The last family living in Pondok Kelompang Gubuk

(At the main entrance of Pondok Kelompang Gubuk - Photo taken in 1996)

35 Upper Weld Road was my home for twelve years. I was in primary six when my dad bought a HDB flat. My family and I moved out of Pondok to live in our new home at Kallang. However, I always returned to Pondok visiting my maternal grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins whom I adore very much, especially little Anam, Fauzi and Nur. Of the three, Anam was my favorite one. Their mother, Suhaidah, is the younger sister of my mum.

(Little Anam with my mother - Isn't he adorable? The photo was taken in the early 80s)

I address Aunty Suhaidah as Cik Ende. When I was a ten year old girl, I used to help her to baby-sit little Anam while she was busy doing her house chores. I also used to bring Anam to the movies. I remembered the time I brought him to watch the film Jaws at Rex Cinema. Anam was then a six year old boy. He was sobbing at the end of the movie because he was sad to see the girl eaten alive by the shark.

(An interior area of the Pondok, leading to the Kitchen. The door at the rear opens up to the kitchen - Photo taken in 1996)


Later on, while my other aunties and uncles moved out of Pondok to live in HDB apartments, Aunty Suhaidah still lived in the Pondok with her family until the URA took over the premises along Upper Weld Road for new development of the area. She and her family was the last to leave Pondok Kelompang Gubuk.

(At the living Room which is the front most part of the Pondok Kelompang Gubuk - Photo taken in 1996)

My cousins are now grown-ups, holding rewarding jobs. Anam and Fauzi are Professionals working in the Advertising industry while Nur works in the Financial sector.

My Uncle, the footballer.

(Ahmad Sayuti Bin Ali with FAS in the National Youth Team representing Singapore in football tournaments)

Kampong Kapor left me with beautiful memories of my childhood life. It was the place I grew up. The playing ground of my aunties and uncles. Two of my youngest uncles used to bring me along with them to the playground situated in the premises of the Kampong Kapor Community Centre. They left me and my sisters at the playground while they played football in the small patch of field across it.

(The playground at Kampong Kapor Community Centre - Photo taken in the late 60s. I was the third little girl from the left. The teenage girl second from the right was my aunty. The others were my relatives)

(At Kampong Kapor Community Centre - Photo taken in the late 60s. I was second from the left. My sister was the first girl on the right. Behind us was a row of living-quarters)

My two uncles grew up to be teenage footballers playing for a soccer team called the Spider. One of them, Ahmad Sayuti, made it to the Youth Team representing Singapore. He is my mother's youngest brother. Subsequently, my uncle was selected to play for the Singapore National Football team, playing along-side players such as Dollah Kassim, Mohammad Noh, Hashim Hosni and many others. He was then working as a technician with Electrolux. Later on at the peak of his football career, he was offered to join Grodningen FC, a football club in Holland, along with Fandi Ahmad. However, he turned down the offer and moved on with his life without football. Instead, he concentrated on his job, working for Electrolux and later on he joined Guthrie.

(My cousins, Ziki and Zazar, the sons of Ahmad Sayuti - Photo taken in 1991)

Ahmad Sayuti has two sons, Zazar and Ziki. Both were intelligent boys and good in their academic studies. They are now young fine adults.

(Ahmad Sayuti's wedding day - Photo taken with his oldest sister and nieces)

My uncle married to a very kind hearted and pleasant Singaporean Javanese descent lady. Aunty Nur, as the nieces and nephews of her husband address her.

35 Upper Weld Road

35, Upper Weld Road is now a shop selling electrical goods. I went there about three weeks ago.



The community centre infront of it, is now a building for SINDA.


The corner shophouse is now a school.

The row of shophouses are still the same however, the activities in it are new.