{"id":46060,"date":"2021-11-26T16:34:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T08:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/?p=46060"},"modified":"2023-05-30T12:15:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T04:15:26","slug":"is-yew-tee-the-new-yishun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/is-yew-tee-the-new-yishun\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Yew Tee the new Yishun?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you were to ask any local to name the most notorious part of Singapore, there\u2019s a pretty decent chance Yishun would be mentioned more than once. This comes as no surprise, considering the dozens of bizarre events<\/a> that keep occurring in the neighbourhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have a place not many Singaporeans have heard of, much less visited. Let us introduce Yew Tee<\/a>, Yishun\u2019s wallflower cousin who is situated all the way in the north-western part of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only time anyone ever talks about Yew Tee is to lament how boring it is, with a common consensus that the area is nothing more than a long-forgotten ghost town tucked away deep in some far, isolated corner of Singapore. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a fun fact: The name Yew Tee in itself translates to oil pond<\/a> in Teochew dialect. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese used the village in Yew Tee as an oil storage facility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though this isolated neighbourhood may not be quite at the level of its infamous cousin Yishun, there have been some noteworthy incidents that happened in Yew Tee.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Gangland in Yew Tee<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

While there may not be actual gangs roaming the neighbourhood and fighting to mark their territory, the same cannot be said about the wildlife.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November 2020, a romp of otters<\/a> was seen having an intense “turf war” against a pack of stray dogs in the Pang Sua canal. According to a Yew Tee resident, the troublemaking otters were newcomers encroaching on the stray pooches’ territory, perhaps attracted by the abundance of fish in the canal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"otter<\/a>
Source: Jin Ryeo-woon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a few empty threats and charges from each side, no blows were exchanged, and the two groups dispersed peacefully.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. A silver-lining for Yew Tee<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

While Yew Tee doesn’t come close to sharing the same reputation<\/a> of being a crime-ridden neighbourhood unlike Yishun,\u00a0<\/i>it isn\u2019t completely crime-free either.<\/p>\n

In 2018, a man stole S$35,000 worth of gold<\/a> from a jewellery store in Yew Tee Square. The perpetrator had been gambling and lost S$50,000, which he was unable to pay. He went to the jewellery store and tried on several gold chains under the pretext of purchasing them.<\/p>\n

As soon as he saw the opportunity to flee, he did just that, sprinting out of the shop with the 4 articles of jewellery on him.<\/p>\n

He has since been arrested and sentenced to five months\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n

3. Getting Wild in Yew Tee<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"wild<\/p>\n

There have been countless<\/a> articles<\/a> and social media posts showing wild boars casually roaming through the housing estates in Yew Tee, brazenly rummaging through trash even in broad daylight.<\/p>\n

It is believed that they live in the forested area around the army camps nearby. These animals not only create a mess whenever they rummage through garbage, they also pose a potential threat, especially with young children in the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

Despite this, most residents seem to still be in awe of these creatures, gathering in droves and taking pictures and videos whenever they spot a wild boar.<\/p>\n

Noteworthy places in Yew Tee<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Despite its reputation (or lack thereof)<\/em>, there are a handful of noteworthy places in this ulu<\/i>\u00a0town.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. SAF Detention Barracks\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most Singaporean men shudder upon hearing the initials \u2019DB\u2019, but not many know that the SAF Detention Barracks is located in Yew Tee. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the military prison is obviously not a place that you can or would want to visit, it is definitely a talking point, especially for those who have friends and family residing in Yew Tee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kranji Camp is also situated beside the military prison, along with Kranji Camp II and Kranji Camp III. That\u2019s a lot of camps. <\/span><\/p>\n

There have been comments online joking about petitioning to rename Yew Tee MRT station to Kranji Camp MRT station. Mowbray Camp and the Police Dog K9 Unit is also located together with the rest of the camps. <\/span><\/p>\n

2. Furniture warehouses<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a Yew Tee resident wanting to furnish your home, you can look beyond mass-produced flat-pack furniture from Ikea or Taobao. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are at least 20 furniture warehouses located right in your backyard at Sungei Kadut, so that you can take your pick from a vast selection of unique pieces at affordable prices. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Gain City<\/span><\/h3>\n

While you\u2019re in Sungei Kadut browsing for furniture, don’t miss the opportunity to pop by Gain City. This megastore is a whopping 11 storeys tall, taking home the title of Singapore\u2019s largest consumer electronics and IT retail store. <\/span><\/p>\n

Be prepared to spend your entire day at this one-stop destination for home renovation \u2013 it even has various shopping and dining options within the building so you won\u2019t ever run out of things to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can get there by taking the free shuttle bus service from the bus stop opposite Lot One Shoppers\u2019 Mall in Choa Chu Kang or the bus stop Yew Tee MRT. Those who drive will enjoy a 6-hour free parking, so they can shop to their heart’s content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Stickies Bar<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the event that you do decide to venture out to the Wild Wild North-West, be sure to check out Stickies, a secret bar tucked away in the industrial estate of Sungei Kadut. The restaurant is spacious with a laid-back vibe that\u2019s perfect for a cosy catchup with friends, with affordable drinks and unique bar snacks. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can get there by taking the free shuttle from Yew Tee MRT.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not completely<\/i> terrible \u2013 here\u2019s the silver lining<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"yew
Source: Time Out\u00a0 |\u00a0 Photograph: YewTee Point\/Frasers Property<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yew Tee has fallen completely off the radar, and with good reason \u2013 we were hard pressed to find something even remotely interesting about the neighbourhood. <\/span><\/p>\n

While the online sentiments about how boring Yew Tee is might hold some water, don\u2019t let this put you off from getting to know the neighbourhood. After all, no news is good news. You don\u2019t want to live in an area that wouldn\u2019t be out of place in a horror movie (ie: Yishun)<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yew Tee is relaxing<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A large part of the residents are young families, with seven primary and secondary schools in the vicinity. You can rest assured that your child has a safe environment to grow up in and that their education needs are well catered to. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yew Tee also offers a nice respite from the hustle and bustle you might find in other neighbourhoods. Take a leisurely stroll along the Pang Sua park connector that links to various parks in Yew Tee, Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang. If a relaxed, serene pace of life sounds good to you, Yew Tee is right up your alley. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are also upcoming developments which might make it more attractive to potential residents and boost the area’s value. Watch this video to learn more about what’s next for the residents of Yew Tee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n