ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Trip to Malaysia & Singapore was an extremely

rewarding and learning experience for me in terms of learning and
enjoyment. I would like to extend my deep gratitude towards our MD Mr.
Manish Kothari who organized such a wonderful trip for us. Six days of
fun and frolic at an unknown land was like a home away from home
experience for me.
 I would also like to thank Mr. Imtiaz of Akbar Travels, Mr. Bharat
(Director ISBR Chennai Batch) for having accompanied us on the tour.
I have covered almost each and every point in the report which I felt
was important. I would also like to thank my friends Shadab for having
designed the cover page of the report and Kushal for giving me the relevant
data.
Hope you enjoy reading the report……………
 Abhishe
k Sahu
PHYSIOGRAPHY

Malaysia covers an area of about 329,758 km2 occupying the Malay

Peninsula, which lies on the southern shores of the Asian land mass, and the
States of Sabah and Sarawak in the northwestern coastal of Borneo Island.
The two regions are separated by about 531 km of the South China Sea.
Peninsular Malaysia, covering 131,598 km2, has its land frontier with
Thailand to the north, and is connected to Singapore by a causeway in the
south. The State of Sabah covering 73,856 km2 and the State of Sarawak
covering 124,989 km2 border the territory of Indonesia’s Kalimantan and
has land frontiers with the two enclaves which make up Brunei.
 Peninsular Malaysia consists of steep hills and mountain ranges, rolling
to undulating land the coastal and riverine flood plains. The hill and
mountain ranges cover about one-third of the plain surface of the Peninsula
and run more or less parallel to the long axis of the country. The rolling to
undulating land is found generally in the seaward flanks and the intervening
areas between the mountain ranges. Although not very extensive coastal
plains and alluvial terraces are found from 15 to 65 km inland from the
coast with levels rising to 75 m above mean sea level. The riverine flood
plains are found as narrow belts of alluvium gently sloping away from the
major rivers. Towards the coast they merge with the marine alluvium of the
coastal plains.
 Sabah is surrounded on three sides by seas. The physical pattern
consists of narrow alluvial coastal plains backed by hilly, forested areas.
The mountain of the interior has acted as barriers to inland penetration. The
coastal plains and river valleys consist of marine and fluvial alluvium.
Although the coastal plains form a small proportion of the total area they
are the most important parts of the State in terms of settlement and
agricultural and economic development.

Sarawak consists of a flat and swampy coastal area and steepy undulating
hills in the interior. The coastal plains comprise deep peat and muck soils,
and at various points along the coast “raised beaches” occur some distance
inland from the coastline.

CLIMATE AND RAINFALL

Malaysia lies near the Equator between latitude 1° and 7° North and
between longitude 100° and 119° East. The country is subject to maritime
influence and the interplay of wind systems, which originate in the Indian
Ocean and South China Sea. The year is commonly divided into the south-
west and north-east monsoon seasons. The climate of Malaysia is hot wet
equatorial. The important features of the climate are the continuous warm
temperatures and the seasonal distribution of rainfall. Mean daily
temperatures range from 21°C to 32°C in the lowlands throughout the year.
Cooler temperatures prevail at the higher altitudes. Variation in rainfall
distribution is the most significant environmental variable. Generally, most
if not all parts of Malaysia experience moisture deficits during one or more
periods of the year. Conversely, excessive rainfall could occur, and this
may physically restrict agricultural activities. There is considerable
variation in the averages of annual and monthly distribution of rainfall by
location. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 mm to 4,000 mm
with the states of Sabah and Sarawak about 20 % to 40 % more rainfall
than Peninsular Malaysia.
POPULATION AND SIZE OF HOLDINGS
The total population of Malaysia was 23,266,000 in 2000. Of this,
18,537,800 people were in Peninsular Malaysia, 2,656,400 in Sabah and
2,071,800 in Sarawak. At present rates of growth the population is
estimated to be 28,142,000 in the year 2010. The manufacturing sector
holds an important position in the Malaysian economy. It provides
employment for nearly 46.9 % of the working population, generates
approximately 8.5 % of the gross domestic product. The population actually
engaged in agriculture in 2000 was about 1,060,676. The size of land
holdings in Malaysia is small.

LAND RESOURCES
 Tropical Rain Forest occupies less than 60 % of Malaysia’s land area
and these are found mainly in the hills and mountains. The potential areas
suitable for crop development based on schematic reconnaissance soil
surveys total 4,010,933 ha are under cultivation. The major soils of
Malaysia include acrisols, ferralsols, fluvisols, gleysols, luvisols, nitosols,
lithosols, regosols, combisols and histosols. The most extensive are
lithosols, regosols and combisols which occupy 58 % of the land area.
These include the shallow soils of the highlands, most of which are not
utilised for agriculture, and the regosols of the alluvial plains. The acrisols
and the ferralsols make up the major agricultural soils of the country. The
fluvisols and gleysols are important in that they are being extensively
cultivated with rice.
Most of the sedentary soils with topography up to 20° slopes are cultivated
with perennial crops such as rubber, oil palm, cocoa, spices and fruit tree.
Peat and organic soils cover approximately 2,700,000 ha. Only a small
proportion has been developed for agriculture due to several serious
physical and chemical limitations of the soils. Presently, pineapple is the
only crop which is recommended for extensive cultivation on peat, although
rubber, oil palm, coconut and coffee have also been planted on peat soils
but yields of these crops are often poor. Peat with depth greater than 1.5 m
is considered unsuitable for tree crops. Part of the country is covered by
‘bris’ soils. These soils are derived from marine sands and have extremely
low inherent soil fertility. Coconut, cashew and fruits are grown on the
soils, and with some supplementary irrigation tobacco, groundnut,
vegetables and watermelon are also cultivated. When economical methods
to ameliorate the soils are available they could become potential areas for
future agricultural development.
IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE METHODS USED

Paddy is the only crop for which extensive irrigation facilities are provided.
The method of irrigation is basically basin irrigation where small ridges
surround individual lots in which paddy is grown in a depth of standing
water. The total area covered by irrigation is currently 660,000 ha out of
which 609,000 ha are double cropped. A number of small farms use furrow
and sprinkler irrigation vegetables and tobacco, but these areas are too
small. Figure 1 shows a water wheel used for irrigating small paddy fields.
Figure 1. Showing a water wheel – An indigenous method of raising water from
streams for irrigation of small paddy areas.

