Tongkang

Can you imagine a boat appearing on a currency note? Here at the Tongkang LRT station, we’re reminded of the ubiquitous Tongkang that once graced the back of the 1990 and 1992 Singapore two-dollar notes. These weren’t just any boats. Tongkangs, meaning “lighter” in Malay, were the lifeblood of Singapore’s maritime trade. These sturdy vessels, often mistaken for Chinese junks, were actually a unique blend of Malay ingenuity and western design. They were unpowered cargo boats, relying on rowers, punt poles, or sails, sometimes even a ketch rig. Tongkangs were workhorses, carrying timber, firewood, and other goods across the rivers and shorelines of Maritime Southeast Asia. Their presence dates back to at least the 14th century, mentioned in the Malay Annals in the context of the Majapahit empire’s attack on Singapura in 1350. The Tongkang has a rich history in Singapore. Chinese documents refer to the southern bank of the Singapore River, around Read Bridge, as “jetty for boats carrying firewood”. This highlights the Tongkang’s role in the firewood trade, largely a Teochew enterprise. The Tongkang, along with its counterpart the Twakow, were essential to Singapore’s river trade. Sadly, their reign began to fade in the 1930s with the advent of motorized boats. The legacy of the Tongkang, however, lives on, not only in this station’s name, but also in the memories of those who remember their vital role in Singapore’s history. Their image on the old two-dollar notes serves as a poignant reminder of a time when these humble boats plied the waterways, shaping the city’s trading history.