Collapsed tree in compound of House no. 22E in November 2017. The house is left in disrepair to hold its own against nature.
No. 22E
Kampung Surau, Pulau Ubin
Owner:
Cikgu Ahmad Kassah
Year Built:
1982, with structural frame from older house in Kampung Darat Nenas
Year Last Modified:
2012 (repainting)
Occupancy Status:
Not occupied
House Condition:
Left in disrepair
Wood Type:
Chengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii) posts, Kapur (Dryobalanops aromatica) for the rest of the house
Water Supply:
Used to have water pump
Electrical Supply:
Used to have generator
Historical Highlights:
Family history tied to founder of Kampung Surau and Endut bin Senin
Landmark Recognisability:
Low in current state, used to be more visible to cyclists
Introduction
Kampung Surau is now a ghostly reminder of its former life. After the eviction, houses have been left to deteriorate, in many cases leaving only their concrete foundations. House no. 22E is the only house that is standing, albeit in ruins.
This house belonged to Cikgu Ahmad Kassah, whose maternal uncle, Abdul Latiff bin Ahmad, the penghulu, of Kampung Surau, built it with wood taken from a house at the demolished Kampung Darat Nenas. This village was located at Changi, whose inhabitants were evicted for the construction of Changi Airport in 1982. The owner of the house at Kampung Darat Nenas was Cik Khatijah, a relative of Abdul Latiff bin Ahmad. The Chengal posts were ferried over to Pulau Ubin by sampan.
Abdul Latiff bin Ahmad’s great grandfather, Sulong bin Endut, came to Pulau Ubin to set up a farm from the mainland via a perahu, a small boat. When he came to Ubin, he constructed some pondok, small temporary huts. Sulong’s father, Endut bin Senin founded Kampung Surau with a letter of permission from the Sultan of Singapore. House no. 22E is unfortunately in a damaged state today.
Information from Oral Archives and Field Studies
Oral Archives Interviewer: Mohd Yussoff Ahmad
Interviewee: Abdul Latiff bin Ahmad
Date: 02 January 1988
Field Studies Interviewer: Dr. Imran bin Tajudeen, Mohammad Iqbal bin Roslan, Trikasemmart Panyaporn
Interviewee: Cikgu Ahmad Kassah and Family
Date: 20 March 2018