Early drainage works involved the construction of coastal embankments to

prevent saline water intrusion and the provision of facilities to allow
removal of excess rainfall and runoff. Later, works in addition to
reclamation were directed towards drainage improvement to permit
intercropping. Presently, about 600,000 ha are provided with drainage
facilities, based generally on a composite system. The major crops
cultivated in these areas are coconut, rubber, oil palm, spices, pineapple and
other cash crop.
 Figure 2. Showing major drainage and irrigation areas (1999)

Malaysia encompasses rugged mountain ranges and tropical rainforests,

busy cities and peaceful villages, cool hill stations and over two hundred
islands, tumbling rivers and jungles rich with wildlife. It is blessed with fair
and balmy weather all-year round. Its idyllic beaches offer a respite from
the hustle and bustle of city living. The coast is lined by clear waters, soft
sand and secluded bays shaded by palms and casuarinas. Sunny skies and
golden sandy beaches make a perfect getaway. Malaysia is as diverse as its
culture. This is a land of cultural fusion – the indigenous Malays, absorbed
Chinese, Indian and European influences, blending them together to create
‘Rasa Sayang’ – a feeling of love. Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other
ethnic groups have lived together in Malaysia for generations. They have
influenced each other, creating a truly Malaysian culture. Multi-culturalism
has made Malaysia a gastronomical paradise and home to hundreds of
colourful festivals.
Genting Highlands (City of entertainment)
Genting, located 1,800-metre above sea level is the country’s premier
integrated holiday destination. The resort’s elevation means that
temperatures are consistently a good 5°C lower than in Kuala Lumpur. The
most exciting way to travel to Genting is aboard the Genting Skyway,
South-East Asia’s longest, cable car system, from which passengers have a
bird’s-eye view over the surrounding forests and hills. Genting has the
distinction of being the only place where you can gamble legally in
Malaysia and the world-class casinos provide memorable gaming
experiences.
There is a wealth of other activities and entertainment for all the family,
including cinemas and theme parks with more than 50 thrilling rides and
shows. The resort also has over 80 retail outlets and more than 90
restaurants and bars. Getting between them is easy, thanks to the system of
well-signed linkways, underground tunnels and escalators. The young and
the young-at-heart will no doubt get an adrenaline rush out of the indoor
and outdoor Theme Parks, which including the 4-D Motion Master,
Malaysia’s first 4-D cinema experience; Genting Sky Venture, Asia’s only
skydiving simulation; and the zero-degree winter wonders of Snow
World.
An overview of the evolution of the
bread industry in Malaysia
INTRODUCTION

The bread industry in Malaysia has seen many changes in

the last decade. It has emerged as a small-scale processing
industry, and then grown to medium-scale and now, the
birth of a new trend called the boutique bakery. The bread
industry in Malaysia is flourishing very quickly and bread
products are gaining much popularity. In fact, bread has
been labeled as the most popular substitute of rice, the
staple diet of Malaysians. The bakery products industry in
Malaysia where baked goods dominates a large share of
62%, recorded a value of almost RM 2 billion per annum in
2003 with a strong growth of 65 million over the previous
year (Anon., 2003). The bread and the bakery products
market is forecast to experience a steady growth of about
4% per annum in the coming years reaching RM 2.9 billion
by 2006 (Anon., 2002). There’s more to it than just a loaf of
bread!

GROWING FACTORS
Generally, the rise of bakery products consumption in
Malaysia is in line with the population’s growing affluence.
However, the increased demand for bread is due to several
other factors. The main factor is that bread makes quite a
similar diet with rice; both are high in carbohydrate and
protein contents, 83 % and 90 % carbohydrates and 13 %
and 8 % protein, respectively (Anon., 2004b). This suited
the eating patterns of people from a hot and humid region
where high caloric food is needed for energy spared as
perspiration. Rice is the traditional meal for every family but
it is a meal that needs to go with dishes prepared
separately. Dish preparation is time consuming and could
be a hassle for some modern families. Thus, bread, which
provides equivalent balanced diet, comes quite handy
whence a quick meal is favored. It is not surprising that
bread has become the most popular food for breakfast in
families. Bread is also beginning to be enjoyed during lunch
among the working groups when the hot sun in mid
afternoon discourages taking rice or noodle lunch. Breads,
spread with butter or jam for breakfast and sandwich
lunches are beginning to take over the traditional meals
prepared with rice or noodles. The roads in Malaysia have
improved tremendously in the late 10 years with new
expressways being built, opening of major roads to villages
and widening of existing trunk roads. This has enabled a
wider distribution of bakery products within the whole
country, from cities to rural areas. In the past, bakery
product supplies are quite localized as in consumers are
confined to products from the local bakeshops in the areas
that they live. With a better road system, bread products
from bakery factory located in the cities are transported
efficiently to convenience stores, standard grocers,
supermarkets, mini-markets and petrol station stores. For example, a
bread factory in Malaysia, the Stanson Bakeries, has 250 trucks plying the
peninsula’s North-South expressway 24 hours a day, to reach their outlets
overnight, on a daily basis. Their strong distribution network has enabled
the company to supply more than 8000 retail outlets throughout the country
(Dhesi, 2004). The North-South expressway, spanning 890 km connecting
the Thai and Singapore borders, opened in 1994, has help to shorten the
travelling time by half.
The bread industry in Malaysia is vibrant in meeting customer’s
demand of various types of products. Gardenia Bakeries, for example,
produces a variety of tasty bread products such as the Toast’ems (sliced
bread filled with fibrous fruit and grains) and convenient savory snacks
such as Gardenia Twiggies, Gardenia Muffins, Squiggles, Fun-in-a-Bun
and Fluffy Bun besides its most popular sandwich loaves. A wide range of
choices makes bread a popular food and affordable for people of all ages
and incomes. The capability of the bread industry to catch up and cope with
the consumers’ ever changing demands has helped the bread industry to
expand. The emphasis now is on health bread. Gardenia Bakeries recently
introduced their health bread, the Gardenia Break

thru, which has low glycaemic index, more protein and fibre and less
calories and carbohydrates shortly after their rival Stanson Bakeries (High 5
range of products) announced their official acquisition of licensee for the
manufacture and distribution of Roman Meal breads from The Roman Meal
Company in the US (best known globally for their nutritional and health
bread over the century) in October 2004. Despite the competitiveness in
bread products, observations showed that customers are more inclined to
choose products according to their affordability. Some may choose to buy a
standard loaf while others might buy the high priced health bread from the
same outlets.

