Residents of Singapore’s newest town turn to memes to navigate daily challenges and bond with their community.
SINGAPORE: Is the West truly the best side? Not so much for some residents of Tengah, the much-anticipated new town in Singapore, who have faced an array of challenges since moving in. Although Tengah promises features like a car-free town center, dedicated walkways, cycling paths, and a 5km-long forest corridor, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for its early residents.
Touted as Singapore’s “Forest Town,” the neighborhood’s residents have had to contend with poor mobile connectivity, a lack of essential amenities, and unexpected issues like leaks, flooding, and even critters in their homes. With a mandatory five-year BTO occupancy period, many Tengah residents have no choice but to endure these teething problems for now. But instead of letting frustrations simmer, some have turned to humor.
Enter Tengah Memes, an Instagram and TikTok account where residents poke fun at the strange and difficult situations they face in the new town. Managed by anonymous admins, the account shares relatable and light-hearted content, like POV videos and memes, always posted with the caption “when we get reception.”
We caught up with the creators of Tengah Memes to find out how humor has helped them cope with life in Singapore’s newest and arguably most challenging neighborhood.
RICE Media: First things first, do you even live in Tengah?
Tengah Memes: Yes, we live in Tengah.
RICE Media: Can you tell us a little about yourselves? Who are the people behind Tengah Memes?
Tengah Memes: We’re early movers who have experienced some of the more interesting and unexpected situations in Tengah. We decided to make light of them and share these unique experiences with others in the community.
RICE Media: There have been reports about the teething issues in Tengah. What kind of problems have you faced since moving in?
Tengah Memes: We moved in during Q1 of 2024, so we were aware that there would be some initial challenges. But there were definitely some unexpected issues, like water leaks, wiring problems, poor transportation, no signal, and dust that even air purifiers couldn’t handle. We’ve even found slugs in our homes!
RICE Media: How do you feel about the authorities’ response to the issues in Tengah?
Tengah Memes: From our experience, they do listen, especially regarding issues like the Centralised Cooling System and public services. But there’s still room for improvement, and it will take time to fully resolve the challenges in the new estate.
RICE Media: Tengah is a bit out of the way. Why did you choose to move there?
Tengah Memes: We didn’t choose Tengah; it chose us. After several unsuccessful attempts at other projects, we ended up with a queue number for Tengah and decided to move here.
RICE Media: What inspired you to start the Tengah Memes account?
Tengah Memes: We saw a lot of unusual and interesting situations happening in Tengah, and we thought we could turn them into something funny that fellow residents could relate to. There’s just so much random stuff happening here that meme ideas come to us easily!
RICE Media: What kind of responses have you received so far?
Tengah Memes: The response has been mostly positive, with a lot of residents relating to our content. However, there are also some people who take the jokes too seriously and use the platform to complain more about the town.
RICE Media: What has been your most popular post so far?
Tengah Memes: Our most popular post is definitely the “POV: your friends leaving Tengah after visiting your new house.” It resonated with a lot of people, not just residents, but also their friends who’ve visited. It’s a common experience that people could laugh about.
RICE Media: Is humor your only way of coping with life in Tengah?
Tengah Memes: Sadly, yes. It helps us feel better about living here. On the bright side, the residents are generally friendly and supportive of each other. We bond over our shared experiences and struggles.
RICE Media: When Tengah becomes more livable, where do you see the Tengah Memes account going?
Tengah Memes: We see Tengah Memes as a way to bring some joy and laughter into residents’ lives, helping them cope with the challenges here. Even once the area becomes more livable, there will still be plenty of shared experiences that we can laugh about together.
RICE Media: Would you still recommend other people move to Tengah?
Tengah Memes: If they love the West, sure! But they should be prepared for some teething problems along the way.
Tengah may not yet live up to its “Forest Town” promise, but thanks to accounts like Tengah Memes, its residents are managing to find humor in the chaos and build community in the process.
