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THE DECISION BY the Government to construct an eight-lane expressway through Bukit Brown has met with much disapproval from various civic groups such as the Singapore Heritage Society (SHS). However, the Bukit Brown incident is merely one in a long heritage of events that perhaps reflects the Government’s inability to understand the importance of memory and landmarks in a nation’s psyche. It happened when they close down the old iconic red-brick National Library, it happened again when they closed Clifford Pier but the official rhetoric is always the same. In the pursuit of progress, these landmarks are merely hindrances, erased from the public consciousness. It is an alluring argument. After all, no one owes us a living and we will be left biting the dust if we do not prioritise progress. What could be better than shiny new buildings à la the new National Library at Victoria Street? The looming towers of Marina Bay Sands stand as a testament to the Government’s faithfulness to the cult of progress.