Media influence, both externally and internally plays a small role in the
increasing bread consumption in Malaysia. The western culture has been
regarded worthy to adopt by some in Asian countries, and therefore tend to
pick up western living styles. This includes eating and serving bread. Local
bread companies in Malaysia also spend a large amount of money in
advertising their brands and products.
A bread bakery plant
 A wide range of bread products available in a
petrol station store

CURRENT PLAYERS

At present, the Malaysian bread industry is dominated by two national local

bakeries, which cater to various regions – namely, the Gardenia and
Stanson Bakeries, each with their own popular brands of Gardenia and
High 5 respectively. These two companies hold approximately 76% of the
retail market (Rydings, 2002). However, they compete between themselves
through offering attractive bread products. Gardenia bakeries began
operations in Malaysia in 1986 and produce American-style sandwich
bread, using the traditional sponge and dough method. Within four short
years, it became the bread market leader with an astounding 99% brand
recall rate and 80% top-of-mind recall (Anon, 2004a). Today, Gardenia’s
overall production capacity hit 32,000 loaves per hour (the highest in the
region) and produces over 20 varieties of loaf bread, buns, rolls and snack
cakes in five different factories. Stanson Bakeries and its marketing unit are
subsidiary companies of the Stanson Group under the Silver Bird Group
Bhd. The Stanson Bakeries manufactures the European variety of breads.
The group, which started in 1999, is currently contributing about RM 46
million, close to 90% of Silver Bird’s turnover (Dhesi, 2004).
These two companies, the Gardenia and Stanson Bakeries are
competing to lead the bread market. This has resulted in frequent prices and
volumes of bread fluctuation. Whilst one company charges 20 cents
cheaper, the other company offers an extra 20% of bread. Hence, we can
say that the bread industrialists are alert all the time. Their current move in
conquering more of the market share is to strive towards promoting health
breads. Their business competitions and strategies for a larger market are
norms in the business entity but have certainly offered Malaysians a healthy
choice of food variety. The Silver Bird Group built a bread museum called
the High 5 Bread Town in their RM 100 million new plant premises. It
presents the history of bread making that spans more than 5000 years ago,
from Ancient Egypt, through the Iron Age, the Roman and Viking periods,
right through the industrial revolution of the present day. It uses colourful
murals and interactive displays with sounds to give lively hands-on
experience to visitors. It is claimed to be is the first of its kind in the world.
It even portrays bread in futuristic years, in the form of pallets and pills to
be taken during a spaceship expedition! It is fascinating with ideas being so
well transformed for educational purposes. Gardenia Bakeries, in their
move to develop health bread, has teamed up with a group of a researchers
attached to a medical faculty from a local university, to formulate bread
using special functional ingredients.
 Between these two big giant bakery companies, the smaller bakeries
still managed to find their ways to survive the onslaught. These small
bakeries are family owned and structured and are usually started as a single
shop before extending to more outlets. These family bakeries however, do
not only emphasize on the bread products, but also produce higher margin
delicacies such as cakes and cookies. These bakeries operate in the city
where the flow of people is high and most importantly, where the more
affordable working group are. Among the few local confectionary retail
chain shops are the King’s Confectionary, which started in 1973 in Kuala
Lumpur and now with 49 retail outlets, the Season’s Confectionary and
Bakery, the Angel Cake House etc.
CURRENT TRENDS

Bread boutique is the newest trend of bakeshops in Malaysia that has

evolved through the rigorous application of innovative marketing. These
boutiques are available in shopping malls and are well known for their
designer breads where customers find a sense of contemporary ease and an
exciting shopping experience. This concept was first introduced in
Singapore in July 2000 with the brand name, Breadtalk. In Malaysia, the
first shop, Breadstory started in September 2002. These boutiques have
developed very quickly. Over a span of three year, Breadtalk has opened as
many as 23 chain outlets in Singapore while Breadstory has 15 in Malaysia.
The unique thing about these boutiques is their store-design, which allows
customer to see products being prepared in the kitchen through large glass
panels in stringent hygienic manners. Their concept of baking and crafting
each bread carefully and giving themes reflecting current social and popular
trends such as novels, movies, heroes and cartoon characters have delighted
their customers. For example, bread products are interestingly named as
‘Tina Tuna’, ‘Killing Fills’, ‘Spiderman’, ‘Nutty Professor’, ‘PacMan’,
‘Humpty Dumpty’ etc.. These boutique proprietors are working very
actively to bring their concept overseas through their franchising
programmes. Adwan’s (2003) comment on the unknown future of this
boutique concept, as a passing fad or an enduring trend notwithstanding,
Breadtalk has signed master franchise agreements in countries like
Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan by April 2004.
 In-store open-kitchen design concept of a boutique bakery
Insets: A baker at work, seen through the glass panels and
attractively crafted breads

AWARENESS
The exposure on bread products and its sources and uses has come to a high
level in the society. People learn to appreciate bread products and some will
not hesitate to spend to get the bread of their choice. Baking used to be a
skill learned through apprenticeship but today, there are specialized baking
schools that provide short courses, certificates and even diplomas in
Malaysia. The Malaysian Institute of Baking (MIB) was approved in
January 2003 by the Ministry of Education of Malaysia to conduct courses
in baking. Private college, such as the Flamingo Institute also provides
professional baking courses. These courses are learning opportunities for
people from differing backgrounds including people thinking of bread
business; job seekers and also health conscious housewives who wish to
prepare fresh bread for their families.
CONCLUSION

Having studied the current trend of bread eating and

industry in Malaysia, there is none indicating which mode of
bread production operation will gain favoritism. The giant,
family and the boutique bakeries, each portrays their
uniqueness, which proves their sustenance. The giant bread
factories are able to deliver bread at lower prices with good
quality controls and production systems that wins the
confidence of consumers. The family bakeries are making
large margins with high-end products while the bread
boutiques with their new and innovative concepts of bread
products capture customers’ interest. The bread boutiques
have also given the bread industry in Malaysia a shot in the
arm. Whilst the current bread-eating pattern in Malaysian
families is still not far from choosing bread by its price and
their palates, nevertheless, the awareness of
healthy food is increasing. Most families are beginning to
differentiate whole grain bread, mixed grains and white
bread, at least! The rising living standard and awareness of
the consumers in addition to the benefits arising from the
competition among the bread industrialists are bound to
bring a higher level of appreciation of bakery products in
the time. There’s more to it than just a loaf of bread!

About High5 Bread Town

High 5 Bread Town, the first of its kind in the world was officially opened
by The Honourable Minister Of International Trade & Industry on 25th
May 2005. The brainchild of Silver Bird Group Managing Director Dato
Jackson Tan, High 5 Bread Town is a truly unique attraction of its class.
High 5 Bread Town is the architectural masterpiece showcase of the
RM100 mil state-of-the-art plant of Silver Bird Group factory located on
6.07ha plant in Shah Alam. High 5 Bread Town was certified in the
Malaysia Book of Records as the “First Bread Museum” in Malaysia.

