Malay Heritage

In this post, we will be introducing you to the heritage of the Malay culture in Singapore; you may choose to visit the Kampong Glam, a conserved heritage site, and the Malay Heritage Museum to capture the life of the Malays in Singapore.

Kampong Glam
Kampong Glam is a historic place that is rich in Singaporean Malays heritage and culture and it was once a seat of the former Malay royalty in Singapore. The streets in Kampong Glam are surrounded by many conserved architecture, such as the Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque) and the shop houses.
Masjid Sultan is a one of Singapore’s most remarkable religious building that can hold up to 5,00 worshippers supported by its base that is formed by glass bottles and sheltered by its massive golden dome. Situated at Muscat Street, Sultan Mosque is a must-see landmark in Kampong Glam.
A lane of preserved shop houses can be found along the Bussorah Street, Arab Street and Baghdad Street. Many of these shop houses caters to the need of the Muslim community; selling Malay artefacts such as scarves and perfumes, traditional business such as textile and carpet shops, and unique eateries. You will be able to find the Kabaya and Baju Melayu (as mentioned in the previous post) at one of these shop houses.
The best time to make a trip to Kampong Glam is during the fasting month of Ramadhan when many Muslims would celebrate this joyous festival with cultural performances and bazaars of Malay cuisines.




Malay Heritage Centre
The Malay Heritage Centre is established at Istana Kampong Gelam, which was a former Malay palace in Singapore before the restoration in 2001 takes place. It is located near the Masjid Sultan.
It has 9 galleries showcasing the roots, history and material culture of the Singapore Malays. It also displays the works of Malay artists who had gained international recognition and the life of the present Malays as part of Singapore’s multi-cultural society.



This place is surrounded by Gelam trees, which are raw material to construct boat in the past.