Names for the 14 stations

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapor...ry_391874.html

June 18, 2009 Thursday

Station named after Hwa Chong founder

MRT station sited outside school to be called Tan Kah Kee

By Nicholas Yong

HWA Chong Institution (HCI) and its students past and present have welcomed a decision to name an MRT station to be sited outside the school after their founder, the late philanthropist Tan Kah Kee.

Principal Ang Wee Hiong said the school was 'very happy and proud' at the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) decision, calling it a tribute to the pioneering spirit of its founder.

A Facebook group celebrating the move, called Kah Kee Station, has attracted more than 800 fans on the popular networking site.

Alumna Lee Shi Min, 19, who is waiting to attend university, said: 'It's definitely something to be proud of.'

The LTA had sought suggestions for the names of nine stations on the 16.6km Downtown Line 2, which will open in 2015.

The LTA received more than 3,000 suggestions from the public. Almost 9,000 people participated in a polling exercise on the shortlisted names.

The LTA had said the names chosen should identify the station readily and also have a link to the heritage of the neighbourhood.

It added that stations should not be named after public structures, or commercial and residential developments.

But HCI canvassed students and alumni to take part in the exercise, in hopes that the station would be named Hwa Chong.

Following the public consultation exercise, three names were shortlisted: Duchess (the station's working name), Watten and Kah Kee.

But the school's board felt that calling the station Kah Kee would not fully reflect the historical significance of its founder. It was also too close to the Malay word kaki, which means leg.

They suggested that the station be named Tan Kah Kee, and the LTA agreed. The MRT station is now the first to be named after a contemporary individual.

When asked if more stations would be named after individuals, an LTA spokesman said it would work closely with the relevant authorities to seek advice and approval on all future station names.

Former HCI student Howard Fu, 23, suggested that the new MRT station be used as a showcase for the school's history and the contributions of its alumni.

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