With an enormous floor size, High 5 Bread Town is an attraction which caters
to visitors of all ages, promising a time of fun, excitement and learning for the
whole family. Being one of the latest tourist attraction in Malaysia which
embrace and incorporate only the best museum state of the art technology
system, High 5 Bread Town offer our guest a touted as the "a walkthrough on
the history of bread" with emphasis on bread development timeline, it is
definitely a "must see" to experience it!
The Story Behind A Loaf Of Bread

Bread, in one form or another, has been one of the principal forms of food for
man from earliest times. When ancient man discovered a food which would
keep through the winter months, and could be multiplied in the summer, it could
be said that civilization began. He might have a reasonably safe store of food to
carry him over, which would give him time to develop other useful skills
besides hunting, fishing and cattle-herding.
 Egyptian
The trade of the baker, then, is one of the oldest crafts in
the world. Loaves and rolls have been found in ancient
Egyptian tombs by archeologists. Wheat has been found
in pits where human settlements flourished 8,000 years
ago. At High 5 Bread Town Egyptian galleries you can
see replica loaves which were made and baked over
5,000 years ago. Also on display are grains of wheat
ripened in those ancient summers under the Pharaohs.
Ancient Egyptian word-pictures, or hieroglyphs,
concerning bread are also on display.
 Iron Age
Further back, in the Stone Age, people made solid cakes
from stone-crushed barley and wheat. Millstones called
querns are user for grinding corn has been found in
archeological findings that are thought to be 3,000 years
old. The ability to sow and reap cereals may be one of the
chief causes which led man to dwell in communities, rather
than to live a wandering life hunting and herding cattle.
Ancient Roman
The ancient Greeks and Romans knew bread for a staple
food, even in those days’ people argued whether white or
brown bread was best. The Romans enjoyed several kinds
of bread, with interesting names. There was oyster bread
(to be eaten with oysters); 'artolaganus' or cakecread;
'speusticus' or 'hurry bread'. There was over bread, tin
bread, Parthian bread. There were rich breads made with
milk, eggs and butter, but these of course, were only for
the wealthy and privileged people.

Vikings
The Vikings, or the Scandinavians, are among the first to
use rye make bread!! But the viking's bread are hard and
unleavened because they don't use yeast. For ease of
storage, the Vikings made a hole in the centre of the bread,
so they can be threaded through tent poles.
 Georgian & Victorian Times
Visitors would also be greeted by the
"Earl of Sandwich". Millers everywhere
continued to use the ancient method of
wind and watermills, except for a few
progressive men. In the middle of the
nineteenth century, a Swiss engineer
invented a new type of mill; abandoning
the use of the stone mill-wheels, he
designed rollers made of steel which
operated one above the other. It was
called the reduction roller-milling system,
and these machines soon became
accepted all over Europe and in Britain.
 Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution reduced farm acreage. This,
together with the invention of the roller-milling system,
meant that for the first time in history, whiter flour (and
therefore bread) could be produced at a price which brought
it within the reach of everyone - not just the rich.
 Time Tunnel
Amaze by the future of bread design at the Time Tunnel
attraction. Where people will have a glimpse of bread of
the future, still a concept at this point of time, but
development as already underway. The time tunnel will
especially appeal to young children with its attractive
lightings.
 Skywalk
Leisurely stroll through our 880 feet Skywalk where you'll
be exposed to the finer point of bread making production
from the beginning of the process right till the end before
your very own eyes!! The largest stand-alone bakery plant
in SEA, the state-of-the-art High 5 bread plant is capable of
churning out thousands of bread in minutes.
Machinery Museum
Admire with awe the wonderful bakery machine of the
past which are displayed at our Machine Museum and
many more. All the machines in the museum have served
their time well, and now are reting permanently in the
museum, lookout for the founder machine, as it is a
machine very much ahead of it's time with it's 3-gear
pulley system.
 Shopping at High 5 Bread Town Retail Outlet!
Your experience with High 5 Bread Town would not be
complete without visiting our retails outlet. Here, you will
find fresh baked High 5 quality products such High Bread,
cream roll and Roman Meal bread. Try our famous Silver
Bird delicious, scrumptious & tantalizing mouth watering
cake product and enjoy and pamper yourselves to your
likings. All products at a discounted price!!! Better still.
 Bring some home as souvenirs for your friends and families.

The Legacy of Bread

The first of its kind in the world, the High 5 Bread Town takes you into a
fascinating world of bread-making that spans more than 5,000 years. The
history of bread is told in colourful murals and interactive displays to give
you a lively, hands-on experience. The delicious aroma of oven-fresh bread
adds an authentic touch that makes your visit to High 5 Bread Town an
unforgettable experience.
Bread-making In Yesteryear
Watch how bread making evolved
through history. From the ancient Egypt
through to the Iron Age, the Roman and
Viking periods, right through the
Industrial Revolution to the present day.
Every era offers its own improvements
in terms of grain quality, the milling
and baking process, and the shape and
texture of bread. You'll discover it all
here.
Meet The Earl of Sanwich
A prominent member of Georgian
society, he was THE MAN credited
with introducing the sanwich as we
know it today! All because he never
had time to sit down to a proper meal!
Leisurely Elevated 880 Feet Skywalk
Factory Tour
What's more, your High 5 Bread Town
visit also includes a fascinating factory
tour. Enjoy an expansive overview of the
largest stand-alone bakery plant in
Southeast Asia in the present day. Stroll
leisurely on an elevated walkway
measuring 880 feet while you're shown the
finer points of bread-making using state-
of-the-art technology.
Olden Day Bread Shop
Browse around an olden day bread shop
and take note of the different types of
bread from around the world. Compare
that to the bread you are familiar with
now. Can you spot any differences?
Larger-Than-Life Bread Making
Equipment
You'll be mesmerized by larger-than-life
bread making equipments like mixer and
oven, among others. Imagine how much
bread was made and consumes in history!
Thrilling Time Tunnel
An exhilarating and electrifying
experience that transport you to
modern times in what seems like an
instant. Don't blink!
Bread-Making Antiques
You'll have a rare opportunity to see
valuable antique bread-making equipment
that has never been exhibited before. The
first of these is the Founder Machine,
designed by our company's founder, the
late Mr. Tan Chin Suan in the 60's.
ROYAL SELANGOR
About Us

Founded in Malaysia in 1885 by Yong Koon, the Royal Selangor pewter

factory is based in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur with a workforce of more than
300 skilled craftspeople. During Yong Koona’s time, items made were
mainly for ceremonial use †“such as joss sticks holders, incense burners
and candle stands for the altars of Chinese homes and temples. With the
British colonials in Malaya, the offering expanded to tankards, ashtrays and
tea services. The brand was then known as Selangor Pewter.

