A name from Malay opera

Jalan Bintang Tiga takes its name from Jula Juli Bintang Tiga, a popular bangsawan, the traditional Malay opera; bintang tiga means “three stars”. It sits alongside other bangsawan-inspired streets in Opera Estate such as Jalan Bangsawan and Jalan Khairuddin, which honours 1920s bangsawan star Khairuddin Amiruddin. 12

When fish swam through the living room

For decades the street was better known for flooding. A 1974 photograph shows Jalan Bintang Tiga under water after an hour-long thunderstorm. Long-time resident Irene Loh recalled a storm in the 1980s or 90s when water poured into her kitchen from the back drain while more gushed in from the front; her daughters saw fish swimming in the living room. The estate-wide drainage scheme completed in 2002 ended the problem. 1

The “Let’s Makan” party

In 2001, cartoonist James Suresh — co-creator of the Mr Kiasu comics, who had moved to the street in 1993 — invited a few neighbours to a National Day potluck. It grew into an annual August street party with a multicultural spread and games for children, drawing back former residents and, over the years, guests including Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. 1

The Singapore Kindness Movement began supporting the party in 2013, and in 2019 named Jalan Bintang Tiga Singapore’s first “Friendly Street”, adding a special motif to its street sign. 13

Sources

  1. Living in Harmony: The History of Opera Estate — BiblioAsia, National Library Board (2022)
  2. Siglap, Frankel Estate and Opera Estate (Bedok Heritage Trail) — Roots.gov.sg, National Heritage Board
  3. Singapore Names its First Friendly Street — Singapore Kindness Movement (2019)