, it will host the parade due to the reconstruction of its designated main venue The Float @ Marina Bay as NS Square.[1] [2] [3]
On 4 November 2018, the Padang hosted the live finals of the Mandopop reality music competition SPOP Sing!.[4]
On 3 August 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the Padang will be gazetted as a National Monument along with the Anderson Bridge, Cavenagh Bridge and the Elgin Bridge (collectively known as the Singapore River Bridges),[5] [6] due to the historical significance - these include the World War II surrender in 1945, National Day Parade and the signing of the country's formation in the British colony and self-independence. The Preservation of Monuments (Amendment) Act will allow open spaces or the whole of the area to be gazetted as national monuments, such as Fort Siloso and Padang.[7] [8]
On 8 August 2022, it was announced that the Padang would be gazetted as the nation's 75th national monument on 9 August, the 57th anniversary of the Republic's independence.[9] [10]
References
- Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2004), Toponymics – A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern University Press,
Notes and References
- News: Lee Xin En . 6 March 2015 . National Day Parade: 10 interesting facts of parades of the past . 1 August 2020 . The Straits Times.
- News: Lim . Min Zhang . 2019-08-09 . NDP 2019: 27,000 turn up at the Padang for Singapore's bicentennial birthday bash . 2021-12-09 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
- News: Zachariah . Natasha Ann . 2023-09-29 . National Day Parade to be held at the Padang in 2024 and 2025 . 2024-05-05 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
- Web site: SPOP Sing! Prelude GRAND FINALS @PADANG . toggle.sg . 2018-11-04 . 2018-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181104130015/https://tv.toggle.sg/en/channel8/shows/spop-sing/gf-event . 4 November 2018 . dead.
- Web site: Singapore River Bridges and the Padang to be gazetted as National Monuments . NHB . 26 October 2019 . 3 August 2019 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026012032/https://www.nhb.gov.sg/-/media/nhb/files/media/releases/new-releases/gazette-3-aug-2019.pdf . live .
- Web site: Padang, Singapore River Bridges to be gazetted as national monuments . CNA . 24 October 2019 . 3 August 2019 . 6 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190806132346/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/padang-singapore-river-bridges-gazetted-national-monuments-11778418 . dead .
- Web site: Singapore River Bridges gazetted as Singapore's 73rd National Monument . NHB . 26 October 2019 . 15 October 2019 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026012052/https://www.nhb.gov.sg/-/media/nhb/files/media/releases/new-releases/15-oct-2019-singapore-river-bridges-gazette.pdf . live .
- Web site: Ang . Prisca . Another $15 million in restoration funds for owners of national monuments . The Straits Times . 24 October 2019 . 15 October 2019 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024010650/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/another-15-million-in-restoration-funds-for-owners-of-national-monuments . live .
- Web site: 2022-08-08 . Padang to be gazetted as national monument on National Day . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220808133548/https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/padang-be-gazetted-national-monument-national-day . 2022-08-08 . live . Ng Keng Gene.
- Web site: The Padang . National Heritage Board . 9 August 2022 . https://archive.today/20220809122222/https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places-landing/Places/national-monuments/the-padang . 9 August 2022 . live.