In the 1970s, the company starting exporting; firstly to Singapore, Hong

Kong and then Australia. Towards the 1980s, the market expanded into
Europe and later to Japan. In the late 70s, the company diversified -
extending its business to the design, manufacture and marketing of precious
jewellery and also hallmarked sterling silver. Under the names of Selberan
Jewellery and Comyns, each individual company strives to create things of
beauty, maintaining the tradition of excellence and innovation synonymous
with the company. Selangor Pewter then changed its name to Royal
Selangor in 1992 to reflect the royal endorsement from HRH The Sultan of
Selangor Darul Ehsan and its diverse product offerings which had extended
beyond pewter. A reputation for uncompromising quality, Selberan
Jewellery has a team of qualified gemologists, designers and craftspeople
trained by European master jewellers. Renowned for its beautiful designs,
Selberan has won more than twenty design award. One of the oldest and
most prestigious manufacturing silversmiths in the world, Comyns was
acquired by Royal Selangor in 1993, together with its magnificent archive
of over 35,000 drawings, patterns and moulds. From the miniature to the
monumental, Comyns continues to make objects of the finest quality for
discerning individuals around the world.
Renowned for its innovative pewter designs, Royal Selangor has taken
pewter to a new level. Its designs have attracted the attention of an
appreciative global audience. Among the many awards received, include
the Red Dot Award for Product Design from Germany’s Design Zentrum
and the Japan G-mark for good design from the Japan Industrial Design
Promotion Organization.

Always staying ahead of the curve, the company has a strong design team
that creates new collections yearly. In delivering a wider selection to its
customers, Royal Selangor also collaborates with international talents such
as Erik Magnussen and Nick Munro, who have designed new collections
infused with their creative hallmarks.

In addition to the wide selection sold at retail, Royal Selangor custom-

makes exclusive pieces for corporations and individuals. Its trophies have
graced the winner’s podium for world class events such as the World Cup
Golf 1999, 16th Commonwealth Games; Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 and
the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Malaysia, Singapore and China. The company
was also appointed licensee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Millennium
Collection and the 2006 Germany FIFA World Cup, creating exclusive
merchandise to commemorate these spectacular events. Distributed
worldwide from its home base in Malaysia, Royal Selangor exports to more
than 20 countries, with its own retail shops in Singapore, Japan, Hong
Kong, China and Australia. Royal Selangor is also found in fine stores such
as Wako and Mitsukoshi in Japan as well as Harrods and John Lewis in the
United Kingdom.

Located at its factory premises, the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre is an

educational and fun destination that attracts thousands of visitors yearly.
Guided tours are available and multi-sensory interactive exhibits enlighten
visitors on the properties of tin and pewter as well as the history of Royal
Selangor.

This must-see destination in Malaysia won the 2005 Best ASEAN New
Tourist Attraction Award from the ASEAN Tourism Association and Best
Tourist Attraction Award 2004 (national identity/ heritage category) from
Tourism Malaysia.

Visitor Centre
Malaysia is home to the world’s finest pewter and Royal Selangor is its
most well known name. Visitors to the country often include the Royal
Selangor factory in their travel plans and with the completion of its new
ultra modern Visitor Centre, a visit will be even more fascinating.
The tour begins at the Gallery. Learn about the company’s pioneering past
and its transformation to a world-class company. It’s fascinating Pewter
Museum and astonishing two-storey high replica of the PETRONAS Twin
Towers created out of 7,062 pewter tankards will delight you. To further
excite your senses, there are interactive exhibits at the Chamber of Chimes,
Hall of Finishes and Giant Weighing Scale. Computer buffs may want to
check out the Game Port that has specially designed games.

The Factory Tour shows you ‘live’ the different pewter production
processes - casting, filing, polishing, soldering, hammering and engraving,
as well as the intricacies of making Selberan’s fine jewellery. The tour ends
at the Retail Store where a wide selection of Royal Selangor pewter,
sterling silver by Comyns and precious jewellery by Selberan’s can be
purchased.
The Royal Selangor ‘School of Hard Knocks’, is an entertaining hour-long
pewtersmithing workshop where for a small fee participants are taught to
create their own pewter dish using traditional tools and methods.
Experience Pewter making

Despite production lines and the use of modern technology, much

handwork still goes into each Royal Selangor pewter piece. The Factory
Tour shows visitors the elaborate pewter-making processes required of the
artisans including the detailed handcrafting that goes into each piece.
Visitors also get to view the intricate handwork that goes into the making of
Selberan’s fine jewellery.
The Pewter Workshop

Royal Selangor pewter is composed of tin, with a small proportion of

copper and antimony added to strengthen it. This alloy contains mainly tin
of the highest international standard for pewter.Today, pewter produced by
Royal Selangor is completely lead-free. Its low melting point and relative
softness make pewter an ideal material for craftsmen and designers to work
with. The material lends itself to different manufacturing techniques, some
of which have been handed down through many generations.
 The majority of Royal Selangor pewter products are hand-cast. Using
this method, the craftsman ladles molten pewter into steel moulds quickly
and efficiently. The moulds are prepared from a designer’s sculpture or
technical drawing. After cooling, the item is removed from the mould.
Rough edges are carefully filed and then polished. Each individual Royal
Selangor pewter product is polished by hand. Polishing is done using a fine-
grade sandpaper or against a buffing wheel.

Once the polishing process is completed, appendages such as handles,

spouts and hinges are soldered on. Skillfully made joints are virtually
invisible and remarkably strong. After soldering, the finished product is
polished once again with soft flannel or, in some cases, with the `stone leaf’
(Tetracera scandens), a wild tropical leaf of a fine, abrasive nature. Royal
Selangor maintains stringent standards of quality control such that any item
that does not meet these standards are rejected. It is certainly assuring to
know that no Royal Selangor tea or coffee pot will ever drip because each
spout has been flawlessly designed and crafted.
SINGAPORE
OVERVIEW OF SINGAPORE

For centuries before Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India
Company acquired it from the Sultan of Johor in 1819, Singapore had been
virtually abandoned. However, within decades of the change of ownership,
in a historical echo of its role today, Singapore is tiny and has no natural
resources apart from a good harbor. Even so, Singapore became the main
commercial and strategic center for the region. In 1867, it became a British
Crown Colony and housed one of the UK’s most important naval bases.
This status remained unchanged until 1942 when the Japanese army swept
down through Malaya and occupied the colony. More than three years later,
the Japanese surrendered in Singapore and the colony assumed its previous
status. With the dissolution of the British Empire, Singapore was granted
internal self-government in 1959.

