The Causeway: A Century of Connections examines the origins and evolution of the Causeway, and feature stories on its impact on Singaporeans and Malaysians.
In celebration of the Causeway’s centennial anniversary, the National Heritage Board (NHB) has launched a new travelling exhibition, The Causeway: A Century of Connections, while National Library Board (NLB) has rolled out a specially curated website and a series of talks. These commemorate the Causeway’s significance as part of the heritage of both nations, and its role in the lives of Singaporeans and Malaysians.
A Collection of Stories and More
The Causeway: A Century of Connections traces the origins of the Causeway, from the conditions in the 19th century that led to its construction and how it was built, to its development alongside the rapid post-war growth of the region and its evolution through tumultuous events such as the Japanese Occupation and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The exhibition shares stories of some of the men and women whose paths have intersected with the bridge. Notable stories include the women who would cross the Causeway in the 1970s from Johor into Singapore in old clothes to shop at the Woodlands Saturday night market and return wearing their new hauls; students who would wake up as early as 4am daily to get to school in Singapore and only return home in Johor at 8pm; and workers who were stranded on either side when the Causeway was shut down in March 2020 because of the pandemic.
The exhibition also features anecdotes about how the Causeway impacted people living near it, such as that of Kampong Lorong Fatimah. The main route to the kampong passed through the newly constructed Woodlands Immigration Checkpoint following the separation of Singapore and Malaysia (an immigration checkpoint was not needed before the separation). Mr Rudy Z, who used to visit Kampong Lorong Fatimah frequently, said: “Drivers had to go past the old Woodlands Checkpoint and show their passports or identity cards there, but residents would not need to get their passports stamped. After that, there’s a small lorong on the left before the Causeway starts where there’s a Cisco guard post. The guard would check your passport or identity card again.”
Design Inspired by the Old Woodlands Immigration Checkpoints
The exhibition’s design is inspired by the old Woodlands immigration checkpoints and booths. It takes visitors on an immersive journey by mimicking the passage through the Causeway, with a ‘passport’ that can be used to collect various ‘immigration stamps’ around the exhibition. The stories are brought to life with displays of archival photographs from both Singaporean and Malaysian institutions.
Traveling Exhibition
The exhibition begins its run on 28 June 2024 at Woodlands Civic Centre, and will subsequently travel to the National Archives of Singapore building at Canning Rise to coincide with a public talk on the Causeway in September 2024. Following this, it will tour institutes of higher learning, public libraries, and other public spaces.
