Jurong, Singapore’s 2nd CBD, hits a high-speed rail buffer: it’s called Mahathir

The Lion City hopes the industrial district of Jurong can relive its 1960s heyday as a shining beacon of economic success. But Malaysia’s mixed signals on the rail project leave those plans facing delays, if not derailment

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad suspended work on the high-speed rail between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore for two years, effectively stalling the progress of Jurong district, in the city state’s west. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:02pm, 29 Sep 2018Updated: 12:22pm, 29 Sep 2018

In the western part of Singapore, there is a place where people seeking to escape the tropical heat can take things to the extreme. Where there is real snow, sub-zero temperatures and – for the really adventurous – skiing and snowboarding lessons on a purpose-built slope.

Snow City, which markets itself as a fun day out for everyone from winter-sports enthusiasts to families to corporate team builders, seemed a great idea when it first opened its doors in June 2000.

But since then, in the minds of many, its promise has been melting away. Locals and tourists alike have started giving it the cold shoulder, travel websites give it average to terrible ratings. “The excitement can easily wane,” reads one review. “Not much to see here,” says another. Others criticise it as “unrealistic” and warn “you can easily grow tired of it”.

Its location in the western district of Jurong hasn’t helped. The industrial town has long been regarded as rural, secluded and boring. Today, Snow City is one of the few attractions even attempting to liven things up.

A dock worker pulls crates past Taiwanese fishing longliners at the Jurong Fishery Port in Singapore. Photo: EPA

Even so, things had been looking up for Snow City and the district. The Singapore government had envisaged a new dawn for Jurong as the city state’s “second central business district”. Mega malls were springing up, and in them the first suburban stores of brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Books Kinokuniya and Sephora.