Singapore City:

Singapore City was also founded in 1819 by Sir Raffles of the British East
India Company, who recommended that different areas of the town be set
aside for the various ethnic groups. There are still fascinating pockets
where more traditionally exclusive enclaves exist, principally in
Chinatown, Arab Street, Serangoon Road (focus of the Indian community)
and Padang Square with its very strong colonial associations. The best way
to experience the remarkable diversity of the city is on foot. Traditional
architecture, customs and cuisine of the various ethnic areas are in
fascinating contrast to the lavish luxury shopping arcades of Orchard Road
and Raffles City. Orchard Road is the ‘Fifth Avenue’ or ‘Oxford Street’ of
Singapore, and just as bustling, with its vast luxury malls, shops ranging
from mega stores to vendors of souvenir , as well as cafes and restaurants.
The corner bar of the Singapore Marriott Hotel, itself a landmark, is the
prime spot to watch the world go by. Arab Street is the center of the
Arabian quarter of Singapore, and a great place for shopping. Other streets
with excellent shopping opportunities are Baghdad Street and Bussorah
Street, while Sultan Plaza is a centre for cloth traders. The golden domes of
the Sultan Mosque, Singapore’s chief Muslim place of worship, dominate
the area; nearby are two historic Muslim burial grounds. Chinatown, though
somewhat overwhelmed by the growth of the Financial District, is a
bustling and colorful area with shops, teahouses and restaurants, and also
several temples such as the Fuk Tak Ch’i in Telok Ayer Street and the
Temple of the Calm Sea. Ancient crafts of calligraphy, papermaking and
fortune-telling are practiced, and traditional goods and foodstuffs can be
bought. The characteristic domestic architecture of Singapore – the shop-
house with a molded front, shuttered upper floor and an arcaded street front
– is much in evidence. Serangoon Road is the center of Little India, the
Indian quarter stretching from Rochar Canal to Lavender Street. The Zhu
Jiao Centre, at the southern end of Serangoon Road, is a particularly vibrant
example of Little India. Other attractions in the area include the Sri
Veeramakalimman Temple, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall in Race
Course Lane and Farrer Park.
 No trip to Singapore would be complete without a visit to the Raffles
Hotel, one of the most famous hotels in the world. A ‘Singapore Sling’ in
the Long Bar is almost de rigueur; alternatively, drop into the Writers’ Bar
which provided inspiration for, amongst others, Noel Coward, Somerset
Maugham and Joseph Conrad. The CHIJMES complex near the Raffles
Hotel was developed out of the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus,
whose Gothic shell is the basis for a series of plazas housing chic shops,
restaurants and bars. A statue of Sir Stamford Raffles has been erected on
the banks of the Singapore River on the spot where he is believed to have
first set foot in Singapore. Nearby is Parliament House, the oldest
government building in the country, the core of which dates back to the
1820s. Boat Quay and North Boat Quay, flanking the river on both banks
near the Raffles statue, has now become one of Singapore’s most popular
bar and recreation areas, with traditional shop-houses converted into
restaurants and clubs. Clarke Quay forms a triangle defined by a bend in the
Singapore River. It is a complex of colonial ‘godowns’ (eastern term for
warehouses) converted into a maze of bars, outdoor eating places, clubs,
souvenir shops and mobile stalls that present the ‘Old Singapore’ tourist
experience at its most concentrated, if occasionally tacky. Riverside Walk,
on the opposite riverbank, extends the zone further, and the whole area is a
must-see for visitors.

Jurong:
Jurong Town is the economic and industrial hub of Singapore, but offers
visitors some unusual yet fascinating attractions. The Singapore Science
Centre, open Tues-Sun 1000-1800, is a remarkable complex which includes
hundreds of interactive exhibits, the Aviation Gallery which traces the
history of flight, and the Omnitheatre, a cinema with a planetarium-like
screen. Haw Par Villa (formerly The Tiger Balm Gardens) in Pasir Panjang
Road is a surreal ‘Disneyesque’ statue park of Chinese mythological and
historical figures, created by the Tiger Balm ointment dynasty. The
Gardens are open daily 0800-1800. The Chinese and Japanese Gardens are
west of the centre by Jurong Lake. The two are linked by a 65m (200ft)
ornamental bridge, and are fine examples of the skills of oriental landscape
gardeners. The gardens are open daily 0900-1800. An admission fee is
charged. The Jurong Bird Park on Jurong Hill (near the Chinese and
Japanese Gardens) covers more than 49.4 acres (20 hectares) and is home to
Southeast Asia’s largest collection of birds. There is also the world’s largest
walk-in aviary, a nocturnal house and several spectacular bird shows. The
park is open Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat-Sun 0800-1800. An admission fee is
charged.
THE ISLANDS

Sentosa:
The largest and best known of Singapore’s offshore islands is also one of
the closest to the mainland. Sentosa is a multi-million dollar pleasure resort
girdled by a monorail and offering a wide range of activities and attractions.
These include the Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon, Images of
Singapore, the recently upgraded Musical Fountain Show, The Merlion, the
Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom Museum, Sijori WonderGolf and the
Carlsberg Sky Tower. Lovely gardens, beautiful beaches and a plethora of
restaurants and eating places all contribute to the island’s popularity with
tourists and locals alike. Many prefer to skip the theme park attractions and
head straight for Sentosa’s beaches – Palawan, Siloso and Tanjong – where
a wide range of watersports is available. These were built with imported
white sand and are often crowded, especially at weekends. There are bus,
monorail and tram services linking Sentosa to the city center, and the
causeway bridge is open to foot traffic. An admission fee for entry to the
island is charged and composite tickets can also be bought which give
admission to some of the attractions; enquires locally for details. Resort
hotels, camping and other accommodation are available on the island.
Other Islands:
 St John’s Island is large, hilly and tree-shaded with several excellent
beaches. There are also several walking trails. There is a regular ferry
service from the Harbour Front Centree that takes about 40 minutes. Kusu
Island is noted for two landmarks: the Keramat (a Muslim shrine) and the
Chinese Tua Pekong Temple. There is a regular ferry service from the
World Trade Centre that takes about 30 minutes. Pulau Hantu, Lazarus
Island and the Sisters Islands (the latter being part of the group of Southern
Islands) are ideal for fishing, snorkeling and swimming enthusiasts. There
are no regular ferry services but boats can be chartered; enquire locally for
information.

