Siglap Hill

History of Siglap Hill

An area steeped with history, the fishing village of Kampong Siglap once stood along the former coastline. The name Siglap itself has an interesting history. “Si-gelap” is a Malay word that translates to “dark one” or "the darkness that conceals". It was believed that Siglap was named as such due to a solar eclipse at the time of the village’s founding in 1821. The thick canopy of coconut trees in the area that let little sunlight through accounts for another possibility to the name Siglap. The village’s founder was Tok Lasam, a prince from Minangkabau in Sumatra, who was believed to be fleeing from the Dutch. He founded Kampong Siglap in 1809.

Most villager lived off the sea, catching local fish such as selar, parang and tengirri (“scad”, “wolf herring” and “mackerel” respectively in Malay), crabs, sotong (“squid” in Malay) and prawns for sale or sustenance.