Merlion statue on Singapore's Sentosa Island removed

Singapore has long been famous as a tourist paradise that cannot be missed when coming to Asia. This country with a modest area possesses many things that make tourists unforgettable, such as modern neighborhoods or incredibly clean environment. However, if we talk about the most iconic thing about this island nation, it is the Merlion.

The reason why people call Singapore "the lion island" is because this is the mascot representing the whole country. The image of a lion-headed, fish-tailed beast riding on a wave has become a symbol not only for the people of this country but also in the eyes of international tourists. The lion's head is a metaphor for the process of developing the country, while the fish tail reminds that this country started from a small fishing village.

Because of its symbolism, people have erected Merlion statues all over Singapore, turning those places into tourist attractions. The most famous and oldest statue is still in Merlion Park, right at Marina Bay. But the largest statue is on Sentosa Island.

The Merlion statue here is known to be 37 meters high, with 320 scales on its tail, 16,000 fluorescent lights attached around it and a smoke and roaring system that looks just like real. Built in 1996, this statue has a total value of more than 5.8 million USD. It has become a very popular check-in spot for tourists. However, this statue is at risk of being demolished to make way for another project.

Specifically, the One Faber Group, which owns the park where the statue is located, announced that they will dismantle the statue to make way for the $65 million Sentosa Sentoryscape project. This is part of a plan to rejuvenate the southern tourist spots of Singapore, according to The Straits Times. The new project is likely to start in the fourth quarter of this year, so the statue will be demolished sooner or later.

This has sparked fierce debate, not only among the people of this country but also among foreign tourists who have visited here. Many people think that instead of destroying the statue, it should just be moved to another location. Some others agree to demolish it because it is not a famous statue and does not attract as many visitors as the statue in Merlion Park.

Currently, One Faber Group has not made any further announcements about whether or not it will be dismantled. However, to encourage people to remember this work, the group has a program to reduce the entrance fee to only half of the normal price, but only for local people.

Nguyen Bao