At the SENTOSA Islands you would find :

Songs of the Sea

Songs of the Sea is a musical fountain located at the beaches of Sentosa

Island, Singapore. Designed by Yves Pepin, the Songs of the Sea show
started on 26 March 2007. It replaced the 25-year-old Magical Sentosa
show. The musical fountain is a $30 million investment by Sentosa to
enhance its entertainment product offerings and to attract more tourists. It is
the world's only permanent show set in the sea— boasting spectacular
pyrotechnics displays, water jets, laser show and flame bursts a live cast
and an open-air viewing gallery which can comfortably accommodate
2,500 visitors.
Setting

The new musical fountain show uses giant water projection screens. Images
are projected on these water screens to create 3-Dimensional animations,
that will be shown during the show. The show had a new storyline and Kiki
(Sentosa's Mascot) was replaced by Oscar the Fish. The Merlion no longer
play part of the musical fountain show anymore, since the old musical
fountain was demolished to make way for the new integrated resort. What
now stands at the musical fountains spot is the Lake of dreams. The
equipment used for the original fountain is recycled to be used as the
equipment for the Lake of Dreams show.
The beach and the sea are stage for the show. A stretch of wooden houses
was built across the shoreline to create a Malay Kampung, or more
commonly known as a Kelong. It is a work of art that is 120 meteres long
while the rest of the equipment (water jets, water screens, lasers and
projectors) are being hidden at the back of the kelong. There are a total of
69 water jets capable of reaching a height of 40 metres and flames leaping
up to a height of 20 metres. The show runs twice a night at 7.40pm and
8.40pm and lasts 25 minutes.
Story

Li, a young man gifted with a charming voice, is singing by the sea with his
friends when he is stunned by the sudden vision of a beautiful sleeping girl.
Guided by a group of mischievous sea creatures, Li learns that she is
Princess Ami, and she is under the spell of an enchanted village. He is
determined to save Princess Ami. Along the journey, he meets the Lord of
Fire, Spirit of Light and Lady of the Sea, who seek his help in restoring
their powers. In the end Li manages to wake up Princess Ami from her
enchantment.

There are various songs being played throughout the entire show:
• She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain
• Chan Mali Chan
• Munnaeru Vaalibaa
• Chinese Folk Song
• Singapura, Sunny Island
• It's me
 • We did It!

Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom

The Butterfly Park is a landscape garden with over 15,000 live butterflies,
representing more than fifty species. Housed in a cool outdoor
conservatory, these butterflies range from the 25 millimetre (1 in) Eurema
sari to the 150 mm (6 in) Papilio iswara. The Insect Kingdom houses some
3,000 species of rare insects from around the world, including a 160 mm
Dynastes Hercules beetle.
Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon

Underwater World is an oceanarium located on the western part of Sentosa.

Opened in 1991, the living museum has more than 2,500 marine and fresh-
water animals of 250 species from different regions of the world. The
oceanarium is underground and has an 83 metre long travelator that moves
visitors along a submerged glass-windowed tunnel from which they can
look at an array of marine life including a coral reef, stingrays, moray eels,
turtles, sharks, and other fishes. In the 'Dive-with-the-Sharks' program
visitors can scuba dive in the large oceanarium, even if they are not scuba
qualified. Qualified scuba divers can also 'Dive-with-the-Dugong".
The Underwater World also includes a Dolphin Lagoon which is home to
some Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, also known as the pink dolphins.
Several "Meet-the-Dolphins" sessions are held daily to allow visitors to
enter the waist-deep pool and interact with the dolphins at close proximity.
A more involved "Swim-with-the-Dolphins' program, where visitors can
interact extensively with the dolphins, is also available.
Sentosa 4D Magix

The Sentosa 4D Magix is Singapore's first and Southeast Asia's original 4-

dimensional theatre. Opened in January 2006 at the cost of S$3.5 million,
the theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art Digital Projection and DTS 6.1
sound system. Guests will be seated on a motion based chair in a typical
movie theatre watching a 3D show with visual effects popping out of the
screen coupled with environmental effects providing a life-like feel. The
current show is the 'Pirates!' in 4D comedy, as offered in other theme parks
around the world.
NEWater (Singapore)
Background

Since the 1970s, Singapore has been testing new water technologies to
produce water of drinking standards from secondary treated wastewater
effluent
• The NEWater Study was initiated in 1998
• Primary objective of the study was the suitability of using NeWater as a
source of raw water to supplement Singapore's water supply.

The Singapore Water Reclamation Study (NEWater Study) was initiated in

1998 as a joint initiative between the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). The primary
objective of the joint initiative was to determine the suitability of using
NEWater as a source of raw water to supplement Singapore's water supply.
NEWater is treated used water that has undergone stringent purification and
treatment process using advanced dual-membrane (microfiltration and
reverse osmosis) and ultraviolet technologies. NEWater could be mixed and
blended with reservoir water and then undergo conventional water
treatment to produce drinking water (a procedure known as Planned
Indirect Potable Use or Planned IPU).Planned IPU as a source of water
supply is not new. It has been practiced in several parts of the United States
for more than 20 years. At Water Factory 21, Orange County Water
District, Southern California, high quality water reclaimed from treated
used water has been injected into ground water since 1976. Similarly, at
Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority (UOSA), North Virginia, high quality
reclaimed water is discharged into Occoquan Reservoir since 1978.
Occoquan Reservoir is a source of water for more than a million people
living in the vicinity of Washington DC. Water reclamation is a growing
trend in the U.S. and around the world. In the U.S., there are several other
water reclamation projects that are now being planned or under
construction. Two of them are at Gwinnett near Atlanta, Georgia and at
Scottsdale near Phoenix, Arizona.
In 2001, PUB embarked on a new initiative to increase water supply
from unconventional sources for non-potable use. The use of NEWater for
wafer fabrication processes, non-potable applications in manufacturing
processes as well as air-con cooling towers in commercial buildings would
free large amount of potable water for other potable purposes. The
NEWater Factories at Bedok and Kranji Water Reclamation Plants was
commissioned at the end of 2002. Following that since Feb 2003, NEWater
has been supplied to wafer fabrication plants at Woodlands and
Tampines/Pasir Ris and other industries for non-potable use. In Jan 2004,
another milestone in the NEWater initiative was accomplished with the
commissioning of the third NEWater Factory at Seletar Water Reclamation
Plant which began supplying NEWater to the wafer fabrication plants at
Ang Mo Kio. The total capacity of the 3 NEWater factories is 92,000
m3/day or 20 mgd.
The sources of water supply for NEWater is as follows :
The scientific technique behind the Filtration Process:
Awards and Accolades

PUB has been presented with an Award of

Excellence from the National Water Research
Institute (NWRI), USA, for the NEWater
Demonstration Plant project and in recognition of
PUB's outstanding contributions to microfiltration
technology. The award was presented to PUB on 4
Background:
The Land Transport Authority LTA; of Singapore is a statutory board of
the Ministry of Transport. It was founded in 1 September 1995, by merging
four agencies, namely, Registry of Vehicles, Mass Rapid Transit
Corporation, Roads & Transportation Division of the Public Works
Department of Singapore and Land Transport Division of the then-Ministry
of Communications. LTA spearheads land transport development in
Singapore.

