Kampung Khaji (Kaji/Haji), as the Bussorah Street community was known, was home to a predominantly Javanese residential community (living in the shophouses) that formed a close-knit core to Kampung Gelam’s Malayo-Nusantara urban community. Kampung Khaji has its roots in Singapore’s foundation as a new port in the 19th century around the Sultan’s Palace and his mosque. Haj pilgrimage trade was predominantly located in Kampung Khaji, therefore, giving its name.
Kampung Khaji/Bussorah Street is presently marketed as “Bussorah Mall” by URA, after a transformation from a vehicular street to pedestrianised mall (URA plans c.1992).
After a complete physical overhaul and social-economic emptying-out was completed in 1994-1995, this street underwent a phase of lifelessness as a ghost-town for the next decade. The street was delivberately given a Middle Eastern theme – to quote a Straits Times report from 1992, there were “dome-shaped lampshades to bring out the Islamic flavour of the area and the planting of palm trees to evoke a Middle Eastern ambience”. Starting c.2005, Bussorah Mall assumed its present-day character, mainly lined with restaurants and coffeeshops.
During the hiatus due to the renovations, the entire focus of annual Ramadhan bazaars and street light-up shifted to Geylang Serai. The street light-up, themed as Hari Raya @ The City, was introduced to Kampung Gelam only in 2008. The food bazaars, albeit small-scaled, were only reintroduced to the site in 2009. Currently the bazaars have been relocated solely along Muscat Street.
Leave a Reply