an insightful article on what's being done to the area surrounding one of the only two malay palaces on the wee isle.
pertaining to the arab-sounding street names, there is a significant arab population over here, who have had their roots here since mid 19th century. in fact they could be considered truly wee islander than most chinks, who are mere second or third generationers.
interestingly, most of them are of not purely arabic descent, as intermarriage with other races is still rife. if they have a choice, they would rather prefer the youngling's to marry within their own community.
it must also be said that the wee island arabs are a unique group as:
1. they took to the malay style of dressing
2. malay is their mother tongue and/or lingua franca
3. their forefathers were merchants that's why as recently as the seventies/eighties they dissuade their progeny from marrying malays
4. the womenfolk don't go around covering themselves bonce to toe like their counterparts in the middle east
5. most don't look arabic whatsoever such that i look for clues to their origin via their names; like, the blokes would have the prefix Syed (wotsit bin father's name) and the lasses, Sharifah (wotsit binte father's name)
which methinks is a way of keeping their identity, due to the multicultural nature of the islet. and again, perhaps of their numbers. also, they recognise one another through the "tribes" or "houses", like Al-Junied and Alkaff which are the commonest over here.
indeed, the wee island arabs are also some of the friendliest and laidback folk around here. so now you's know how come i know much about them eh?
as enscribed by the letter b @ August 16, 2004 05:05 PM