The mission of LTA is to provide an efficient, cost-effective and people-

centered land transport system for different needs and its vision is a people-
centered land transport system. The three objectives of LTA are:
• To deliver a land transport network that is integrated, efficient, cost-
effective and sustainable to meet the nation's needs.

• To plan, develop and manage Singapore's land transport system to

support a quality environment while making optimal use of our
 transport measures and safeguarding the well-being of the travelling
public.

• To develop and implement policies to encourage commuters to

choose the most appropriate transportation mode.
Times when things were done manually
Traffic Policemen noting down the numbers of the vehicles which violated the rules
After ERP is being installed
Blueprint for the Future

In March 2008, LTA released its Land Transport Master plan report, which
outlines the strategic thrusts to make the land transport system work for
both the people and the city. The three strategic thrusts are to:

• Make Public Transport a Choice Mode

 • Manage Road Use

• Meet the Diverse Needs of Our People

The Land Transport Master plan report is a comprehensive and forward-

looking document describing the vision, strategy and plans for a people-
centered land transport system. The Master plan report is developed from
the perspective of commuters and their travel needs, following extensive
consultations with the public and stakeholders.

Making Public Transport a Choice Mode

Providing the people with a safe, efficient and comfortable public
transportation network has been the cornerstone of LTA's land transport
strategy. It is the Government's vision to make the rail network the
backbone of Singapore's public transport system

Rail
LTA is responsible for the development of the rapid transit system and the
expansion of the rail network. It aims to double the rail network by 2020.

DTL
The Downtown Line (DTL) will be built in three stages, with Stage 1 to be
completed in 2013, Stage 2 to be completed in 2015 and Stage 3 in 2017.
When fully completed, the DTL will enhance the connectivity of the Rapid
Transit System network and facilitates direct travel from the northwestern
and eastern areas of the island to the Central Business District and the
Marina Bay. The DTL is projected to see a daily ridership of more than half
a million passengers when in full operation.

When completed in 2013, DTL1 will provide a strategic transport link to

serve workers, residents and visitors in the Marina Bay area and upcoming
developments such as the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resorts and the
Marina Bay Financial Centre. DTL1 will run through some of the busiest
and most vibrant corridors in the city such as Bugis and Chinatown and
ease congestion at major interchanges like Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall and
Raffles Place Interchange.

CCL
The Circle Line (CCL) which is set to fully complete from 2010 onwards,
will cut travelling time and allow commuters to bypass busy interchanges
like City Hall and Raffles Place. Costing $6.7 billion, the CCL will be a
fully underground orbital line linking all radial lines leading to the city. The
line will interchange with the North-South Line, East-West Line and North
East Line. The CCL will be 33.3 km long with 29 stations. Starting from
the Dhoby Ghaut station, it will run through some of the busiest corridors in
the city and end at Harbour Front station on the North East Line.
To enhance the accessibility of the Marina Bay area to the rest of the island,
LTA will also build and open the Marina Bay station as part of the CCL
extension beyond Bayfront station in 2012.

Bus
LTA will take on the role of central bus network planner by 2009 in order
to shift the focus to place the commuter at the centre and take a holistic
approach in planning the bus network, taking into consideration
development in the Rapid Transit System (RTS) network and other
transport infrastructure.
In addition, to further improve the reliability and speed of bus services,
buses will be given greater priority on our roads over other vehicles. This
will help to shorten bus journey time and make them a more viable
competitor to cars.
About URA

The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning

authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National
Development of the Singapore Government. The authority was established
on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,
because Singapore is an extremely dense country where land usage is
required to be efficient and maximised in order to reduce land wastage in
the face of land shortage. The URA is also responsible for assisting to
facilitate racial harmony, such as to have their urban planning avoid
segregation, as well as seeking ways to improve aesthetics and to reduce
congestion. It is also responsible for the conservation of historic and
cultural buildings and national heritage sites.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore's national

land use planning authority. URA prepares long term strategic plans, as
well as detailed local area plans, for physical development, and then co-
ordinates and guides efforts to bring these plans to reality. Prudent land use
planning has enabled Singapore to enjoy strong economic growth and
social cohesion, and ensures that sufficient land is safeguarded to support
continued economic progress and future development.

Introduction
Given Singapore's small size, judicious land use planning is critical for the
nation's future. URA has to take into consideration not just the needs of the
city but all the needs of an independent nation and provide sufficient land
for economic growth and future development.
Our mission is to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play in. We
carry out our mission by planning and facilitating the physical development
of Singapore, in partnership with the community, to create a vibrant,
sustainable and cosmopolitan city of distinction.

Concept Plan
The Concept Plan is a broad, strategic, long term land use and
transportation plan updated once every 10 years to guide Singapore's
physical development. The first Concept Plan was developed in 1971 and it
guided the development of one of the world's best airports - the Singapore
Changi International Airport, as well as the Mass Rapid Transit System
(MRT).
The vision set out in the Concept Plan 2001 is to develop Singapore into a
thriving world-class city in the 21st century. The key proposals are:

- Providing more new homes in familiar places

- Introducing more high-rise city living

- Offering more choices for recreation

- Allowing greater flexibility for businesses

- Establishing a global business centre

- Building an extensive rail network

- Focusing on identity
One of the other big highlights of the trip for me was having the opportunity to see the
Singapore Formula-1 racing circuit. While most of the others were busy taking a ride in
the giant wheel ,I along with a few other friends went to visit the racing circuit which
was located close to the giant wheel. Initially we could not realize as to wether it was
really the F-1circuit but when we went a bit closer and went near the starting grid we
realized that it was indeed the Formula-1 circuit. It was really exciting for us to see the
paddock of all the famous F-1 driver including the legend himself Micheal Schumacher.
We took a lot of pictures in front of his paddock .We also took pictures of the paddock
of the current stars like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. We also got to feel the
ambience of the circuit and also took pictures sitting on the starting grid of the track. It
really was a memorable experience for me and some of my friends to get the feel of
something which we only watched on TV prior to the trip. This will most definitely be
one of the biggest memories that we will take away from this trip.